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Lezama Facilities

Coordinates: 43°16′42″N 02°50′19″W / 43.27833°N 2.83861°W / 43.27833; -2.83861
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Lezama Facilities
An aerial view of the complex, 2019
Map
AddressBarrio Garaioltza, 147, 48196
LocationLezama, Basque Country
OwnerAthletic Bilbao
TypeFootball training ground
Construction
Built1971
Tenants
Athletic Bilbao (training) (1971–present)
Athletic Bilbao B (1971–present)
Athletic Bilbao cantera (1971–present)
Athletic Club Femenino (2002–present)
Athletic Club Femenino B (2002–present)
Amorebieta (2021–2022; 2023–present)
Website
Lezama Facilities

The Lezama Facilities (Basque: Lezamako Kirol-instalakuntzak, Spanish: Instalaciones de Lezama), are the training ground and academy of the Primera Division club Athletic Bilbao. Located in the village of Lezama, around 10–15 kilometers east of Bilbao, the facilities were opened in 1971 and currently cover 13 hectares (130,000 square meters).[1][2][3] Athletic's academy is often referred to metonymically as Lezama.

Lezama hosts the Athletic men's first team for training and the league matches of the Liga F club Athletic Club Femenino, as well as the youth teams of the Athletic cantera (academy): the men's reserve team, the women's reserve team, the junior teams (ages 17–19), the cadet teams (ages 15–16), the youngster teams (ages 13–14), and the children's teams (ages 11–12).[4]

In June 2021, the facilities also became the temporary home ground of Segunda División newcomers SD Amorebieta, as Amorebieta's stadium Urritxe did not meet league requirements.[5] The arrangement was repeated in 2023–24 when Amorebieta was re-promoted to the Segunda Division.[6]

Facilities

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The Athletic men's senior team training at Lezama
  • Field 2 (seating 3,250) is the home stadium of Athletic Club Femenino and the men's reserve team Bilbao Athletic,[7] as well as SD Amorebieta during its stays in the Segunda División.[6]
  • 4 full-size natural grass pitches including Field 1 (used by the men's senior team) and Field 5 (used by the Juvenil (under-19) academy teams).
  • 3 full-size artificial turf pitches including Field 8 (used by the women's reserve team).
  • 1 mini football artificial turf pitch.
  • A service centre with a gymnasium, press rooms, and medical facilities.
  • An 18-bed dormitory for academy athletes, opened in September 2021.[8][9]

The San Mames arch

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The San Mamés arch at Lezama Field 2 in 2016; the club later installed spectator seating underneath the arch

The main stand of Athletic's original San Mamés Stadium was supported by an iconic arch.[4][10] Erected in 1953, the arch was reportedly the first of its kind ever built in an athletic stadium.[11] When the ground was demolished in 2013, Athletic preserved the arch and transported it to Lezama, reinstalling the arch alongside the Athletic Club Femenino and Bilbao Athletic pitch.[12][13] The arch overlooks Field 2's spectator seats.[4]

The complex also features busts of Athletic icons Telmo Zarra[14] and Piru Gainza.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Lezama | Lezama Training Centre | Athletic Club Official Website". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Tribute to Lezama". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Athletic Club: a way of life". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Alex Clapham (30 October 2018). "How does Athletic Bilbao's academy manage to produce 85% of their team?". Caño Football. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via The Guardian.
  5. ^ "La Sociedad Deportiva Amorebieta disputará en Lezama sus partidos como local de LaLiga SmartBank" [Sociedad Deportiva Amorebieta will play at Lezama their home matches in the LaLiga SmartBank] (in Spanish). SD Amorebieta. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Alerta en Bilbao: Los campos de San Mamés y Lezama preocupan en el club". Relevo (in Spanish). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  7. ^ "El campo 2 de Lezama sube su aforo hasta los 3.250 espectadores" (in European Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  8. ^ "The new Lezama residence, a dream come true". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Habitaciones en Lezama I IKEA Barakaldo I Gelak Lezaman". YouTube. 6 August 2021.
  10. ^ Lowe, Sid (17 September 2013). "Athletic Bilbao's intoxicating spirit remains despite move next door". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  11. ^ Clements, Chris (8 December 2018). "Bilbao – San Mamés (1913 – 2013)". Estadios de España. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  12. ^ "El arco de San Mamés ya está instalado en Lezama" [The arch from San Mamés has been installed at Lezama]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 18 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  13. ^ "El arco ya ilumina las instalaciones de Lezama" [The arch illuminates the Lezama facilities]. El Desmarque (in Spanish). 14 October 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  14. ^ "El busto de Zarra vigila desde lo más alto la cantera de Lezama" [The bust of Zarra watches the quarry of Lezama from its highest point]. El País (in Spanish). 5 December 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Mikel Vesga, el timonel del Sporting" [Mikel Vesga, the helmsman of Sporting]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 March 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
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43°16′42″N 02°50′19″W / 43.27833°N 2.83861°W / 43.27833; -2.83861

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