Editing Athletic Bilbao (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of Athletic Bilbao}}

=== Bilbao FC, Athletic Club, and Club Bizcaya ===
[[File:Athletic Club 1903.jpg|thumb|Athletic Club with the first [[Copa del Rey 1903|Copa del Rey]], in 1903, with Juan de Astorquia in the center]]
Football was introduced to [[Bilbao]] by two distinct groups with British connections: British workers, and Basque students returning from schools in Britain.<ref name=lafutbolteca>{{Cite web |url=http://lafutbolteca.com/athletic-club-de-bilbao/ |title=Historial del Athletic Club |trans-title=Athletic Club History |language=es |website=lafutbolteca.com |accessdate=22 January 2024 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820100107/http://lafutbolteca.com/athletic-club-de-bilbao/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the late 19th century, Bilbao was a leading industrial town, thus becoming the home to a large British colony, mainly made up of migrant workers, including shipyard workers and miners from various areas of England, such as [[Southampton]], [[Portsmouth]], and [[Sunderland]].<ref name=Footballtimes>{{cite web |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/07/05/an-english-field-in-bilbao/ |title=An English field in Bilbao |website=thesefootballtimes.co |date=5 July 2017 |access-date=22 January 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822154827/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/07/05/an-english-field-in-bilbao/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Field>{{cite web |url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2021/08/02/the-englishmens-field-the-place-where-football-took-root-in-bilbao |title=The Englishmen's Field: The place where football took root in Bilbao |website=www.athletic-club.eus |date=2 August 2022 |access-date=22 January 2024 |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720200225/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2021/08/02/the-englishmens-field-the-place-where-football-took-root-in-bilbao |url-status=live }}</ref> Along with coal, they brought with them (as in so many other parts of the world) the game of football. Meanwhile, sons of the [[Basque people|Basque]] educated classes, such as [[Juan Astorquia]], went to Britain to complete their studies, and while there they developed a deep interest in football, so when they returned they began to organize games with British workers at the [[Hippodrome of Lamiako]], which at the time was the home of organized football in Biscay.<ref name=Lamiaco>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cihefe.es/cuadernosdefutbol/2017/11/la-campa-de-lamiaco/ |title=La campa de Lamiaco |trans-title=The Lamiako field |language=es |publisher=[[:es:Centro de Investigaciones de Historia y Estadística del Fútbol Español|CIHEFE]] |date=17 October 2017 |accessdate=22 January 2024 |archive-date=30 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030195941/https://www.cihefe.es/cuadernosdefutbol/2017/11/la-campa-de-lamiaco/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/welcome-to-spains-old-english-outpost-7569163.html|title=Welcome to Spain's old English outpost|last=Unwin|first=Will|newspaper=The Independent|date=15 March 2012|accessdate=20 January 2018|archive-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909205513/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/welcome-to-spains-old-english-outpost-7569163.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1898, Juan Astorquia and six other Basque students belonging to the Gymnasium Zamacois began to practice football in Lamiako.<ref name=lafutbolteca/><ref name=momentos>{{cite news |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/athletic/2020/04/27/5ea6f8b9e2704ec8a88b4592.html |title=La historia del Athletic en 10 momentos |trans-title=The history of Athletic in 10 moments |language=es |publisher=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |date=27 April 2020 |accessdate=22 January 2024 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824181241/https://www.marca.com/futbol/athletic/2020/04/27/5ea6f8b9e2704ec8a88b4592.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Three years later, in 1901, at a meeting held at the ''Café García'', this group of football pioneers, now larger, began conversations to become a legalized official football club, which they called ''Athletic Club'', using the English spelling.<ref name=Lamiaco/> [[Luis Márquez (footballer, born 1876)|Luis Márquez]] became the [[List of Athletic Bilbao presidents|club's first president]], while Astorquia and [[Alfred Mills (footballer)|Alfred Mills]] (the club's only foreign-born founder) were named the team's captain and vice-captain, but in 1902, Astorquia replaced Márquez as president, ruling from 1902 until 1903.<ref name=momentos/> Under his presidency, Athletic and their city rivals [[Bilbao Football Club]] reached an agreement to combine the best players of both sides to form a team known as [[Bizcaya (football team)|''Club Bizcaya'']], which was created to compete in the [[1902 Copa de la Coronación]] (forerunner of the [[Copa del Rey]] which officially began a year later) held in [[Madrid]]; Bizcaya returned to Bilbao with the trophy after beating [[Joan Gamper]]'s [[FC Barcelona]] 2–1 in the [[1902 Copa de la Coronación Final|final]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aupaathletic.com/118-anos-de-la-primera-rivalidad/noticia/14959 |title=118 años de la primera rivalidad |trans-title=118 years since the first rivalry |language=es |website=www.aupaathletic.com |date=7 November 2019 |access-date=22 January 2024 |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721002416/https://www.aupaathletic.com/118-anos-de-la-primera-rivalidad/noticia/14959 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1902.html |title=Spain - Cup 1902 |publisher=[[RSSSF]] |date=15 September 2000 |access-date=22 January 2024 |archive-date=17 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060917170030/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spancup1902.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.linguasport.com/futbol/nacional/copa/copa02.htm |title=Copa del Rey Alfonso XIII 1902 |website=www.linguasport.com |access-date=22 January 2024 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901215908/https://www.linguasport.com/futbol/nacional/copa/copa02.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref> On 24 March 1903, Bilbao FC and its associates were officially and definitively absorbed by Athletic Club.<ref name=lafutbolteca/> The club itself declares 1898 as its foundation date.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maloney |first=Adam L. |date=14 November 2018 |title=A Short History of Athletic Bilbao |url=https://www.itinari.com/a-short-history-of-athletic-bilbao-379g |access-date=11 December 2022 |website=itinari |language=en |archive-date=11 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211215712/https://www.itinari.com/a-short-history-of-athletic-bilbao-379g |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Pichichi and Copa del Rey ===
[[File:Athletic Club 1915.png|thumb|upright=1|Athletic Club champion team in 1915 along with the 1914 and 1915 Copa del Rey trophies.]]
The club featured prominently in early Copas del Rey. Following their triumph at the Copa de la Coronación by ''Club Bizcaya'', Athletic won their first Copa del Rey in [[1903 Copa del Rey|1903]]. After watching [[1903 Copa del Rey final|the final]] in the Spanish capital that year, Basque students also formed an affiliated team, ''Athletic Club Madrid'', which later evolved into [[Atlético Madrid]]. In [[1904 Copa del Rey|1904]], holders Athletic were declared winners of the trophy after their opponents failed to turn up. In 1907, they revived the name ''Club Vizcaya'' after entering a combined team with ''La Union'' and were beaten in the Copa final. After a brief lull, they won again in [[1910 Copa del Rey|1910]], with [[Luis Astorquia]] as the new captain and goalkeeper.

In 1911, former team captain [[Alejandro de la Sota (footballer)|Alejandro de la Sota]], was elected as the 7th president of the club, and he was the driving force behind the construction of the [[San Mamés Stadium (1913)|San Mamés Stadium]] (architect Manuel María Smith), which opened in 1913 and soon became one of the symbols of Athletic's dominance in the 1910s, winning the Copa del Rey three times in a row between [[1914 Copa del Rey|1914]] and [[1916 Copa del Rey|1916]], with [[Billy Barnes (footballer)|Billy Barnes]] as coach. Between 1917 and 1919 the club went through a period of institutional crisis and during that time did not participate in the Copa del Rey, having failed to win the [[Biscay Championship|regional tournament]] which acted as the qualifier. In 1920, with the return of Billy Barnes, Athletic once again participated in the national championship and in 1921 won the Copa del Rey again.

The star of this team was [[Pichichi (footballer)|Pichichi]], a prolific goalscorer who scored the first goal at the San Mamés on 21 August 1913<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/08/21/paisvasco/1377102106.html|title=El viejo San Mamés cumpliría hoy cien años|trans-title=Old San Mamés would be 100 years old today|newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]|language=Spanish|date=21 August 2013|accessdate=23 September 2017|archive-date=3 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103095711/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/08/21/paisvasco/1377102106.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and a [[hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] in the [[1915 Copa del Rey Final|1915 final]]. The last championship won by Pichichi was the 1921 Copa del Rey, before his death aged just 29 in 1922. Today, the La Liga top-scorer is declared the [[The Pichichi Trophy|''Pichichi'']] in his honour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/201510/08/pichichi-reune-goleadores-rojiblancos-20151008210636.html |title=Los discípulos de Pichichi |trans-title=Pichichi's disciples |newspaper=El Correo |language=Spanish |date=9 October 2015 |accessdate=23 September 2017 |archive-date=8 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108054024/http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/201510/08/pichichi-reune-goleadores-rojiblancos-20151008210636.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Fred Pentland and the ''first historic attack'' ===
[[File:Athletic 1931.jpg|thumb|In the 1930s, Athletic Bilbao won four leagues and four cups in just six years. In the image, the [[1930–31 La Liga]] winning team.]]
Along with fellow Basque clubs such as [[Real Unión]], [[Arenas Club de Getxo]] and [[Real Sociedad]], Athletic was a founding member of [[La Liga]] in 1928 and by 1930 they were joined by [[Deportivo Alavés|CD Alavés]]; five of the ten clubs in the ''Primera División'' were from the Basque Country. The saying "''Con cantera y afición, no hace falta importación''" ([[English language|en]]: "With home-grown teams and support, there is no need for import"), made sense during these early days.

In 1922, a new English coach, [[Fred Pentland]], arrived; in 1923, he led the club to victory in the Copa del Rey. He revolutionised the way Athletic played, favouring the short-passing game. In 1927, Pentland left Athletic but returned in 1929 and led the club to La Liga/Copa del Rey doubles in 1930 and 1931. The club won the Copa del Rey four times in a row between 1930 and 1933 and they were also La Liga runners-up in 1932 and 1933. In 1931, Athletic defeated Barcelona 12–1, the latter's worst defeat and the biggest win in LaLiga history.

Athletic's success under English coaches continued with [[William Garbutt]]. His first season in Spain was a massive success as he managed to win the [[1935–36 La Liga|Liga]]<ref name="Edgerton (2009)">{{cite book|author=Edgerton, Paul.|date=2009|title=William Garbutt. The father of Italian football|publisher=Sportsbooks Ltd.|location=[[Cheltenham]], England|pages=117–124|isbn=978-1899807826}}</ref> that year. He had inherited a talented squad that included one of the best strikers in the club's history, known as ''Primera delantera histórica'' ([[English language|en]]:&nbsp;''First historic attack''), formed by [[Lafuente (footballer, born 1907)|Lafuente]], [[José Iraragorri]], [[Bata (footballer)|Bata]] (top scorer of LaLiga in 1930–31), [[Ignacio Agirrezabala|Chirri II]] and [[Guillermo Gorostiza]] (top scorer of LaLiga in 1929-30 and 1931–32). Goalkeeper [[Gregorio Blasco]] also stood out, who was the most unbeaten goalie in LaLiga on three occasions.

Garbutt promoted the young [[Ángel Zubieta]] to the first team, a player who at 17 years of age became the youngest ever to play for the Spanish national team<ref name="Edgerton (2009)" /> at the time. In the final game of the season, the title was decided when Athletic defeated Oviedo 2–0 at home on 19 April 1936, winning the title two points ahead of Real Madrid.<ref name="Edgerton (2009)" /> In July 1936, football halted due to the outbreak of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. The league did not restart until the [[1939–40 La Liga|1939–40 season]]. Athletic Club did not win the title again until [[1942–43 La Liga|1943]] and by that time Garbutt had been exiled.<ref name="Edgerton (2009)" />

=== Telmo Zarra and the ''second historic attack'' ===
In 1941, the club was forced to change its name to Atlético Bilbao, following [[Language politics in Francoist Spain|a decree issued by Franco]], who also changed the name of the Copa del Rey to Copa del Generalísimo, in reference to his own figure.

After the civil war, the club had to rebuild the team almost from scratch, as only seven players from the team before the conflict remained: some who had shown themselves in favour of [[Basque nationalism]] or the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish republic]] went into exile in [[Latin America]], and others were rejected for fear of reprisals. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Athletic focused on the young promises of the Basque teams to rebuild the team. In this way, it managed to create a competitive team that quickly became champions.

During the 1940s and early 1950s, the club featured the legendary forward line formed by [[Rafa Iriondo]], [[Francisco Garate Bergaretxe|Francisco Gárate]], [[Telmo Zarra]], [[José Luis Panizo]] and [[Agustín Gaínza]], which was nicknamed ''Segunda delantera histórica'' (en:&nbsp;''Second historic attack''); midfielder [[Nando González]] and goalkeeper [[Raimundo Lezama]] (most unbeaten goalie in LaLiga on [[1946–47 La Liga|1946-47]]) also stood out from this team. This squad, coached by [[Juan Urkizu]], won a [[double (association football)|double]] in [[1942–43 La Liga|1943]] and retained Copa del Generalísimo in both [[1944 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1944]] and [[1945 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1945]]. Years later, [[Venancio Pérez]] replaced Garate in the forward line and [[José Iraragorri]] took over the bench. They helped the club win another Copa del Generalísimo and a [[Copa Eva Duarte]] (the official precedent of the [[Supercopa de España]]) in [[1950 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1950]].

The big star of this team was [[Telmo Zarra]], who became one of the club's great legends and the top scorer in its history with 335 goals. He won six Pichichi Trophies for being the top scorer in LaLiga (a record only surpassed by Messi in 2020), and his 38 goals in the [[1950–51 La Liga|1950–51]] season stood as a record for 60 years. He was also the top scorer in LaLiga history since 1950 with 251 goals until in 2014 he was surpassed by [[Lionel Messi]] and later by [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] (however, he is still the top Spanish scorer in the championship). In 1997, the [[Monarchy of Spain|King of Spain]] [[Juan Carlos I]] awarded him the gold medal to [[Royal Order of Sports Merit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bilbaopedia.info/zarra-telmo-calle|title=Zarra, Telmo. Calle|last=González Oliver|first=Javier|website=Bilbaopedia|date=12 December 2006|access-date=17 September 2018|language=es}}</ref>

=== The team of ''eleven villagers'' ===

In 1954, coach [[Ferdinand Daučík]] retired the team of ''second historic  attack'' and gave way to a new generation of players. Daučík managed to form a new champion team that won the double in [[1955-56 La Liga|1956]] and two other victories in the Copa del Generalísimo in [[1955 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1955]] and [[1958 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1958]]. The latter is remembered as one of the club's most important achievements because Athletic managed to beat [[Alfredo Di Stéfano|Di Stefano]]'s [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], which had just won the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] and LaLiga, and the Spanish federation also ignored Athletic's request to play in a neutral field and forced the final to be played in [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Chamartin]] (Real Madrid stadium). However, the Bilbao team won the match 2–0 with goals from [[Eneko Arieta|Arieta]] and [[Mauri (Spanish footballer)|Mauri]], and lifted the Cup in Chamartin Stadium. From that moment on, this was remembered as ''el equipo de los once aldeanos'' (en:&nbsp;''the team of eleven villagers''), since club president Enrique Guzmán shouted during the title celebration: ''"With eleven villagers, we have beaten them!"'', in allusion to the club's tradition of playing only with players from its homeland. The classic team lineup was: [[Carmelo Cedrún|Carmelo]]; [[José Orúe|Orue]], [[Jesús Garay|Garay]], [[Canito (footballer, born 1931)|Canito]]; [[Mauri (Spanish footballer)|Mauri]], [[José María Maguregui|Maguregui]], [[Félix Marcaida|Marcaida]]; [[José Luis Artetxe|Arteche]], [[Eneko Arieta|Arieta]] (whom they considered Zarra's successor), [[Ignacio Uribe|Uribe]] and [[Agustín Gaínza|Gaínza]]. Thanks to their league title triumph, the team represented Spain in the [[1956 Latin Cup]], where they reached the final and lost to [[AC Milan]] by a score of 3–1.

In the same year the club also made their debut in the [[1956–57 European Cup|European Cup]], where they reached the quarterfinals after eliminating [[FC Porto]] and [[Ferenc Puskás]]'s [[Budapest Honvéd FC|Honvéd FC]]. They then beat [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] [[Busby Babes]] 5–3 at [[San Mamés Stadium (1913)|San Mamés Stadium]], but were defeated 3–0 at [[Old Trafford]], in a match in which goalkeeper [[Carmelo Cedrún|Carmelo]] had to play almost the entire match injured because substitutions did not exist at that time.

=== Iribar and the first UEFA final ===
[[File:Aankomst Atletico Bilbao op Schiphol vlnr Dani, trainer Aguirre en doelman , Bestanddeelnr 929-9172.jpg|thumb|Dani, coach Koldo Aguirre and Iribar in 1978.]]
The 1960s were dominated by Real Madrid, and Atlético went through a few years of transition in which the only figure that shone was goalkeeper [[José Ángel Iribar]], who became one of the club's greatest legends along with Zarra. Due to the team's bad form, the fans used to constantly repeat the phrase ''Juegan Iribar y diez más'' ([[English language|en]]: ''Iribar and ten more are playing''). The situation improved when in [[1969 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1969]] Atlético won a Copa del Generalísimo and was runner-up in LaLiga in the [[1969–70 La Liga|1969–70]] season. The main stars of this team −in addition to Iribar− were the scorer [[Fidel Uriarte]] (winner of a [[Pichichi Trophy]]) and the winger [[Txetxu Rojo]].

The 1970s were not much better, with only another single Copa del Generalísimo win in [[1973 Copa del Generalísimo Final|1973]]. In December 1976, before a game against Real Sociedad, Iribar and Sociedad captain [[Inaxio Kortabarria]] carried out the [[Ikurriña]] (the [[Basque nationalism|Basque nationalist]] flag), and placed it ceremonially on the centre-circle – this was the first public display of the flag since the death of [[Francisco Franco]]. By then the Franco regime had also ended and the club reverted to using the name ''Athletic''. In 1977, the club reached [[1977 UEFA Cup Final|the final]] of the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] after eliminating teams like [[AC Milan]] or [[FC Barcelona]], among others, and only losing on [[Away goals rule|away goals]] to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]. They also reached the Copa del Rey final, which they lost to [[Real Betis]] on penalties (Iribar missed the decisive one, which gave the Sevillians the victory), and reached third position in LaLiga. Despite these defeats, this is remembered as one of the best teams in the history of Athletic Bilbao, which included historical players of the club such as Iribar, Rojo, [[Agustín Guisasola|Guisasola]], [[José Ramón Alexanko|Alexanko]], [[Andoni Goikoetxea|Goikoetxea]], [[Javier Irureta|Irureta]], [[Dani (footballer, born 1951)|Dani]] or [[Carlos (footballer, born 1948)|Carlos]] (last player to win the [[Pichichi Trophy]] with the club).

=== La Liga and Copa del Rey winners with Clemente ===
[[File:JaviClemente.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Coach Javier Clemente.]]
In 1981, [[Javier Clemente]] became manager. He put together one of the most successful teams in the club's history, the main lineup of this team was: [[Andoni Zubizarreta|Zubizarreta]]; [[Santiago Urquiaga|Urkiaga]], [[Andoni Goikoetxea|Goikoetxea]], [[Iñigo Liceranzu|''Rocky'' Liceranzu]], [[Luis de la Fuente (footballer, born 1961)|De la Fuente]]; [[Miguel de Andrés|De Andrés]], [[Miguel Sola|Sola]], [[Ismael Urtubi|Urtubi]]; [[Dani (footballer, born 1951)|Dani]], [[Manuel Sarabia|Sarabia]] and [[Estanislao Argote|Argote]]. In [[1982–83 La Liga|1982–83]] season, Athletic became LaLiga champion after surpassing [[Santillana (footballer)|Santillana]]'s [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] in the standings on the last round. The following year they won a LaLiga and Copa del Rey double. In that cup final they beat [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]]'s [[FC Barcelona]] 1–0; the Argentine player did not take the defeat well and attacked an Athletic player, which caused a brawl between both teams. Months earlier, Goikoetxea had injured Maradona after a hard tackle from behind, from which it took him several weeks to recover, and the Bilbao native was sanctioned with 17 games without playing (although the match referee did not show him any card for this fact).

In 1985 and 1986, Athletic finished third and fourth respectively. During the 1985–86 season, Clemente was fired due to a bad relationship with the team's star, Sarabia. A succession of coaches that included José Ángel Iribar, [[Howard Kendall]], [[Jupp Heynckes]] and [[Javier Irureta]] and even a returning Clemente failed to reproduce his success.

=== The Fernández era ===
In 1998, coach [[Luis Fernández]] led the club to second in La Liga and [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] qualification. Fernández benefited from the club adopting a more flexible approach to the ''[[cantera]]''. In 1995, Athletic had signed [[Joseba Etxeberria]] from regional rivals Real Sociedad, causing considerable bad feelings between the two clubs.<ref name="morbo">{{cite book|last=Ball|author-link=Phil Ball (writer)|first=Phil|title=Morbo: the story of Spanish football (p.37)|year=2001|publisher=WSC Books Limited|isbn=9780954013462|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/morbostoryofspan0000ball}}</ref> Etxeberria was a prominent member of the 1997–98 squad, along with [[Ismael Urzaiz]] and [[Julen Guerrero]].

=== 21st century ===
[[File:Marcelo Bielsa - Athletic 2011.jpg|thumb|Marcelo Bielsa led Athletic Bilbao to its second European final.]]
The club narrowly avoided relegation during the [[2005–06 La Liga|2005–06]] and [[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07]] seasons,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/04/europeanfootball.sport1|title=Are Bilbao about to bow out?|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 December 2006|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142452/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/04/europeanfootball.sport1|url-status=live}}</ref> the latter being the worst in the club's history.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/levante/es/desarrollo/1189444.html | title = Presunto amaño en el Athletic-Levante de hace dos temporadas | trans-title = Alleged match-fixing in Athletic-Levante two seasons ago | newspaper = Marca | language = es | date = 3 December 2008 | access-date = 7 February 2020 | archive-date = 19 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081219200137/http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/levante/es/desarrollo/1189444.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In the [[2008–09 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]], they reached their first final in 24 years, [[2009 Copa del Rey Final|losing 4–1 to Barcelona]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.marca.com/2009/05/13/futbol/copa_rey/1242251735.html |title=El Barça se corona por aplastamiento |trans-title=Barça crowned in a crushing |newspaper=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |language=es |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709105203/http://www.marca.com/2009/05/13/futbol/copa_rey/1242251735.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to the [[2011–12 Athletic Bilbao season|2011–12 season]], Athletic's new president, former player [[Josu Urrutia]], brought in coach [[Marcelo Bielsa]];<ref>[http://cadenaser.com/ser/2011/06/30/deportes/1309390100_850215.html?int=masinfo Josu Urrutia confirma a Marcelo Bielsa como su entrenador si es presidente (Josu Urrutia confirms Marcelo Bielsa as his manager if he is president)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127125759/https://cadenaser.com/ser/2011/06/30/deportes/1309390100_850215.html?int=masinfo |date=27 November 2021 }}; [[Cadena SER]], 30 June 2011 (in Spanish)</ref><ref>[http://www.marca.com/2011/07/06/futbol/equipos/athletic/1309980176.html Bielsa: "Hay una proporción adecuada entre esfuerzo y creatividad" (Bielsa: "The proportion between effort and creativity is just right")] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914081647/http://www.marca.com/2011/07/06/futbol/equipos/athletic/1309980176.html |date=14 September 2017 }}; [[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]], 7 July 2011 (in Spanish)</ref> Athletic advanced to their first European final since 1977, losing 3–0 to Spanish rivals Atlético Madrid on 9 May in the [[2012 UEFA Europa League Final]] at the [[Arena Națională]] in [[Bucharest]].<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Atkin |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0250-0c50fb7a9e5f-dc5a349f670c-1000--falcao-at-double-as-atletico-march-to-title/ |title=Falcao at double as Atlético march to title |publisher=[[UEFA]].com |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=26 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826013616/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2012/matches/round=2000277/match=2007480/postmatch/report/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They also reached the [[2012 Copa del Rey Final]], losing again to Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/25/barcelona-athletic-copa-del-rey |title=Barcelona end Guardiola era with Copa del Rey win over Athletic Bilbao |date=26 May 2012 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731190430/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/25/barcelona-athletic-copa-del-rey |url-status=live }}</ref>

After star midfielder [[Javi Martínez]] moved to [[FC Bayern Munich]], Athletic were eliminated from the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League#Group I|2012–13 Europa League group stage]], and were knocked out of the [[2012–13 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] by Basque club [[SD Eibar|Eibar]] of the [[2012–13 Segunda División B|third tier]]. Relegation was a threat until the end of the season, and the [[2012–13 La Liga|final league game]] at the "old" San Mamés ended in defeat. Athletic would soon move to a new stadium, albeit in a partially completed state. Bielsa promoted young defender [[Aymeric Laporte]] into the side, while striker [[Fernando Llorente]] completed a [[free transfer (association football)|free transfer]] to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]].<ref name=FE>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-espana.net/32286/llorente-unveiled-juve-player|title=Llorente unveiled as a Juve player|publisher=Football España|date=2 July 2013|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804053751/http://www.football-espana.net/32286/llorente-unveiled-juve-player|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:SM-AB 2018 (4).jpg|thumb|left|Aritz Aduriz became one of the top scorers in the club's history with 172 goals.]]
After Bielsa, [[Ernesto Valverde]] returned for a second spell as manager, and he signed or brought through several new players as Athletic came fourth in [[2013–14 La Liga|the league]], meaning a [[UEFA Champions League]] campaign. [[Ander Herrera]] transferred to Manchester United for €36 million deal at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Herrera pays release clause |url=http://www.athletic-club.net/web/main.asp?a=0&b=1&c=1&d=1000&berria=14335&idi=2 |publisher=athletic-club.net (Athletic Bilbao) |date=26 June 2014 |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630011007/http://www.athletic-club.net/web/main.asp?a=0&b=1&c=1&d=1000&berria=14335&idi=2 |archive-date=30 June 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2014/Jun/ander-herrera-signs-for-manchester-united.aspx|title=Club statement on Ander Herrera|publisher=Manchester United F.C.|date=26 June 2014|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=22 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522214902/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2014/Jun/ander-herrera-signs-for-manchester-united.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

Athletic had a triumphant first full-capacity match in the new [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|San Mamés]] as they defeated [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] to qualify for the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] group stage,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2014216--athletic-club-vs-napoli/|title=Aduriz relishing Athletic's group stage adventure|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=28 August 2014|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=3 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903104724/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000547/match=2014216/postmatch/quotes/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> however they could only finish 3rd in the group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0ea70df0c8a0-eda45b179afd-1000--san-jose-shows-way-for-athletic-at-shakhtar/|title=San José shows way for Athletic at Shakhtar|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=25 November 2014|access-date=18 July 2017|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915111807/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000548/match=2014386/postmatch/report/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Athletic reached the [[2015 Copa del Rey Final]], but once again lost to Barcelona, 3–1.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/copa-del-rey/2014-2015/barcelona-v-athletic-bilbao-live_sto4760579/story.shtml |title=Lionel Messi stars as Barcelona win Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao |date=30 May 2015 |work=[[Eurosport]] |access-date=18 July 2017 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205153904/https://www.eurosport.com/geoblocking.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the first leg of the [[2015 Supercopa de España]] at San Mamés, Athletic defeated Barcelona 4–0, with [[Aritz Aduriz]] scoring a hat-trick. In the return leg at [[Camp Nou]], Athletic hung on with a 1–1 draw to win their first trophy since 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33939433|title=Barcelona thrashed 4–0 by Bilbao|date=14 August 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817115633/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33939433|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33969001|title=Barcelona lose Spanish Super Cup to Athletic Bilbao|date=17 August 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 August 2015|archive-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819060442/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33969001|url-status=live}}</ref> Aduriz finished with 36 goals in all competitions. Athletic advanced to the quarter-finals in the [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] where they were only defeated on penalties by the holders and eventual repeat winners [[Sevilla FC]].

Valverde left his position at the end of the 2016–17 season after four years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/17933/ernesto-valverde-will-not-continue-as-premier-team-coach.html|title=Ernesto Valverde will not continue as premier team coach|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|work=official website|date=23 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017|archive-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118021546/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/17933/ernesto-valverde-will-not-continue-as-premier-team-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was confirmed that his successor would be former player [[José Ángel Ziganda]], moving up from [[Athletic Bilbao B|Bilbao Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/17937/jose-angel-ziganda-new-athletic-clubs-manager.html|title=José Ángel Ziganda, Athletic Club's new manager|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|work=official website|date=24 May 2017|access-date=25 May 2017|archive-date=13 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713232103/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/17937/jose-angel-ziganda-new-athletic-clubs-manager.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 November the club suffered a shock defeat to [[SD Formentera]] in the [[2017–18 Copa del Rey#Round of 32|domestic cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/18517/goodbye-to-the-cup.html|title=Goodbye to the cup|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=29 November 2017|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044309/http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/18517/goodbye-to-the-cup.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/11/30/5a1fe04fca4741e86f8b4584.html|title=Formentera loss plunges Athletic into crisis|newspaper=Marca|date=30 November 2017|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201002000/http://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/11/30/5a1fe04fca4741e86f8b4584.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the conclusion of a poor season overall, Ziganda was dismissed and [[Eduardo Berizzo]] was appointed. However, his spell was even less fruitful<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2018/11/06/actualidad/1541532008_175271.html|title=El fantasma del bienio negro ronda San Mamés|trans-title=The ghost of the black biennium around San Mamés|newspaper=[[El País]]|language=es|date=7 November 2018|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044837/https://elpais.com/deportes/2018/11/06/actualidad/1541532008_175271.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and in December 2018, having won just two of his fifteen matches at the helm and with the team in [[2018–19 La Liga|the relegation zone]], Berizzo was dismissed. B-team coach [[Gaizka Garitano]] took over<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2018/12/04/sustitucion-de-eduardo-berizzo|title=Replacement of Eduardo Berizzo|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=4 December 2018|access-date=4 December 2018|archive-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003649/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2018/12/04/sustitucion-de-eduardo-berizzo|url-status=live}}</ref> and oversaw an improvement in results, with the club moving well out of danger and narrowly missing out on a Europa League spot on the last day.<ref>[https://insideathletic.com/2019/05/18/sevilla-2-0-athletic-club-the-european-dream-comes-to-an-end/ Sevilla 2-0 Athletic Club: the European dream comes to an end] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802133244/https://insideathletic.com/2019/05/18/sevilla-2-0-athletic-club-the-european-dream-comes-to-an-end/ |date=2 August 2019 }}, Inside Athletic Club, 18 May 2019</ref>

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |title=Celebration of the 2024 Copa del Rey victory |image1=Gabarra eta bestelako ontziak.jpg |width1=250 |caption1=Fans and private boats surround the Athletic Bilbao traditional barge. | image2=Athleticeko gabarra itsasadarrean.jpg |width2=250 |caption2=Athletic Bilbao players riding the traditional barge. |footer=}}
The beginning of the [[2019–20 La Liga|2019–20]] season saw more consistent results. After the first five games of the season, the ''Lions'' sat at the top of the table, their best start in 26 years.<ref>[https://insideathletic.com/2019/09/23/athletic-sending-a-message-with-the-best-start-to-the-season-in-26-years/ Athletic Sending A Message With The Best Start To The Season In 26 Years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926160143/https://insideathletic.com/2019/09/23/athletic-sending-a-message-with-the-best-start-to-the-season-in-26-years/ |date=26 September 2019 }}, Inside Athletic Club, 23 September 2019</ref> That form could not be maintained, and by the halfway point they had slipped to mid-table after several draws. However, in the [[2019–20 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]], they survived two penalty shootouts against second-tier opponents and then defeated Barcelona to reach the semi-finals.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/06/barcelona-crisis-grows-athletic-bilbao-copa-del-rey Barcelona crisis grows as Athletic Bilbao knock them out of Copa del Rey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207011040/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/06/barcelona-crisis-grows-athletic-bilbao-copa-del-rey |date=7 February 2020 }}, The Guardian, 6 February 2020</ref> The club then defeated [[Granada CF]] in the semi-final on away goals to meet local rivals Real Sociedad in the final<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51766095 Copa del Rey: Athletic Bilbao beat Granada to set up all-Basque final with Sociedad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109061031/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51766095 |date=9 November 2021 }}, [[BBC Sport]], 5 March 2020</ref> – which was then postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Spain]], both clubs happy to delay in the hope of supporters being able to attend the historic Basque derby occasion. This did not come to pass, and [[2020 Copa del Rey Final|the final]] was eventually played in an empty stadium on 3 April 2021, Real Sociedad emerging winners by a 1–0 scoreline.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lowe|first=Sid|date=3 April 2021|title=Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/03/athletic-bilbao-real-sociedad-copa-del-rey-2020-final-match-report|access-date=4 April 2021|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202204143/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/03/athletic-bilbao-real-sociedad-copa-del-rey-2020-final-match-report|url-status=live}}</ref> By that time, Aduriz had finally retired from playing, Garitano had been replaced as coach by [[Marcelino García Toral|Marcelino]], and the [[2020–21 Supercopa de España]] originally intended to follow the delayed cup final was contested, Athletic defeating Real Madrid then Barcelona to claim the trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/barcelona-vs-athletic/cronica/2021/01/17/6004bcd422601d7c438b4632.html|title=Williams sinks Barcelona and Athletic claim the Supercopa|newspaper=Marca|first=Arch|last=Bell|date=17 January 2021|access-date=4 April 2021|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118143148/https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/barcelona-vs-athletic/cronica/2021/01/17/6004bcd422601d7c438b4632.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They also defeated Levante in the semi-final of the [[2020–21 Copa del Rey]] to reach the final on 17 April 2021, making them the only team to take part in the showpiece event twice in as many weeks;<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56541183 Athletic Bilbao: Basque club facing two Copa del Rey finals in two weeks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127125756/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56541183 |date=27 November 2021 }}, Alex Bysouth, BBC Sport, 2 April 2021</ref> however, Athletic lost [[2021 Copa del Rey Final|that final]] as well, to Barcelona by a 4–0 scoreline.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/17/messi-stars-as-barcelona-thrash-athletic-bilbao-to-lift-copa-del-rey|title=Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey|first=Sid|last=Lowe|work=The Guardian|date=17 April 2021|access-date=20 October 2021|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428210144/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/17/messi-stars-as-barcelona-thrash-athletic-bilbao-to-lift-copa-del-rey|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2021, a report from the [[International Centre for Sports Studies|International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES)]] showed that Athletic Bilbao and [[FC Desna Chernihiv|Desna Chernihiv]] (Ukraine) were the only teams in European continental competitions without foreign players.They ended the season on 10th place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Desna (Ukraine) and Athletic Bilbao (Spain) the only teams in Europe without foreigners|url=https://www.telecomasia.net/blog/desna-ukraine-and-atletic-bilbao-spain-the-only-teams-in-europe-without-foreigners/|website=www.telecomasia.net|date=18 October 2021|access-date=20 October 2021|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020091905/https://www.telecomasia.net/blog/desna-ukraine-and-atletic-bilbao-spain-the-only-teams-in-europe-without-foreigners/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The next two seasons saw the same results, narrowly missing out on the Europa Conference League by finishing in 8th and consecutive Copa del Rey Semi final exits although they did finish as Supercopa de Espanã Runners-up in the 2021–22 season, defeating Atlético Madrid and losing to Real Madrid.
In the 2023–24 season however, saw Athletic Bilbao end their 40-year Copa del Rey drought by winning the [[2023-24 Copa del Rey]] against [[RCD Mallorca]] 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in normal time and extra time.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/699336|title=Athletic Club beat Mallorca for 1st Copa del Rey in 40 years|date=7 April 2023|work=ESPN|accessdate=8 April 2024}}</ref>
The campaign included some memorable victories, including a 4–2 win against Barcelona at home and a 4–0 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid.