Athletic Bilbao produced a spirited comeback to defeat Deportivo Alavés 4-2 in their Spanish league clash on Saturday, a match marked by a unique Mother’s Day tribute as players wore shirts displaying their mothers’ last names.
The game, played a day before Spain’s Mother’s Day (celebrated on the first Sunday of May), saw Athletic’s squad take to the pitch with altered jerseys as part of the occasion.
In Spain, women typically retain their maiden surnames after marriage, and children inherit surnames from both parents, adding cultural meaning to the gesture.
On the pitch, Athletic showed resilience after falling behind, with Nico Williams among the standout performers as he scored twice.
The winger, normally identified as “Williams Jr” on his shirt, instead wore “Arthuer Jr” on the back for the commemorative match.
The victory also carried personal significance for head coach Ernesto Valverde, who reached a landmark 500 matches in charge of the Basque club, further cementing his legacy at Athletic.
