We Kick — Athletic Club Bilbao

The grassroots slot goes to Spain for Athletic Club Bilbao, introduced by club captain and Spain international Iraia Itureggi. The parent club was founded in 1898 and, besides Barcelona and Real Madrid, is the only side to have played in every edition of the Spanish first division; its unique philosophy admits only players born or raised in the Basque Country, which Itureggi calls both a handicap, because the market is small, and a plus, because players feel the club. The women’s team was founded in 2002 and won four league titles in nine years, clinching the first in 2002-03 in front of 35,000 at San Mames. Coach Juan Luis Fuentes is praised for enforcing without raising his voice, and Erika Vazquez and Irene Paredes are named the fittest.