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Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 04:42 UTC Spain held a ceremony to acknowledge the valor and dedication of two Galician sailors from Vigo and Cangas who were forcibly recruited into the Falklands conflict by the Argentine navy when they were about to begin their fishing season in the South Atlantic on board the vessel Usurbil Argentine General Consul Horacio Doval and Rear Admiral Marcelo Tarapow awarded Alejandro Martínez Rodriguez and Juan Casas Rodríguez from Cangas two Congressional medals each plus the acknowledgement of the Argentine navy which seized their fishing vessel for 28 days although she belonged to a Galicia/Argentine joint venture company Also present at the ceremony was Fernando Otero the first and only Spanish citizen who has been recognized as a “hero” of the Malvinas war by Argentina Actually Otero has been lobbying for decades to have the two Galician sailors honored for their part played during the 1982 war The Usurbil which was catching hake was boarded near Bahía Blanca by a small party of naval intelligence and their job was to follow and monitor the Task Force as it approached the Falkland Islands The Argentine navy turned the Usurbil into a spy vessel to track British vessels it was another vessel on fishing operations” However Martinez believes they were lucky recalling what happened to two other fishing vessels “We realized we were going to trouble when instead of sailing north we headed south we were really scared and praying...” Otero the “war veteran” since 2017 and also a crew member recalls the Argentine intelligence officer told them not to be scared “a missile is worth a million dollars and the English are not going to spend one on a fishing vessel” He added “the fact was we were serving the Argentine navy in the Malvinas war but once involved we complied with our duties Spaniards and Argentines shared the same fear when enemy helicopters overflew us...” “You complied with a very serious and committed mission in the middle of a real conflict that is what we are distinguishing today” who nevertheless vindicated the recovery of the Islands through peaceful means pointing out Argentina will never cease in its sovereignty claim over the Malvinas and demanded a quick resumption of negotiations with UK for that purpose Forcibly turned into heroes by a comic navy they don't stop banging away about stuff regardless of irrelevance or triviality Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page On a late summer evening in San Sebastian — or Donostia as Basque locals know the capital of Guipuzcoa province in northern Spain — a handful of kids were playing football on the glorious La Concha beach This is where Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta played his first organised games of football his home city’s most successful youth club with teams drawn from the different barrios (neighbourhoods) of the city,” says Agustin Soriano who has known Arteta and his family for three decades Antiguoko’s club headquarters is a literal stone’s throw away. It is an unassuming, modest but well-equipped space, decorated with the jerseys of dozens of former players who made it — including Arteta’s Arsenal No 8 shirt and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola’s old Athletic Bilbao No 15 coaching chief at the regional Guipuzcoa football federation The 78-year-old told The Athletic that sport has always been key to life in the province of about 2,000 square kilometres not even two per cent of the Spanish population “I understand football as an expression of the idiosyncrasies of this land,” Etxarri says The values of competition came from daily life.” As football was taking over as the region’s main sport during the 20th century the Antiguo barrio developed into a thriving industrial and commercial hub producing chocolates with his father taking a good job with La Kutxa — the Savings Bank of Gipuzkoa and San Sebastian Soriano says they were a normal San Sebastian family but then this is a city with the highest income per head in all of Spain Football here was not a way for families to pull themselves out of poverty or jump up the social scale it was a character-building part of everyday life Watching Man City-Arsenal in Mikel Arteta's hometown: Good stories “We make players but we also make people,” says Soriano “Families would also be very concerned about getting good results in school Mikel and the others who have been through here they all have good heads on their shoulders.” Although it is almost two decades since he last lived in San Sebastian Arteta retains a close connection with the city He often visits with his wife Lorena Bernal actress and regular visitor to the city’s annual film festival he returned to Antiguoko for a kids’ tournament played on the excellent pitches paid for by the hefty clauses the youth club received when Arteta (and Alonso and other players) started to move for big fees 🧢 ¡Mikel Arteta nos visitó en Berio en el día de ayer 👏🏻 𝗘𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗸 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗼, @m8arteta 💙 👉 https://t.co/LQ6TyRNbBm pic.twitter.com/nXIkCqgSO7 — Antiguoko KE (@Antiguoko) March 27, 2023 “The Basque people have been an emigrant people,” Etxarri says the town where Bournemouth manager Iraola grew up Just out of view are the smokestacks of the Michelin factory that first transformed these fields almost a century ago Iraola’s parents worked for a company that supplied marble to the building trade Etxarri remembers Iraola’s father as a midfielder — “slow but a good player” — who did a coaching course with the Guipuzcoa regional FA Iraola was good enough to join Antiguoko but was not as obviously set for the top as Arteta and Alonso. He played as a right-winger and scored in a notable 4-2 under-18s win over Real Madrid in June 1999 (Alonso also played that game who worked for Real Sociedad in various roles but the 17-year-old had already given his word to Athletic where he would go on to make more than 400 La Liga appearances Spending most of his career so close to home makes him an outlier among his Guipuzcoan manager peers but an urge to learn more about the world and improve his prospects saw him end his playing days at New York City Andoni Iraola: What Basque coach brings to Bournemouth “I really like how Andoni thinks about football,” Etxarri says. “It is not all about having possession of the ball, but what you do with it. He was such an intelligent player, and is now the same as a coach. His Rayo Vallecano team was among the best coached in La Liga and you could see his hand in how they played.” Iraola maintained a connection with Antiguoko working with their under-18s while studying for his UEFA Pro Licence His first steps in management were at AEK Larnaca before really making his mark with three seasons at Rayo Vallecano in which he won promotion and established them in the top flight At Rayo, he worked very hard to improve his players individually and collectively — they earned victories over Real Madrid and Barcelona with starting XIs made up almost completely of players inherited in the second tier Last summer, Iraola could have renewed his contract at Rayo, while other La Liga clubs including Sevilla and Villarreal were interested and he knows he would be front runner whenever Ernesto Valverde finishes his latest spell at Athletic knowing he would have limited resources compared to almost every other club in the Premier League but confident he could again punch above his weight An impressed observer is former Watford and Leeds boss Javi Gracia who was born in the neighbouring Basque province of Navarre and has played with and coached against many of the current crop of top Guipuzcoan managers “Andoni’s teams exemplify what he has been as a player,” Gracia said “His teams do not care about expectations or presumptions You might think Rayo were condemned to battle (against relegation) but they have always ended up safe higher up the table Emery completes the list as the third Premier League manager to come from this tiny pocket of northern Spain a gritty railway town on the border with France Irun’s local team, Real Union, played a key part in the development of football in the Basque Country and Spain, winning the Spanish Cup three times between 1918 and 1927. The goalkeeper for the last two victories was Antonio Emery, Unai’s grandfather. He was also between the posts when Real Irun played Espanyol in the first-ever Primera Division game in 1929 Antonio’s brother Tanque and his sons Juan and Roman also played for Real Irun His grandson Igor is now the club president after he and his brother Unai (born in nearby Hondarribia) saved the club from bankruptcy in June 2021 but it had lots of debts and was on the brink of disappearing We took the step as our hearts won over our heads.” the Emerys have invested €2million (£1.7m; $2.1m) in Real Union Its old Stadium Gal is now a neat and tidy 4,000-seater ground The team are currently in the Primera RFEF the third tier of Spain’s convoluted football pyramid The first step is to win over local fans who had drifted away Unai Emery ha recibido hoy la Insignia de Oro de Hondarribia ¡¡¡Felicidades Unai por este merecido reconocimiento!! Hondarribiko Urrezko Intsignia jaso du gaur Unai Emeryk. Zorionak Unai merezitako errekonozimendu honengatik!!! pic.twitter.com/UkIeChdKWz — Real Unión Club Irun (@REALUNIONCIRUN) November 19, 2022 From the top row of the Stadium Gal’s seats the French town of Hendaye is visible just across the Bidasoa river all this land is all Euskadi (Basque Country) and the river really only separates Guipuzcoa from Iparralde (the French Basque Country) although Real Sociedad takes up a lot of space But in Iparralde we can become better known and grow on sporting Unai Emery had a spell as a player at Real Sociedad in the late 1990s His team-mates included Gracia and Real Sociedad’s current manager Aware of his limitations as a player, by his late twenties, Emery was already beginning a coaching career that has since taken in roles at Lorca, Almeria, Valencia explained by those who have played for him “We have had the fortune to leave here and know what happens outside,” says Igor who worked with his brother in France and England we have our personality but you need to enrich that with lots more aspects picked up from everywhere you go from many different cultures and ways of thinking Nobody who The Athletic spoke to in Guipuzcoa was surprised to see so many of their coaches at top clubs Benito Diaz revolutionised La Liga with ideas learned while playing and coaching in France Alberto Ormaetxea coached Real Sociedad to two La Liga trophies in the 1980s Javier Irureta helped Deportivo La Coruna to two titles in the 1990s And it is not just the Premier League where Guipuzcoano coaches are currently thriving All of these have their own individual personalities, tactical preferences and styles of working. There is no real Guipuzcoan school of coaching or Johan Cruyff-style prophet whose notions and ideas are followed religiously Arrasate and Olabe were all there in the mid-1990s “I am not really one for idols — everyone has their own idea of football “But Etxarri inculcated in us a love of football He was the one we debated ideas with at training; why we had to be one metre more to this side Guipuzcoan coaches tend to adapt to the qualities of the players at their disposal focusing more on a solid base than attacking fireworks Basque teams have traditionally been known for their togetherness and work ethic Etxarri says his idea of football is closer to Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone than Cruyff or Marcelo Bielsa “People would complain we are too defensive,” Etxarri says it has good forwards; if it is conceding lots Iraola is generally impeccably well-mannered except when defending his players from opponents or referees and then he gets in a foul mood on the bench I was always very demanding as a coach too Guipuzcoan coaches can also be ruthless and demanding, whether in picking or discarding players, or in their own career paths. Not long after winning a Europa League with Villarreal Emery left for a much bigger Premier League budget at Villa Lopetegui reacted to what he saw as broken promises from the Wolves hierarchy by resigning a few days before the 2023-24 campaign began But their inherent sense of competition means there is a healthy rivalry between the top Guipuzcoan coaches as well as a lot of shared respect and memories It is over three decades now since Arteta and Iraola were kids at Antiguoko so this weekend’s clash between Arsenal and Bournemouth is sure to be special for both (Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton) Dermot joined The Athletic in 2020 and has been our main La Liga Correspondent up until now. Irish-born, he has spent more than a decade living in Madrid and writing about Spanish football for ESPN, the UK Independent and the Irish Examiner. Follow Dermot on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan The San Jose that was sunk by English cannons in 1708 in the middle of a bloody battle for the fortune aboard.  Another fight this time a legal one is taking place three centuries later around the galleon and its booty of gold and silver coins and various jewels worth nearly 17,000 million dollars that is guarded in its underbelly.  This article was published in the Diario Vasco by Elena Viñas Elena Viñas.   They assure us that hidden in the bottom of the Caribbean near Colombia is the largest sunken treasure known to man but few have fixed the incalculable value of the ship that was built in the shipyards in Gipuzkoa president of Albaola and supporter of the building of a replica of the San Juan focus on the history of the ship that can no doubt be qualified as emblematic.  His interest in it has led him to make contacts with people in Colombia’s government providing his experience and that of the association in Pasaia that he presides CHARACTERISTICS        Shipyards: Mapil in Usurbil then to Orio and finally Reforms: Rushed on orders by Antonio Gaztañeta «We realized while studying the ship that as per its dimensions it was considered like a cathedral of the sea.  We are ready to contribute what we can as we have in other research in Canada on the San Juan the archeological excavation that took place this summer in Maine as part of the commemoration of the 450th anniversary of the voyage of Urdaneta,» he said doctor of History and specialist in Basque Country Maritime History and director of the research department and the aforementioned entity have gathered much information on the San Jose’s past The galleon is “an example of cutting edge technology” of the time “anywhere in the world,” capable of  transporting huge quantities of material and able to face the worst weather conditions and be ready for combat as if it were a battle ship «The galleon San Jose is an example of cutting edge technology of the time anywhere in the world» or asentista as it was called at that time The crown commissioned him the San Jose and its twin that was baptized the San Joaquin called to be the captain and admiral of galleons respectively as part of the Indies fleet.  Instructions by the superintendent of the army Francisco Antonio Garrote were followed in its design Construction began at the shipyard in Mapil situated in the Aginaga neighborhood in Usurbil and then work continued in Orio to finally be completed in Pasaia «It was nearly 1,030 tons and as all ships of that era and so had to finish up in the port of Pasaia.  It’s not a surprise that it would risk running aground in a river if there wasn’t enough water.  In Usurbil it was constructed until the second of its three decks In Orio the third and its main deck was built – which had begun in Mapil – until it was finally taken to its final destination where they would install the masts and the fore and aft castle stems would be built «The San Jose was taken by crane by small rowing boats that were attached the ship’s hull.  That is how it traveled from Orio to Pasaia to attach the masts,» Xabier Alberdi added while the head of Albaola stresses the relevance of dock where it finished with a deep channel that was favorable for the ships to port and launch.  Its terrain allowed it to develop into an impressive ship building area,» Agote said The construction of the San Jose and the San Joaquin was surrounded in controversy from the beginning.  Alberdi has studied the controversy in detail and believes that there were two key moments: the beginning of the construction and their launch «in a contract that Arostegui singed with the crown he established that the twin ships would be constructed at the Royal Shipyard Basanoaga in Errenteria Arostegui decided at the last minute to build them at Mapil in Usurbil.  We don’t know what happened.  Maybe the change was due to the existence of a forest nearby that would provide the necessary materials at a better price.  In Errenteria there were a lot of complaints since the decision would also affect the prestige of the town that counted on the ship construction.» Launching both ships from Usurbil resulted in a law suit.  Xabier Alberdi discovered the details of the proceedings in an archive in Tolosa where documents regarding the case have been preserved by the secretary of war in the Spanish court «In order to launch from Mapil and avoid any problems they began eliminating traps and nets vital for salmon fishing.  They had to come to an agreement and only removed one end of it so that the ships could head towards Orio The work on the San Jose and San Joaquin finished in Pasaia in 1698.  Pedro de Arostegui didn’t see them completed as he died a year earlier.  It was then his son that took over.  Antonio de Gaztañeta supervised the work and drove the identical ships to the port of Cadiz in 1699 «Gaztañeta revolutionized naval technology of the time.  He did so by changing the design of the galleons because they were not convinced by the end of their voyage to the south of the country,» Xabier Agote said.  These modifications were «technological milestones» give that «it was the end of the classic Spanish galleon they were built differently with different characteristics dictated by him » he stressed.  The ships that were created in since the San Jose were not the same.  They were «altered» by the improvements that were introduced «We have begun contacting the Colombian Government in hopes of studying the ship» From Albaola they stress the importance of the ship because of its origin «one hundred percent 'Made in Gipuzkoa'»  as well as to mark «the end of an era» «It makes me said to see how they talk about the San Jose and don’t reference its origin but had never been divulged.  It is an example of the power of the Basque Country in naval construction » he declares.  Comparing it with the Space industry Agote says that «The Basque Country would be the equivalent of NASA and Pasaia its future could be even more so.  The president of Colombia has announced his intention to creating a museum around the San Jose in Cartagena de Indias and coincidentally where the illustrious sailor from Pasaia Blas de Lezo (1689-1741) was killed and where he is considered a hero (Originally published in El Diario Vasco) Fernando Otero is the only Spaniard recognized by Argentina as a veteran of the 1982 war between the South American nation and the United Kingdom for sovereignty over the Falkland Islands but his case could set a precedent for another 21 forgotten compatriots an Argentine-flagged fishing boat operating in waters of the South Atlantic when it was “militarized and sent to face the enemy fleet,” he told Spanish news agency EFE The crew of 27 Argentines and 22 Spaniards was “forced” to carry out intelligence operations for the Argentine navy and what was going to be the search and rescue of Argentines fallen in combat turned into an espionage operation to detect and report British fleet movements He still remembers the moments of “panic” when British helicopters flew overhead and the relief of coming away unhurt unlike other fishing boats like the Narwal that ended up at the bottom of the sea Otero kept quiet for 32 years - thinking this was all about a “military secret” - but what a surprise it was after all that time to discover his erstwhile Argentine crewmates acknowledged as war veterans “The only thing I want is to be treated as their equals If the government sent us into a war together it's only logical that we get the same compensation,” he said In 2016 he did manage to convince the Argentine government to acknowledge him to be a veteran of the war over the archipelago that Latin Americans know as the Malvinas and a year later was decorated with medals in a ceremony at the Argentine Embassy in Madrid Today his demands go further: to make his Argentine pension retroactive from 1999 and obtain the benefit paid to veterans by Buenos Aires province The Spaniard zealously kept salary deposits consular certificates and even telephone bills but they are apparently insufficient to prove his residency in the Argentine town of Ingeniero White His struggle could set a precedent for the other 21 Spanish crewmates of the Usurbil and manage to get all of them accepted and decorated as war veterans “Fernando is the tip of the iceberg for resolving the cases of the other 21 Spaniards,” Marcelo Arce the same pay and the same honors,” Arce said about those Spaniards who “risked their lives” for Argentina several articles of the Geneva Convention have been violated because (Spain) was a nation declared neutral and those men were practically used as human shields Twenty-two Spaniards used but not rewarded will mark the 37th year of the landing of Argentine troops in the Falkland Islands which was started by Argentina's military regime claimed nearly 1,000 lives - some 700 Argentines and 255 British soldiers and sailors former captain of Athletic Club de Bilbao signed last Tuesday with New York City FC Andoni played for Athletic Club de Bilbao for 12 seasons This coming Sunday July 12th at 3:00 pm Andoni will debut in the match between NYC FC and Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium and after the match he will take part in a reception with members of the New York Basque Club and the city's Athletic Peña This is the message we got from Eusko Etxea of New York: former captain of Athletic Club de Bilbao has just signed with New York City FC and EENY has been contacted by NYC FC to participate in a small get together after the match to welcome Andoni to NYC The expectation is that Andoni will play a few minutes and after the match he will meet with representatives of Peña Athletic Club de Bilbao of New York and of Eusko Etxea at a venue place in the stadium Those of you that are willing to come to the match this Sunday and meet Andoni Iraola in person please contact as soon as possible to EENY or the Peña (nyeuzkoetxea2013@gmail.com or Peña's Facebook) This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.