Athletic Club, commonly known as Athletic Bilbao, is a professional football club based in Bilbao, Spain. Founded in 1898, it is one of the oldest and most historic football clubs in Europe. The club is known for its unique philosophy of only fielding players who are from or trained in the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain and southwestern France. This policy has earned them the nickname "Lehoiak" (The Lions), linked to their stadium near the San Mamés church, named after Saint Mammes who was associated with lions. Athletic Club is notable for its success in Spanish football, being the fourth most successful club in La Liga with eight league titles and the second most successful in the Copa del Rey with 24 titles. It is one of the three clubs in Spain that has never been relegated from the top division. The club is deeply tied to Basque identity and pride, and its ownership lies with its members rather than being a sporting limited company. It also has a strong rivalry with Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid, partly due to regional and historical political factors. Its home matches are played at the San Mamés Stadium, and the team's colors are red and white striped shirts with black shorts. Athletic Club also boasts one of the most successful women's teams in Spain.