¡Muy emocionado y un poco nervioso porque mi libro Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club ya está disponible hoy en las librerías de Euskadi y de España! ¡Gracias a El Gallo de Oro por publicarlo y a todos los que me ayudaron en el camino! Eskerrik asko! #AthleticClub🔴⚪️

My book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club’ is released in Spanish tomorrow in the Basque Country. Thanks to El Gallo de Oro for publishing it — I hope it translates ok! 🤞🏻 Eskerrik asko to everyone who helped! #AthleticClub

Mi libro “Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club” se publica en castellano mañana en Euskal Herria. Gracias a El Gallo de Oro por publicarlo — ¡espero que la traducción haya salido bien! 🤞🏻 ¡Eskerrik asko a todos los que ayudaron en el proceso! #AthleticClub

Bihar aterako da Euskal Herrian nire liburua “Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club”, gaztelaniaz. Eskerrik asko El Gallo de Oro-ri argitaratzeagatik — itzulpena ondo atera dela espero dut! 🤞🏻 Eskerrik asko lagundu didaten guztiei! #AthleticClub

Mi libro ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ ha sido traducido al castellano y verá la luz con El Gallo de Oro el 10 de noviembre. Mila esker/ Eskerrik Asko a todos los que me habéis acompañado en este camino - ya sabéis quiénes sois 🙌🏻 🔴⚪️ #AthleticClub 🎥 Maitane Recio

It was Real Sociedad player José Antonio de la Hoz Uranga - a staunch Basque nationalist - who came up with the idea. He’s the owner of those legs in the blue jeans below the flag! His sister Ane had sewn the flag with no idea of how iconic it would become. #RealSociedadAthletic

It’s always a pleasure to speak to Chris on his brilliant podcast! Have a listen below 🎧👇🏻 #RealSociedadAthletic #AthleticClub

It’s Basque derby day! On 5/12/1976 a significant expression of Basque political symbolism & solidarity took place as captains Iribar & Kortabarria carried out the still illegal Ikurriña. There is a chapter about the ‘Euskal Derbia’ in my book. #RealSociedadAthletic #AthleticClub

Eskerrik Asko, Euskal Herria! #AthleticClub 🔴🟢⚪️

📚✍️ My book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ is released on November 10th. There are some early copies available now at Librería Universitaria in Bilbao (Maestro García Rivero, 9) #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️🦁

Not a great game or result to say the least. But not a bad view to wake up to! Aupa Atheltic! Gora Euskal Herria! #AthleticClub

If you’re around in Bilbao tomorrow please come and say Kaixo 🔴⚪️ #AthleticClub #AthleticGetafe

📚✍️ My book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ is released next month. I will be signing early copies at Librería Universitaria in Bilbao from 2pm on Saturday before the #AthleticClub v Getafe game. Come and say Kaixo! Aupa Athletic! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️🦁

Congratulations Chris and much deserved. This excellent and informative book will now reach a much wider audience

Estoy encantado (¡y un poco asustado!) de anunciar que mi libro "Los Leones" ha sido traducido al castellano y será publicado por El Gallo de Oro el 10 de noviembre. Gracias a todos los que me habéis ayudado en el camino - ya sabéis quiénes sois 🙌🏻- Eskerrik Asko! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

I am delighted (and slightly terrified!) to announce that my book ‘Los Leones’ has been translated into Spanish and will be published by El Gallo de Oro on November 10th. Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way - you know who you are 🙌🏻- Eskerrik Asko! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

Oso pozik (eta ikara pixka batekin) iragartzen dut nire 'Los Leones' liburua gaztelaniara itzuli dutela eta El Gallo de Oro argitaletxeak azaroaren 10ean argitaratuko duela. Eskerrik asko bidean lagundu didazuen guztioi - badakizue nortzuk zareten - Eskerrik Asko! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

Really enjoyed chatting to Chris Lee on the excellent @outsidewrite.bsky.social podcast about the Basque refugee children in Caerleon and those who went on to play for the likes of #AthleticClub and #RealMadrid. Have a listen in the usual places 🎧👍🏻 #RefugeesWelcome #StopWar #Euskadi #Gales #Cymru

It was great to be back on Chris Lee’s brilliant @outsidewrite.bsky.social podcast talking about the Basque child refugees who went on to become professional players. Available from Sunday 👍🏻

Che Guevara was murdered #OnThisDay in 1967. I wrote about how Owain Glyndŵr allegedly inspired Che Guevara and Fidel Castro & when Che’s inspirational daughter Aleida visited Wales to talk about the #NHS tinyurl.com/ub2vfu8w #CheGuevara #CheVive #SaveOurNHS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇨🇺

#OnThisDay in 1968 #AthleticClub played Liverpool in the second leg of the Fairs Cup at Anfield. The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate with Athletic bizarrely going through on the toss of a coin! I spoke to the legendary José Ángel Iribar about the incident in my book Los Leones.🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay in 2021, #AthleticClub great Iñaki Williams surpassed Real Sociedad’s Juan Antonio Larrañaga’s record of playing in 202 La Liga matches in a row. His incredible run finally came to an end after a remarkable 251 matches. Read more in ‘Los Leones’🔴⚪️

Egun On/Bore da - #ICYMI I was on the El Partido podcast this week chatting to the lovely Nick and Paul about my book ‘Los Leones’ and the unique #AthleticClub 🎧👉🏻 open.spotify.com/episode/3KkJ... 🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay in 1962 #AthleticClub icon José Ángel Iribar made his debut against Málaga at La Rosaleda stadium. I spoke to Iribar (known as ‘El Txopo’) for my book ‘Los Leones’. He’s a deity in Bilbao. He was a brilliant player but most importantly he’s a great man! 🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay in 1992 the iconic Julen Guerrero made his official #AthleticClub debut in a 2-1 win against Cádiz at San Mamés. I was lucky enough to interview ‘El Rey León’ about his amazing career for my book ‘Los Leones’ - Julen was some player and of course super cool! 🦁👑🔴⚪️

Fantastic belated birthday present from my wonderful wife (the delay was at their end), the Basque refugees/Athletic Club inspired Newport County away shirt. The names of the Basque children are written in the stripes...

Athletic Club have made a superb start to the season! Find out more about this unique and special Basque club in my book ‘Los Leones’. Aupa Athletic! #AthleticClub #Euskadi #UniqueInTheWorld #LaLiga 🔴⚪️

Penblwydd Hapus to the great Dafydd Iwan who is 82 today! A while back I was lucky enough to interview the great man about Wales, music, politics, independence, Victor Jara and much more. What a life! It was an honour. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. nation.cymru/culture/dafy... #Cymru #Wales

Yep. My favourite picture of the day is this one. I’ve no idea who this lady is but she’s now my hero.

Zorionak/Happy Birthday to #AthleticClub legend Andoni Goikoetxea! Goiko wrote the foreword for my book & unbelievably came to my book launch. I’ll never forget him introducing himself to my family and knowing their names despite having never met them. What a player & gentleman! 🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay 21 Aug 1913 'The Cathedral', the original Estadio San Mamés, was opened to house Athletic Club de Bilbao It was the first purpose-built football stadium in the Basque Country or Spain at the time For more on Athletic Club, read @jervisevans.bsky.social's exceptional 'Los Leones' 🦁

Love this Chris - Aupa County, Ymlaen Athletic 😉👍❤️🧡🖤🤍👏⚽

Following on from last night about the speaker of Herri Harmalian wearing the #AthleticClub inspired Newport County shirt - look at these photos. The kit and San Mamés in all their glory 👌🏻. Aupa Athletic! 🔴⚪️

Some great spotting at San Mamés from my Basque friend Aitor - the speaker of the Herri Harmalia wearing the #AthleticClub inspired Newport County jersey during the win over Sevilla. Aupa Athletic! Up The County! 🔴⚪️⚫️🟠

This is a wonderful piece from @gavinmprice.bsky.social about the recent kit collaboration between #AthleticClub and #NewportCounty. Well worth 5 minutes of your time. 🔴⚪️⚫️🟠 #OneClubOneCounty #Euskadi #Cymru sportsdiplomacy.substack.com/p/why-the-newp…

#OnThisDay in 1937 the Euzkadi football team visited Basque refugee children being cared for near Moscow. There were over 500, some of them the children of friends of the players. During the visit, captain Luis Regueiro refereed a match between the ‘niños’. Read more in ‘Los Leones’ #RefugeesWelcome

#OnThisDay in 1995 #AthleticClub legend Joseba Etxeberria scored against his former club Real Sociedad in a friendly at San Mámes. ‘Etxebe’ had made the controversial move not long before. He made his official debut on 3rd September. I interviewed ‘El Gallo’ for my book ‘Los Leones’. Legend.

#OnThisDay in 1935 the heroic Welsh journalist Gareth Jones was murdered just a day before his 30th birthday. He exposed the atrocities of the Holodomor famine in the #Ukraine. How we could do with journalists like him today! A piece I wrote a while back: nation.cymru/culture/hitl...

As an Evertonian , I can highly recommend Christopher's book, Los Leones, not just for HK bit but #AthleticClub like #EFC has such an incredible history and defiant proud support, clear identity and culture. Great club. Shame they have red in the kit 💙#EFC

#OnThisDay in 2006 #AthleticClub were chosen by the great Howard Kendall to play his beloved #Everton at Goodison Park for his testimonial. A goal from Aritz Aduriz was enough to sink the Toffees on the day. Read more about Kendall’s time in Bilbao in my book ‘Los Leones’. #EFC

It was lovely to chat with Iolo Cheung for this BBC Wales piece. Also great to see Dan Parry and Hywel Davies who have helped the BCA ‘37 so much in the past. Aupa Athletic/Aupa County! #AthleticClub #OneClubOneCounty 🔴⚪️⚫️🟠 www.bbc.com/news/article...

The story of the Bilbao Boys had been brilliantly told by @[email protected] here : nation.cymru/sport/h...

#OnThisDay in 2006 ‘El Rey León’ (The Lion King) Julen Guerrero announced his retirement from football at an emotional press conference at the club’s Ibaigane Palace. I was lucky to speak to Julen for my book - there is a chapter dedicated to him. What a player!#AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

#OTD in 1954 Welsh referee Mervyn ‘Sandy’ Griffiths ran the line in the @FIFAWorldCup final. Sandy became infamous for denying Hungary a late leveller after Puskás thought he’d levelled. I wrote about his fascinating life for @NationCymru a while back: nation.cymru/sport/the-fo...

It's a fantastic book, guys #LUFC Introduced me to one of my favourite Bielsa quips, too. Mind, if you're not a Spanish football girly already, you'll probably end the book with an adopted club.

#OnThisDay in 2013 the brilliant & eccentric Marcelo Bielsa officially left #AthleticClub. Bielsa is a hero in Bilbao following a short but scintillating stint as manager. There is a chapter dedicated to Bielsa in my book. Here is his leaving statement to #Athleticzales 🔴⚪️🦁

When I despair at the state of the world I often wonder what Gwyn Alf’s take would be. I loved researching for this profile piece a few years back. Gwyn Alf Williams - Historian, activist, lecturer extraordinaire, author & captivating TV presenter. nation.cymru/culture/the-... ✊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

You know what's "not appropriate" Keir?! Arming a fucking genocide... Fuck The Sun and solidarity with Palestine Action. 🇵🇸

It’s #WorldRefugeeDay. Here is a piece I wrote about the Basque Boys AFC player Julio Andrés. His family got in touch and told me all about his incredible life story. It’s amazing. He was a huge supporter of #AthleticClub and @SanLorenzo in #Argentina. nation.cymru/sport/a-tale...

It’s #WorldRefugeeDay. Here is the story of the Basque Boys AFC Goalkeeper Enrique Garatea. He went on to play professionally in Spain. Football was a form of escapism for the children who were cared for in Caerleon. They were inspiring. nation.cymru/sport/made-i...