More than a million people took to the streets of Bilbao on Thursday for the parade of Athletic's players, who won the Spanish Cup on Saturday, after winning the penalty shootout in the final against Real Mallorca.
Madness in Bilbao. PHOTO: Facebook
The players and the technical staff boarded the historic barge “Gabarra” with which they crossed about 12 km on the Nervion river from the discharge into the sea to the town hall in the center of the city, to the ovations of the fans massed on the banks. The cup winners were accompanied by 100 small craft, including 30 traditional Basque boats, all decked out in the club's red and white colours.
More than a million people flocked to both sides of the river to cheer on the players of a team that contains only footballers born and bred in the Basque Country, northern Spain and southern France – a policy that gives Athletic Club a special sense of identity and local pride.
There was a special ovation for manager Ernesto Valverde, who guided Athletic to their first Copa del Rey trophy in 40 years, with the club losing six finals since they last lifted the trophy in 1984.
