MADRID, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- La Liga's Athletic Bilbao boasts the best youth system in Europe, according to the Swiss-based consultancy CIES Football Observatory.

The CIES study analyzed the five most important leagues in Europe, focusing on how many minutes players from each club's youth system have played.

Athletic Bilbao, currently fifth in La Liga, led the ranking with 14 former youth teamers playing 68.9 percent of all the minutes played so far this season.

The Basque club topped the ranking with a massive 23 percent lead over Olympique Lyonnais, who were second. Lyon had nine youth team products playing 45.6 percent of the total minutes, while Athletic Bilbao's near neighbors, Real Sociedad, were third, with 12 players competing in 45.4 percent of the total minutes.

Former youth-teamers have played 36.3 percent of the total minutes in La Liga for Real Madrid, and for FC Barcelona, the percentage stands at 29.1.

The fact that Athletic Bilbao utilizes more youth team players is not entirely surprising, given the club's historic policy of only accepting footballers born or raised within the Basque region of northern Spain, south-west France, and Navarre.

The club's inability to sign foreign players forms a cornerstone of their identity. Although this policy presents challenges in competing for titles, Athletic have played in Copa del Rey finals in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2020, and 2021, the 2012 Europa League final, and won the 2021 Spanish Supercup after defeating Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

The CIES study considers players who were in the youth system for three years between the ages of 15-21. This includes footballers such as Spain internationals Unai Simon, Nico Williams, and Oihan Sancet, but excludes other first-team regulars like Mikel Vesga and Inigo Lekue, who joined the club at a younger age. Enditem

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