Nico Williams
Recently, during a league match, Nico Williams faced boos and racist insults. In response, he scored a goal and proudly pointed to his skin. He is not one to stay silent in the face of intolerance; he wants to eradicate such behaviors from the football field. Despite his youth, Nico is very aware of his identity, feeling connected to his Ghanaian roots even though he was raised in Euskadi. Football is his passion and profession. We spoke with him to get to know him better while photographing him in some Nike attire and the new Air Max Dn shoes.
A bit of context. Nico Williams has made history with his lifelong club, Athletic Club de Bilbao, which recently won the Copa del Rey after forty years. He is currently riding that high while fighting to secure a spot in the Champions League, a challenging yet not impossible goal.
First of all, congratulations on the Copa del Rey. What a tournament and final! Was it worth all the effort?
Thank you very much! Yes, it was worth all the effort. We hadn’t won the Copa del Rey in forty years, and we all wanted to enjoy such an event. The match was very close, and we had to go to penalties, but we played a great game and brought the trophy back to Bilbao.
The celebration was historic. Just looking at some photos, you can feel the magic. How was it to celebrate on the Gabarra through the Bilbao estuary with so many fans?
It was incredible. We had never experienced anything like it; it’s something historical that we will always remember. That celebration through the Bilbao estuary showed us how much Athletic fans wanted to celebrate a title. We enjoyed it a lot, both us and the fans, and that is very special.
The party continued in the streets; there was a lot of excitement about winning the club’s favorite competition after forty years, as you said. How did you experience it? As a player and a fan, it must have been very special.
Of course, because it was something everyone had been waiting for a long time. Unfortunately, the team hadn’t won in the last few finals it reached, and combined with so many years without celebrating a Copa del Rey, it felt like a long time. That’s why everything is so special; winning the title was something we were very excited about, and luckily, we achieved it.
You’ve been playing football since you were very young. How did it all start? What memories do you have of those early years?
I always remember playing football. My older brother was my role model, and we were always out playing in the street. His friends, although they were all older than me, would let me play. It’s a time in my life that I hold dear—hours and hours playing football in the street, enjoying time with my brother, friends, and the ball.
Did you always know you would play in the First Division, or were you just going along?
No, playing in the First Division was always a dream, but I knew it was within reach for only a few. You play football hoping one day you might make it to the First Division. At first, I just focused on having fun, but as I grew older, I realized how difficult it would be to become a top-level player, and I had to work hard to make my debut with Athletic.
Having a role model like your brother Iñaki, who debuted with Athletic’s first team while you were in the lower categories, must have been incredibly motivating. When did you realize you had a real chance of moving up to the first team?
I was playing with Bilbao Athletic and feeling good. Some days, I trained with the first team, and that was a dream for me—being part of Athletic’s first team and sharing the locker room with my brother. In the 20/21 season, I was lucky to play a few minutes, and then I was called up for preseason with the first team. That’s when I realized that if I worked hard and had some luck, I could become an Athletic player.
You’ve been playing in the First Division for about three years now, and I imagine the pressure and demands are much higher, as well as public exposure. How do you manage all this? What keeps you centered, calm, and grounded? For some people, it’s sports, but you’re already an athlete. So, what is it for you? Meditation, hanging out with friends, family, books, music…?
I’m lucky to have my brother close by, and he’s already been through what I’m experiencing. It’s a blessing because he always supports and advises me. Spending time with my friends and family keeps me calm. I’m a young guy who plays video games with friends or sits on a bench eating sunflower seeds and chatting.
Earlier, we talked about music. Who’s in charge of the locker room music? Something tells us it might be you, but maybe in Bilbao, you’re more traditional and have Villalibre playing the trumpet before each match (laughs).
Well, in the locker room, several people are in charge of the music. They play all kinds, and we’re lucky that many in the locker room like music and play various instruments, so music is never lacking.
In your stories, we see a lot of afrobeat and reggaeton, and it seems you like Myke Towers a lot. What are Nico Williams’ musical tastes?
Yes, those are the music styles I usually listen to. In the car, I’m always listening to music, and I really like afrobeat and reggaeton. I love listening to music; I always have Spotify on, and I have several playlists full of great songs.
Tell us your current top 5 on Spotify.
Here it is: Young Jonn, Asake, Fireboy DML, Olamide, and Jungeli.
With your parents being Ghanaian and you growing up in Euskadi, it makes sense that music helps you feel connected to your roots. Is that the case for you?
Absolutely. It’s not just the music, of course, but it is an important link between my Ghanaian roots and me. African sounds are always joyful. In my family, music is important, and we enjoy it a lot.
Neither you nor your brother has lost the connection with Ghana. In fact, Iñaki now plays for their national team and went to the World Cup in Qatar with them. What does your country of origin mean to you, considering you’ve never lived there?
My brother had the opportunity to play in a World Cup and an Africa Cup with Ghana, and I am very proud of him. For us, Ghana is where our parents were born, and we are very aware that they came here seeking a better future. They are our reference, and everything they’ve done for us makes us very proud.
Your parents’ story is one of those happy-ending overcoming stories you’ve always said you’re proud of, as you are now. And rightly so. The effort and bravery it took for them to give you the childhood and life you’ve had must have influenced how you approach life. What have you learned from your parents? What’s the most valuable advice or lesson they’ve given you?
They made many sacrifices to give us the best. My parents taught me that with hard work, you can achieve anything. My father had to work in England for many years to support the family, my mother also worked very hard, and both Iñaki and I know all they’ve done for us, and we are very grateful.
You mentioned in an interview that no one is born racist, that it’s a matter of education. Have you had to endure a lot of racism in your life? Both outside and inside football, where unfortunately, education is sometimes lacking.
That’s what I believe. A child is not born racist; it’s a matter of education. That’s where we need to focus and continue working to prevent racist acts. Unfortunately, I’ve experienced it firsthand, and it’s something that needs to be eradicated from football and society.
With the recent case of Vinicius, Spanish fans have been labeled as racist. How do you see it, playing for the Spanish national team and visiting many stadiums?
I don’t think Spanish fans are racist. But unfortunately, there are still racist acts in our stadiums, and we can’t look the other way. Vinicius has been insulted because of his skin color, and that should never happen again. People should go to football matches to have fun, enjoy their team, and embrace the beautiful values of this sport, not to insult anyone.
Do you think leagues like the Premier League set an example in this regard?
The Premier League has been raising awareness for a long time, and we need to keep doing that here in Spain. We need to act through education; it’s the only way to prevent racist acts, and those who do something like that should face exemplary punishment and never set foot in a football stadium again.
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Jacket, pants, and socks NIKE, sweater APRON, shoes NIKE Air Max Dn.
Athletic fans are known for being like a family and supporting their own a lot. Have you felt that way?
Yes, Athletic fans always support their team. It’s wonderful to play at San Mamés, to enjoy a fanbase like ours that always backs us, no matter what happens.
**Last year, you faced a lot of hate due to the Copa elimination against Osasuna, to the point where you deleted all your social media. Now that time has passed and you can look back, how was that? You returned
