Athletic Bilbao Highlights Basque Country Bonds with 2021-22 Home Kit

Spanish La Liga club Athletic Bilbao is highlighting its connection to the Basque Country with a fresh take on its traditional red and white stripes for its 2021-22 home kit.

The kit, manufactured by New Balance, was unveiled on Friday, May 28. The stripes on the front of the jersey are even widths, but the red ones are split diagonally between two shades of red. The angle of the split matches the angle of the line found in the club’s crest.

The raglan sleeves are solid red, with black trim at the cuffs. The back of the jersey is solid red, and a graphic combining the Ikurriña flag and the club’s stripes appears on the back collar. The Ikurriña is the official flag of the Basque Country Autonomus Community in Spain.

“It’s a reminder of the special connection we have with the Basque people,” club captain Iker Muniain said on the club’s website. “Whenever we wear the Athletic Club colours, we know the fans are with us. This year’s jersey really means a lot to us.”

The shorts that go with the jersey are solid black. The socks are black with red and white stripes.

The home goalkeeper kit was also unveiled Friday, and it draws more connections to the Basque Country. It is “asphalt black” with grey flecks, and the Athletic Bilbao crest, sponsor logo and New Balance logo are all rendered in metallic copper.

“This innovative colour combination is inspired by the region’s traditional mining industries, something which is always present at San Mames in the form of the fans’ ‘all iron’ chant,” the club’s website reads.