A plant the size of Pelkosenniemi has performed a sporting miracle

Mikel Arteta (left) and Andoni Iraola, who played in the same team, necked before the start of September’s Bournemouth-Arsenal match. PDO

The Basques are one of the oldest peoples in Europe.

However, in the 19th century nation-state lottery, they were left without their own state, and today seven different Basque provinces are divided between France and Spain.

One of them, Gipuzkoa, is especially known for the beautiful beach of its capital San Sebastián, its green mountain paths and its love for the Basque language, Basque.

Gipuzkoa is the smallest of Spain’s 50 provinces in terms of area. It is telling that if it were a Finnish municipality, based on its size, it would be found just before Pelkosenniemi, a little smaller than Muonio.

But amazingly, Gipuzkoa has produced far more football managers than its size.

Dear hometown

After Friday’s home draw with Aston Villa, there are two Gipuzkoa managers at the top of the Premier League.

Unai Emery (Aston Villa) and Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) are from only 23 kilometers apart.

The Premier League’s third manager from Gipuzkoa, Bournemouth Andoni Iraolaon the other hand, is from Ururbil, about 12 kilometers from Arteta’s home (San Sebastián).

Iraola, Arteta and the head coach of Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen Xabi Alonso all played at the same time in Antiguoko’s junior team.

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Alonso is from Tolosa, which was about 30 kilometers away from the home field of Real Sociedad, the breeding club of the future world champion.

“La Real” has been a sensation in the Champions League this past fall. It won its own initial group and will challenge PSG in the spring quarterfinals.

Head coach of Real Sociedad Imanol Alguacil have tried to attract many top clubs around Europe, but Alguacil, who comes from the small fishing village of Orion, has not wanted to leave his beloved birthplace.

People who love work

The list could be continued almost endlessly. Pep Guardiola’s the number two manager at Manchester City is respected Juanma Lillo (also born in Tolosa), and they both have a sports director as their boss Txiki Begiristain (Olaberria).

Julen Lopetegui (Asteasu) left Wolves at the start of this season, and José Luis Mendilibar (Zaldibar) was fired from Sevilla’s helm in October.

According to the prejudices of native Spaniards, the Basques are serious and a little humorless. The small nation has turned that to its advantage.

– In the Basque Country, a lot of work has always been done from a young age. These values ​​are also reflected in football. We understand that sacrifices have to be made for a good life, the president of Gipuzkoa’s own football association Mikel Etxarri clarified on the Play Fútbol podcast.

Terror escape

From the 1960s until the early years of the 2000s, Gipuzkoa was also an extremely dangerous growing environment. The Basque separatist organization ETA regularly organized bombings and assassinations.

Even then, Futis offered a way to escape the threat of violence.

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After the breakup of ETA, the dark history has been left behind. Now only the top coaches of hard pressing game and fast transition football are connected to Gipuzkoa.

One explanation can undoubtedly be found in the region’s multiculturalism.

For example, at the age of 14, Arteta left for the Basques’ second futsal center, Bilbao, the capital of the province of Bizkaia. From there, the road took Barcelona via La Masia to PSG and from there to Rangers in Scotland.

After that, the player’s career continued south of the border in the Premier League. Indeed, it is difficult to see what exactly represents the Manager’s Basque roots in the current Arsenal.

– Our secret lies in the food. We Basques have it the best in the world. This success on the pitch comes only as a by-product of the way we live, Arteta speculated to Marca.

– Of course, everything depends on upbringing. Our training level is already really high in the juniors.

Organized defense

Alonso’s childhood friend Bayer Leverkusen plays clearly differently. Alex Grimaldon and by Jeremie Frimpong the importance of their own flanks is highlighted especially in Die Werkself’s attacking game.

Of course, it is extremely difficult to score against both Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen.

– People complain that we are too defensive, Etxarri admitted For The Athletic.

– Usually, if a team scores a lot of goals, it has good strikers. But if the matches end 0–0, 1–0, 1–1 or 0–1, it is entirely the coach’s fault. Then it’s about organizing the team.

And little Gipuzkoa is currently the best province in the world.