Interviews
MIÉ 02.11.2022
Like many kids, Andoni Hollenbeck wasn’t very interested in understanding or celebrating his heritage growing up, but over time, the soon-to-be 19-year-old student at Boise State University has not only grown to appreciate his Basque background, but has embraced it.
Hollenbeck’s mother, Henar, who was born in Bilbao and grew up in Ortuella, would make sure her son was involved in Boise’s Basque community; the Idaho state capital has the largest contingent of Basque people in the United States, many of whom emigrated to the area in the late 1800s to work as sheepherders.
Henar would take Andoni to the city’s Basque center for events and dinners, invite her Basque friends over, sign him up for Basque dance classes, and would make sure Athletic Club was on TV whenever they had a match.
“As I’ve gotten older there’s been a larger appreciation for the club itself,” Andoni says. “When I was young, I didn't understand the Basque-only player rule—it seemed kind of silly, like we’re inhibiting our capabilities and potential for competing with these much larger clubs who have a larger pool of players. As I got older and became more involved in Basque culture and had a greater appreciation for that, that’s when I really got into the team.
“There are a lot of football fans who say, ‘There’s nothing like our club,’ but with Athletic, it’s objectively true because there is no other club like Athletic. We’re so dedicated to preserving the culture and the fact that we want to bolster Basque players and promote that makes it so that there isn’t another environment like that in the entire world. That’s what got me so into the club.”
Hollenbeck watches Athletic as often as he can when he isn’t studying or working. He’ll even make the trip back home to watch matches with his mother, furthering their Basque bond.
“It goes past it being just a game,” he says. “It gives you an avenue to connect with the culture, and most importantly, connect with other people. Being able to share the highs and lows of Athletic, it gives you a chance to connect. For me, that’s one of the most important things I can ask for.”
While he’s seen Athletic Club play a few times in person, Hollenbeck has yet to experience a match at San Mamés because whenever he goes back to Spain to visit relatives, it’s usually in the summer and the club is either in the offseason or playing friendlies at other venues.
“That’s something I have yet to do and that’s a huge goal of mine,” he says. “I think that would be surreal to see that.”
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