In 2015, Spanish club Athletic Bilbao started the "One Club Man Award," which aims to celebrate players outside of Athletic who spent their entire career at one club. The first award was given to Southampton's Matt Le Tissier last year, in recognition of "Le God's" 16 seasons at the the English club.
This year, the Basque club has decided to award it to one of the most legendary players of all time, Paolo Maldini. The Italian defender was a rock at the back for the Rossoneri for over 20 years, making 902 appearances for the club. He is AC Milan and so if anyone is deserving of such an award, it would definitely be Maldini.
Paolo Maldini to receive @AthleticClub's 2016 One Club Man Award at HT vs Celta. @mattletiss7 was honored last year. pic.twitter.com/pTIIzqDetO
— Peña Athletic Calif. (@AthleticClubCA) April 25, 2016
That being said, it seems a little weird that Athletic Bilbao is just handing out a completely random, made-up award to players who have no affiliation with the club. But as Colin McGowan points out in his article for Vice Sports, Athletic are not your usual football team.
"They are in some ways Spain's most remarkable club. They're not even Spanish, as their most fervent nationalistic supporters would point out: they're Basque. Athletic have a proud history – a nearly unblemished one, if you excuse some directives the club followed under Generalissimo Franco's regime – of fielding Basque-only squads."
Bilbao have a magnificent history of only fielding Basque players. Photo: @NewstalkSport | Twitter
This purist ideology is probably why they harbor such good will towards players who stick with the same club for their entire careers. Bilbao strive to cultivate young Basque players by fostering a loyalty towards their identity. Those that buy into it, and spend their lives with the club are revered. It is a romantic ideal, and it has to be said, it usually works.
So, it follows that players who dedicate themselves to one club are idealized by Bilbao, and thus, you get the "One Club Man Award." It may be a little strange, a little unorthodox, but then again, so is Bilbao. Besides, honoring those who stay loyal to their club is an idea we can totally get behind.
Maldini is set to receive the "One Club Man Award" on May 1 during the halftime interval of the match between Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo.
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