LaLiga North America announced on May 19 the release of
“Black Stars of LaLiga,” a series celebrating the proud cultural backgrounds
and upbringings of three of the league’s rising stars: Yunus Musah of Valencia
CF, Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad, and Iñaki Williams of Athletic Club.
Each 15-20 minute episode takes fans through the player’s
upbringings and journeys through various parts of Spain. As they immerse
themselves in each region and experience the clubs that mean so much to their
local communities, they learn about the diverse people and players who comprise
both.
The series was produced by LaLiga North America, the
league’s joint venture with Relevent Sports in the United States, Canada and
Mexico, in partnership with Black Arrow FC, a brand that focuses on the
intersection of soccer and Black culture.
“Black Stars of LaLiga” debuted on Andscape YouTube Channel,
Thursday, May 19 with Yunus Musah’s story: Citizen of the World. Alexander
Isak’s The Swedish Eritrean Footballer will premiere on Tuesday, May 24, and
the series will conclude with Iñaki Williams’ A Long Journey, New Beginnings on
Thursday May 26. All episodes will subsequently be made available on ESPN+ in a
content section curated by Andscape, ESPN’s multi-media platform dedicated to
embracing and sharing the full range of Black culture and identity.
Complementary short-form content will also be available across ESPN and LaLiga
platforms.
“LaLiga is one of the most diverse sports leagues in the
world, home to players from 62 different nationalities that are followed around
the world,” said Boris Gartner, CEO of LaLiga North America. “It’s important
for us to tell the stories of stars like Yunus, Alexander and Iñaki as we
celebrate their lives and achievements while elevating their voices to inspire
the next generation of LaLiga players.”
“Andscape is thrilled to join forces with LaLiga North
America to bring these stories to life,” said Raina Kelley, Vice President and
Editor-in-Chief, Andscape. “Reflecting the light from these Black stars is
exactly what we seek to do every day and across all our platforms. And these
are the kinds of content that needs to be seen and felt to truly understand the
importance of diversity.”
“Yunus, Alexander and Iñaki not only represent three of
LaLiga’s rising stars, but continue the long tradition and history of Black
players showcasing their talents in Spain’s premier division,” said Adrian
Segovia, Head of Content and Distribution of LaLiga North America.
Each coming from different parts of the world representing
multiple regions, cultures and backgrounds, Musah (19 years old), Isak (22) and
Williams (27) are cementing themselves as part of the long and storied history
and legacy of Black players in LaLiga which includes Samuel Eto’o, Patrick
Kluivert, Jozy Altidore, Clarence Seedorf, Frederic Kanoute and Yaya Toure,
among others.
Yunus Musah – Citizen of the World
Born in the United States to Ghanaian parents, Musah grew up
in Italy and England before joining Valencia CF in 2019. In this episode, Musah
recalls his global upbringing and how it made him the person, and footballer,
he is today. The polyglot also discusses his decision to commit to the United
States National Team over Ghana, Italy and England.
Alexander Isak – The Swedish Eritrean Footballer
Set on the shores of the Bay of Biscay in Spain’s Basque
Country, Real Sociedad is a reflection of the people, culture and history of
the city while serving as a unifying institution to the community. One of the
club’s young stars is Alexander Isak. Born in Sweden to Eritrean parents, the
22-year-old reflects on his heritage, growing up in Sweden and moving to Spain
as a teenager when he signed with Los Txuri-Urdin in 2019.
Iñaki Williams – A Long Journey, New Beginnings
Iñaki Williams wouldn’t be where he is today if it wasn’t
for his parents. In search of a better life for their family, they left Ghana
and endured a harrowing journey through the African desert in an attempt to get
to Spain. Eventually settling in Bilbao, Iñaki and younger brother, Nico, were
born in the Basque Country, making them eligible to play for Athletic Club—a
dream, honor and privilege for the Williams’ brothers, especially given the
sacrifices their parents made decades prior.
“Black Stars of LaLiga” is the second premium series
developed by LaLiga North America for ESPN+ as part of its efforts to create
relevant content for LaLiga fans in the United States. Its in-house production
studio, LaLiga North America Studios, also creates 25+ digital shows every week
in English and Spanish featuring local talent and telling stories of the
competition, its clubs and players in a way that connects with local fans.