Editing Athletic Bilbao

{{Short description|Association football club in Spain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Athletic Bilbao
| image = Club Athletic Bilbao logo.svg
| image_size = 175px
| alt = 
| caption = 
| fullname = Athletic Club<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/club/about-the-club|title=About the club|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=29 November 2018|archive-date=12 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712084732/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/club/about-the-club|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://theathletic.com/4308623/2023/03/16/sporting-lisbon-athletic-bilbao-wrong-name/ From Sporting Lisbon to Athletic Bilbao — why do we get foreign clubs' names wrong?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407010919/https://theathletic.com/4308623/2023/03/16/sporting-lisbon-athletic-bilbao-wrong-name/ |date=7 April 2023 }}, Michael Cox, The Athletic, 16 March 2023</ref>
| nickname = ''Lehoiak'' (The Lions)<br>''Zuri-Gorriak'' (The Red and Whites)
| short name = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|1898.07.18|df=y}}
| dissolved = 
| American = 
| ground = [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|Estadio San Mamés]]
| capacity = 53,289<ref name="capacity">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/14/49/29/2144929_DOWNLOAD.pdf|title=UEFA EURO 2020 Evaluation Report|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=23 January 2017|archive-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516214454/http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/14/49/29/2144929_DOWNLOAD.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| coordinates = {{coord|43|15|51.0|N|2|56|57.7|W|region:ES-PV|display=inline,title}}
| owntitle = <!--optional, default: Owner -->
| owner = 
| chrtitle = President
| chairman = Jon Uriarte
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = [[Ernesto Valverde]]
| league = {{Spanish football updater|Athletic Bilbao}}
| season = {{Spanish football updater|Athletic Bilbao2}}
| position = {{Spanish football updater|Athletic Bilbao3}}
| website = {{url|https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/|athletic-club.eus}}
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'''Athletic Club''' ({{langx|eu|Athletic Kluba}}; {{langx|es|Athletic Club}}), commonly known as '''Athletic Bilbao''' ({{Langx|es|Athletic de Bilbao}}),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-08 |title=Athletic-Atlético, historia de dos parientes |url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-historia-athletic-atletico-201205080000_noticia.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Diario ABC |language=es}}</ref> or simply '''Athletic''', is a professional [[Association football|football]] club based in the city of [[Bilbao]] in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[Spain]]. They are known as ''Los Leones'' (The Lions) because their stadium was built near a church called ''San Mamés'', which was named after [[Saint Mammes of Caesarea|Saint Mammes]], an early Christian thrown to the lions by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=What is Athletic Club? |url=https://bilbaoinsider.com/2024/04/26/what-is-athletic-club-bilbao-football-laliga/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Bilbao Insider |language=en}}</ref> Mammes pacified the lions and was later made a [[saint]]. The team plays its home matches at the [[San Mamés Stadium]]. Its home colours are red and white striped shirts with black shorts. 

Athletic are the fourth most successful club in ''La Liga'' with eight titles to their name. In the table of {{lang|es|[[Copa del Rey]]}} titles, Athletic is second only to Barcelona, having won it 24 times.{{refn|name=copa1902|The number of [[Copa del Rey]] wins Athletic Club have been credited with is disputed. The [[1902 Copa de la Coronación]] was won by ''[[Club Bizcaya]]'', a team made up of players from ''Athletic Club'' and ''Bilbao FC''. In 1903 these two clubs merged as ''Athletic Club'' and took part in the first official Copa del Rey in [[1903 Copa del Rey|1903]]. The 1902 trophy is on display in the Athletic museum<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1902.html |title=Spain – Cup 1902 |website=Rsssf.com |date=15 September 2000 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date=17 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060917170030/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spancup1902.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the club includes it in its own honours list for a total of 25 Copas; however, the [[Liga de Fútbol Profesional|LFP]] and [[Royal Spanish Football Federation|RFEF]] official statistics do not regard this as an official edition of the Copa del Rey won by Athletic.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/futbol-fef-reconocera-barca-liga/dasftb/20090403dasdaiftb_58/Tes| title=La FEF no reconocerá al Barça la Liga del año 37| trans-title=The FEF will not recognize Barça's League in 1937| date=3 April 2009| newspaper=Diario AS| access-date=31 December 2017| language=es| archive-date=6 April 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406044214/http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/futbol-fef-reconocera-barca-liga/dasftb/20090403dasdaiftb_58/Tes| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2012/05/24/futbol/1337852172.html| title=La Copa de la discordia| trans-title=The Cup of Discord| date=24 May 2012| newspaper=El Mundo| access-date=14 January 2024| language=es| archive-date=14 January 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114182842/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2012/05/24/futbol/1337852172.html| url-status=live}}</ref>|group = note}} It is also the most successful Basque football club in both league and cup titles won. The club also has one of the most successful [[Athletic Club Femenino|women's teams]] in Spain, which has won five championships in the ''[[Primera División (women)|Primera División Femenina]]''.

The club is one of three founding members of the ''[[La Liga|Primera División]]'' that have [[List of unrelegated association football clubs|never been relegated]] from the top division since its inception in 1929, the others being [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. These three clubs, along with [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]], are the only four professional clubs in Spain that are not sports corporations; instead they are owned and operated by club members. Athletic's main rivals are [[Real Sociedad]], against whom it contests the [[Basque derby]], and Real Madrid, due to [[El Viejo Clásico|sporting and political identity]]; a minor rivalry also exists with Barcelona due to [[Athletic–Barcelona clásico|historical significance]]. At various points in the club's history, further [[Basque football derbies|Basque league derbies]] have been contested against [[Deportivo Alavés|Alavés]], [[SD Eibar|Eibar]] and Osasuna.

The club is known for its ''[[Athletic Bilbao cantera|cantera]]'' policy of bringing young [[Basques|Basque]] players through the ranks, as well as recruiting players from other Basque clubs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Willis |first1=Craig |last2=Hughes |first2=Will |last3=Bober |first3=Sergiusz |title=ECMI Minorities Blog. National and Linguistic Minorities in the Context of Professional Football across Europe: Five Examples from Non-kin State Situations. |url=https://www.ecmi.de/infochannel/detail/ecmi-minorities-blognational-and-linguistic-minorities-in-the-context-of-professional-football-across-europe-five-examples-from-non-kin-state-situations |website=ECMI |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314115227/https://www.ecmi.de/infochannel/detail/ecmi-minorities-blognational-and-linguistic-minorities-in-the-context-of-professional-football-across-europe-five-examples-from-non-kin-state-situations |url-status=live }}</ref> Athletic's [[Athletic Bilbao signing policy|official policy]] is to sign players native to or trained in football in the [[Basque Country (greater region)|greater Basque Country]], which includes [[Biscay]], [[Gipuzkoa]], [[Álava]] and [[Navarre]] (in Spain), as well as [[Labourd]], [[Soule]] and [[Lower Navarre]] (in France). Since 1911, Athletic has played exclusively with players meeting its own criteria to be deemed Basque.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/philosophy/what-is-it|title=Philosophy: What is it|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=29 November 2018|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306170921/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/philosophy/what-is-it|url-status=live}}</ref> It has gained Athletic both admirers and critics. The club has been praised for promoting home grown players and club loyalty. The rule does not apply to coaching staff, with several examples of non-Basques both from Spain and abroad having coached the first team.

Despite the implications of the name 'Athletic Club' in English, and unlike some of the other major Spanish teams which have several departments, it is not a [[multi-sport club]], participating only in football, although sections for [[Cycle sport|cycling]] and other sports existed prior to the [[Spanish Civil War]] in the 1930s.<ref>[https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2019/09/05/the-athletic-club-cycling-section The Athletic Club cycling section] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923132434/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2019/09/05/the-athletic-club-cycling-section |date=23 September 2019 }}, Athletic Bilbao, 5 September 2019</ref>

== 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.

==Crest==
Athletic's shield has incorporated the escutcheons of Bilbao and Biscay. From the shield of Bilbao, it takes [[San Antón Bridge|the bridge]] and the [[Church of Saint Anthony the Great|church of San Anton]], and the wolves from the powerful [[House of Haro|Haro family]], who were lords of Biscay and founders of Bilbao in 1300. From the shield of Biscay, it takes the [[Gernikako Arbola]] (Guernica's tree) and the [[Cross of Burgundy|cross of Saint Andrew]] ([[saltire]]s). Its first documented use dates from 1922.

The first official club crest was a blue circle surrounded by a belt with the letters A and C in the centre in white (as the club colours were at that point).<ref name="Crest History">[https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2021/06/10/a-crest-with-history A crest with history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614150948/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2021/06/10/a-crest-with-history |date=14 June 2021 }} Athletic Club official website, 10 June 2021</ref> The second was from 1910, consisting of a red-and-white flag (newly adopted as the shirt colours) with a red square in the top left corner, containing the initials of the club in white. The third, from 1913, involved the same flag, but in this case shown on a pole wrapped around a football (this is very similar to the [[Real Sociedad]] crest still in use today, ignoring the crown of royal patronage).<ref name="Crest History"/>

The first version of the current crest, roughly an inverted triangular shield shape with a section of red-and-white stripes and a section of local motifs, is from 1922; this was a really simple version which was adapted several times, some of which closely resembled the crest of [[Atlético Madrid]], originally a branch of the Bilbao club.<ref name="Crest History"/> Finally, in 1941 the first version of the current shield was created, but the name "Atlético Bilbao" was used when [[General Francisco Franco]] outlawed all non-Spanish names during his regime. In 1972, the club added full colour to the design and recovered the original English "Athletic Club" name.<ref name="Crest History"/> In 2008, the shape of the shield was slightly altered and a new "Athletic Club" typeface was introduced.

{{Gallery
| title        = Historical evolution of the shield
| align        = center
| height       = 100
| width        = 100
| File:Athletic Club crest 1901.png
 | First own shield with intertwined initials (1901-02)
 | alt1=
| File:Athletic Club crest 1903.png
 | Shield stylization and chromatic adjustment (1903-10)
 | alt2=
| File:Athletic Club crest 1910.png
 | The initials are transferred to a flag with the new colors (1910-13)
 | alt3=
| File:Athletic Club crest 1913.png
 | A ball is added to the one that embraces the flag (1913-22)
 | alt4=
| File:Athletic Club crest 1922.png
 | The signs of the city and club are collected on a shield (1922)
 | alt5=
}}

== Players ==
{{main|List of Athletic Bilbao players}}

=== Current squad ===
{{updated|3 February 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/teams/athletic-club/2024-25/squad|title=Team 2024–25|website=athletic-club.eus}}</ref>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=[[Unai Simón]]|other=[[Captain (association football)#Vice-captain|5th captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Andoni Gorosabel]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Daniel Vivian (footballer)|Dani Vivian]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Aitor Paredes]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Yeray Álvarez]]|other=[[Captain (association football)#Vice-captain|3rd captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Mikel Vesga]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Álex Berenguer]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Oihan Sancet]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=GHA|pos=FW|name=[[Iñaki Williams]]|other=[[Captain (association football)#Vice-captain|4th captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Nico Williams]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Álvaro Djaló]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Gorka Guruzeta]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=[[Julen Agirrezabala]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Unai Nuñez]]|other=on loan from [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Iñigo Lekue]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Yuri Berchiche]]|other=[[Captain (association football)#Vice-captain|vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Óscar de Marcos]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2024/05/19/de-marcos-to-be-athletic-captain-next-season/|title=De Marcos to be Athletic captain next season|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=19 May 2024|access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref>
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Unai Gómez]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Maroan Sannadi]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Mikel Jauregizar]]}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Beñat Prados]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Peio Canales]]}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Adama Boiro]]}}
{{Fs end}}


=== Reserve team ===
{{main|Bilbao Athletic}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Aimar Duñabeitia Madariaga|Aimar Duñabeitia]]}}
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=[[Mikel Santos Linares|Mikel Santos]]}}
{{Fs player|no=33|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Aingeru Olabarrieta]]}}
{{Fs player|no=34|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=[[Oier Gastesi Serrano|Oier Gastesi]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Alejandro Rego Mora|Alejandro Rego]]}}
{{Fs player|no=39|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Iker Varela Parra|Iker Varela]]}}
{{Fs player|no=43|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Endika Buján]]}}
{{Fs player|no=46|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Ander Izagirre Cestona|Ander Izagirre]]}}
{{Fs end}}

=== Out on loan ===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=MEX|pos=GK|name=[[Álex Padilla]]|other=at [[Club Universidad Nacional|UNAM]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Hugo Rincón]]|other=at [[CD Mirandés|Mirandés]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=[[Unai Egiluz]]|other=at [[CD Mirandés|Mirandés]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=MF|name=[[Unai Vencedor]]|other=at [[Racing de Santander|Racing Santander]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Malcom Adu Ares|Adu Ares]]|other=at [[Real Zaragoza|Zaragoza]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Urko Izeta]]|other=at [[CD Mirandés|Mirandés]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Javier Martón]]|other=at [[Albacete Balompié|Albacete]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=[[Nico Serrano]]|other=at [[Sporting de Gijón|Sporting Gijón]] until 30 June 2025}}
{{Fs end}}

==Coaching staff==
[[File:Тренировка Атлетика (1).jpg|thumb|Ernesto Valverde, current Athletic Bilbao coach]]
{|class=wikitable
|-
!Position
!Name
|-
|Head coach
||{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Ernesto Valverde]]
|-
|Assistant head coach
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Jon Aspiazu]] 
|-
|Goalkeeper coach 
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Aitor Iru]]
|-
|Fitness coach
|{{flagicon|ESP}} José Antonio Pozanco
|-
|Analyst
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Alberto Iglesias
|-
|Head of medical services
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Josean Lekue
|-
|Nurse
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Juan Manuel Ipiña <br/> {{flagicon|ESP}} Álvaro Campa
|-
|Physiotherapist
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Isusko Ortuzar <br/> {{flagicon|ESP}} Imanol Martín
|-
|Sports therapist
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Xabier Clemente
|-
|Match delegate
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Sendoa Agirre]]
|-
|Kit manager
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Jon Escalza <br/> {{flagicon|ESP}} Iker López <br/> {{flagicon|ESP}} Josu Arambarri
|-
|Director of football
|{{flagicon|ESP}} Mikel González
|}

== Presidency ==
{{See also|List of Athletic Bilbao presidents}}

The current club president (elected in June 2022, following [[Aitor Elizegi]]) is Jon Uriarte.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/presidents|title=Presidents history|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301045424/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/presidents|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.football-espana.net/2022/06/24/jon-uriarte-confirmed-as-athletic-clubs-new-president Jon Uriarte confirmed as Athletic Club's new president] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714071622/https://www.football-espana.net/2022/06/24/jon-uriarte-confirmed-as-athletic-clubs-new-president |date=14 July 2022 }}, Football España, 24 June 2022</ref>

The board of the Athletic Club is composed of the following directors:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/club/about-the-club/management-committee/|title=Current directors|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129184102/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/club/about-the-club/management-committee/|archive-date=29 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/institutional-information.html|title=Institutional information|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905190546/http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/institutional-information.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

* '''President''': Jon Uriarte.
* '''Vice-president''': Mikel Martínez.
* '''Secretary''': Fernando San José.
* '''Vice-Secretary''': María Tato.
* '''Treasurer''': Aitor Bernardo.
* '''Accountant''': Jon Ander de las Fuentes.
* '''Board members''': Begoña Castaño, Goyo Arbizu, Itziar Villamandos, Óscar Beristain, Joana Martínez, Iker Goñi, Óscar Arce, Ricardo Hernani, Tomás Ondarra, Jorge Gómez, Manu Mosteiro.
* '''Managing Director''': Jon Berasategi.
* '''General Secretary''': Juan Ignacio Añibarro.
* '''Sporting Director''': Víctor Moreno.

== Coaches ==
{{See also|List of Athletic Bilbao managers}}

== Club colours ==

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 200
 | image1 = Athletic Club 1904.jpg
 | alt1 = Colored dice with checkered background
 | caption1 = Snapshot with the first blue and white quartered kit.
 | image2 = Athletic 1910.jpg
 | alt2 = Colored dice with checkered background
 | caption2 = First photograph with the new red and white kit (1910).
}}

Athletic began playing in an improvised white kit, but in the 1902–03 season, the club's first official strip became half-blue, half-white shirts similar to those worn by [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Blackburn_Rovers/Blackburn_Rovers.htm | title = Blackburn Rovers | website = Historical Football Kits | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 18 May 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190518105904/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Blackburn_Rovers/Blackburn_Rovers.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> which were donated by Juan Moser. Later, a young student from Bilbao named Juan Elorduy, who was spending Christmas 1909 in [[London]], was charged by the club to buy 25 new shirts, but was unable to find enough. Waiting for the ship back to Bilbao and empty handed, Elorduy realised that the colours of the local team [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Southampton/Southampton.htm | title = Southampton | website = Historical Football Kits | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 11 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181011144226/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Southampton/Southampton.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> matched the colours of the City of Bilbao, and bought 50 shirts to take with him. Upon arriving in Bilbao, the club's directors decided almost immediately to change the team's strip to the new colours, and since 1910, Athletic Club have played in red and white stripes. Of the 50 shirts bought by Elorduy, half were then sent to [[Atlético Madrid]], where Elorduy was a committee member and a former player; it had originally begun as a youth branch of Athletic Bilbao.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://memoriasdelfutbolvasco.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/manuel-garnica/ | title = Manuel Garnica, the "Saint" who scored a goal with Athletic | trans-title = Manuel Garnica, el "Santo" que metió un gol con el Athletic | language = es | website = Memorias del Fútbol Vasco (Memories of Basque Football) | date = 30 March 2014 | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 4 December 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211204073424/https://memoriasdelfutbolvasco.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/manuel-garnica/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.abc.es/20120508/deportes-futbol/abci-historia-athletic-atletico-201205071903.html |title = Athletic-Atlético, historia de dos parientes |trans-title = Athletic-Atlético, history of two relatives |language = es |newspaper = [[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |date = 8 May 2012 |access-date = 10 October 2018 |archive-date = 9 July 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190846/https://www.abc.es/20120508/deportes-futbol/abci-historia-athletic-atletico-201205071903.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://equiposdefutbol2.blogspot.com/2016/07/athletic-de-madrid-1910-11.html?m=1 | title = Athletic de Madrid 1910-11 | language = es | website = Equipos de Fútbol (Football Teams) | date = 13 July 2016 | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 11 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181011053523/https://equiposdefutbol2.blogspot.com/2016/07/athletic-de-madrid-1910-11.html?m=1 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Agiriano|first=Jon|url=https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-01-06/colores-siglo-20100106.html|title=Los Colores del Siglo|trans-title=The colours of the century|language=es|work=El Correo|access-date=28 February 2011|date=6 January 2010|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204073445/https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-01-06/colores-siglo-20100106.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=kit/> Before the switch, only one other team in Spain wore red and white: [[Sporting de Gijón]], since 1905. Change colours have often been blue and/or white, or black. In 2011, Athletic released a green, white and red away kit inspired by the [[Ikurriña|Basque flag]] (this was worn against Atlético Madrid in the [[2012 UEFA Europa League final]]).

Between 2001 and 2009 Athletic also manufactured their own playing kit, under the brand ''100% Athletic'' and utilising the small design from their centenary celebrations as a manufacturer's logo.

Athletic were one of the last major clubs which did not have the logo of an official sponsor emblazoned on their kit. In the [[2004–05 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] and the Copa del Rey of 2004–05, the shirt sported the word "[[Euskadi]]" in green with sponsorship from the [[Basque Government]].<ref name="Deia">''[http://www.deia.com/es/impresa/2004/11/30/bizkaia/kirolak/40029.php La estrenan mañana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620065106/http://www.deia.com/es/impresa/2004/11/30/bizkaia/kirolak/40029.php |date=20 June 2007 }}'', [[Deia (newspaper)|Deia]] daily, 30 November 2004.</ref> This policy was changed in 2008, when Athletic made a deal with the [[Biscay]]-based [[Petronor]] oil company<ref name="Europa Press">''[http://www.europapress.es/euskadi/noticia-athletic-firma-petronor-acuerdo-lucir-publicidad-camiseta-millones-euros-20080729171622.html El Athletic firma con Petronor un acuerdo para lucir publicidad en su camiseta por 2 millones de euros] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716063120/http://www.europapress.es/euskadi/noticia-athletic-firma-petronor-acuerdo-lucir-publicidad-camiseta-millones-euros-20080729171622.html |date=16 July 2011 }}'', [[Europa Press (news agency)|Europa Press]], 29 July 2008.</ref> to wear their logo in exchange for over €2 million. The [[Kutxabank]] logo now adorns the front of Athletic's kits.
 
=== Kit evolution ===

{|class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:#FFFFFF"
|-
! colspan="43" | Home colours
|-
|
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_blanco |pattern_b=_old |pattern_ra=_white_stripes |pattern_sh= |pattern_so= 
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1898 – 1902
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la= |pattern_b=_athletic1902-09h |pattern_ra= |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_whitetop
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=0F4C81|shorts=0F4C81|socks=0F4C81|title=1903 – 1909
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_red_stripes |pattern_b=_athletic1910h |pattern_ra=_red_stripes |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_red_top_white_bands
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1910 – 1912
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_red_stripes |pattern_b=_athletic1910h |pattern_ra=_red_stripes |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_red_top_white_bands
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=1913 – 1922
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_red_stripes |pattern_b=_athletic1930h |pattern_ra=_red_stripes |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_red_top_white_bands
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=1923 – 1949
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_red_stripes |pattern_b=_athletic1930h |pattern_ra=_red_stripes |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_hoops_red
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=FFFFFF|title=1949 – 1960
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_red_stripes |pattern_b=_athletic1960h |pattern_ra=_red_stripes |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_hoops_red
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=FFFFFF|title=1960 – 1970
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1970h |pattern_b=__athletic1970h |pattern_ra=_athletic1970h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_hoops_red
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=FFFFFF|title=1970 – 1974
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1970h |pattern_b=__athletic1974h |pattern_ra=_athletic1970h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=1974 – 1980
}}
|}
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1980-83h |pattern_b=_athletic1980-83h |pattern_ra=_athletic1980-83h |pattern_sh=_athletic1984h |pattern_so=_red top 3 white stripes
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1980 – 1983
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1984h |pattern_b=_athletic1984h |pattern_ra=_athletic1984h |pattern_sh=_athletic1984h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1983 – 1986
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1986-89h |pattern_b=_athletic1986-89h |pattern_ra=_athletic1986-89h |pattern_sh=_athletic1984h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1986 – 1989
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1986-89h |pattern_b=_athletic1989-90h |pattern_ra=_athletic1986-89h |pattern_sh=_athletic1984h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1989-90
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1990-91h |pattern_b=_athletic1990-91h |pattern_ra=_athletic1990-91h |pattern_sh=_athletic1984h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1990-91
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1990-91h |pattern_b=_athletic1991-92h |pattern_ra=_athletic1990-91h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=1991-92
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_b=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_ra=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_sh=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1992-93
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_b=_athletic1993-94h |pattern_ra=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_sh=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1993-94
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1994-95h |pattern_b=_athletic1994-95h |pattern_ra=_athletic1994-95h |pattern_sh=_athletic1992-93h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1994-95
}}
|}
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_b=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_ra=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_sh=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1995-97
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_b=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_ra=_athletic1995-97h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=_athletic1984h
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=1997-98
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1998-99h |pattern_b=_athletic1998-99h |pattern_ra=_athletic1998-99h |pattern_sh=_athletic1998-99h |pattern_so=
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1998-99
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic1999-01h |pattern_b=_athletic1999-01h |pattern_ra=_athletic1999-01h |pattern_sh=_athletic1999-01h |pattern_so=_red top 3 white stripes
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=000000|title=1999-01
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic2001-04h |pattern_b=_athletic2001-04h |pattern_ra=_athletic2001-04h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2001-04
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic0405h |pattern_b=_athletic0405h |pattern_ra=_athletic0405h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FF0000|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2004-07
}}
|
{{Football kit |
| pattern_la=_athletic0709h |pattern_b=_athletic0709h |pattern_ra=_athletic0709h |pattern_sh= |pattern_so=
| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FF0000|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2007-09
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic0910h|pattern_b=_athletic0910h|pattern_ra=_athletic0910h|pattern_sh=_athletic0910h|pattern_so=_athletic0910hl|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2009-10
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1011h|pattern_b=_athletic1011h|pattern_ra=_athletic1011h|pattern_sh=_athletic1011h|pattern_so=_athletic0910hl|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2010-11
}}
|}
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1112h|pattern_b=_athletic1112h|pattern_ra=_athletic1112h|pattern_sh=_athletic1112h|pattern_so=_acbilbao1112h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=FF0000|title=2011-12
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1213h|pattern_b=_athletic1213h|pattern_ra=_athletic1213h|pattern_sh=_athletic1213h|pattern_so=_acbilbao1213h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2012-13
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1314h|pattern_b=_athletic1314h|pattern_ra=_athletic1314h|pattern_sh=_athcac01|pattern_so=_athcac01|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2013-14
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1415h|pattern_b=_athletic1415h|pattern_ra=_athletic1415h|pattern_sh=_red_stripes|pattern_so=_socks|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2014-15
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1516h|pattern_b=_athletic1516h|pattern_ra=_athletic1516h|pattern_sh=_red_stripes|pattern_so=_socks|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2015-16
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1617h|pattern_b=_athletic1617h|pattern_ra=_athletic1617h|pattern_sh=_red_stripes|pattern_so=_socks|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2016-17
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1718h|pattern_b=_athletic1718h|pattern_ra=_athletic1718h|pattern_sh=_athletic1718h|pattern_so=_athletic1718h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=FF0000|title=2017-18
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1819h|pattern_b=_athletic1819h|pattern_ra=_athletic1819h|pattern_sh=_shorts|pattern_so=_athletic1819h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2018-19
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic1920h|pattern_b=_athletic1920h|pattern_ra=_athletic1920h|pattern_sh=_shorts|pattern_so=_athletic1920h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2019-20
}}
|}
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic2021h|pattern_b=_athletic2021h|pattern_ra=_athletic2021h|pattern_sh=_shorts|pattern_so=_athletic2021h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2020-21
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic2122h|pattern_b=_athletic2122h|pattern_ra=_athletic2122h|pattern_sh=_shorts|pattern_so=_athletic2122h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2021-22
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic2223h|pattern_b=_athletic2223h|pattern_ra=_athletic2223h|pattern_sh=_shorts|pattern_so=_athletic2223h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2022-23
}}
|
{{Football kit |
pattern_la=_athletic2324h|pattern_b=_athletic2324h|pattern_ra=_athletic2324h|pattern_sh=_white_stripes|pattern_so=_athletic2324h|leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=000000|socks=000000|title=2023-24
}}
|}
|}

=== Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors ===
{{Commons|Athletic Bilbao kits}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Period<ref name=kit>{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.net/pdfsrevista/234.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205110837/http://www.athletic-club.net/pdfsrevista/234.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2010|title=Camisetas inglesas|trans-title=English jerseys|language=es|date=5 December 2010|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
![[Kit (association football)|Kit]] manufacturer<ref name=kit/>
!Shirt sponsor<ref name=kit/>
|-
|1980–1991
|| [[Adidas]]
|rowspan=4|<small>''None''</small>
|-
|1991–1999
|| [[Kappa (company)|Kappa]]
|-
|1999–2001
|| [[Adidas]]
|-
|2001–2008
|rowspan=2|100% Athletic
|-
|2008–2009
|rowspan=3|[[Petronor]]
|-
|2009–2013
||[[Umbro]]
|-
|2013–2015
|rowspan=2|[[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]{{#tag:ref|The English-based kit manufacturer [[Umbro]] took responsibility for supplying the team in 2009, having agreed to a long-term contract which was supposed to expire in 2017.<ref name="umbro">{{cite web |url=http://www.athletic-club.net/web/main.asp?a=0&b=1&c=1&d=1000&berria=7699&idi=1 |title=Acuerdo con Umbro |publisher=Athletic-club.net |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227172909/http://athletic-club.net/web/main.asp?a=0&b=1&c=1&d=1000&berria=7699&idi=1 |archive-date=27 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] sold subsidiary Umbro, the kits were manufactured by Nike from season 2013–14 onwards.|group="nb"}}
|-
|2015–2017
|rowspan=3|[[Kutxabank]]
|-
|2017–2023
||[[New Balance]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2017/05/22/agreement-athletic-club-new-balance|title=Agreement between Athletic and New Balance|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|work=official website|date=22 May 2017|access-date=25 May 2017|archive-date=9 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409131959/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2017/05/22/agreement-athletic-club-new-balance|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2023–
|[[Castore]]<ref>[https://castore.com/blogs/press/castore-multi-year-kit-partnership-with-athletic-club Castore Multi-Year Kit Partnership With Athletic Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705214459/https://castore.com/blogs/press/castore-multi-year-kit-partnership-with-athletic-club |date=5 July 2023 }}, Castore, 25 April 2023</ref>
|}
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

== Honours ==
{{See also|List of Athletic Bilbao records and statistics#Honours|l1=Athletic Bilbao honours}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+National honours
!scope=col|Honour
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col|Years
|-
!scope=row|[[La Liga]]
|align=center|8
|<!--
-->[[1929–30 La Liga|1929–30]], <!--
-->[[1930–31 La Liga|1930–31]], <!--
-->[[1933–34 La Liga|1933–34]], <!--
-->[[1935–36 La Liga|1935–36]], <!--
-->[[1942–43 La Liga|1942–43]], <!--
-->[[1955–56 La Liga|1955–56]], <!--
-->[[1982–83 La Liga|1982–83]], <!--
-->[[1983–84 La Liga|1983–84]]
|-
!scope=row|[[Copa del Rey]]
|align=center| 24{{efn|name=copa1902|The number of [[Copa del Rey]] wins Athletic Bilbao have been credited with is disputed. The [[1902 Copa de la Coronación]] was won by ''[[Club Bizcaya]]'', a team made up of players from ''Athletic Bilbao'' and ''Bilbao FC''. In 1903 these two clubs merged as ''Athletic Bilbao'' and took part in the first official Copa del Rey in [[1903 Copa del Rey|1903]]. The 1902 trophy is on display in the Athletic museum<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1902.html |title=Spain – Cup 1902 |website=[[RSSSF]] |date=15 September 2000 |accessdate=23 January 2017}}</ref> and the club includes it in its own honours list. However the [[Liga de Fútbol Profesional|LFP]] and [[Royal Spanish Football Federation|RFEF]] official statistics do not regard this as an official edition of the Copa del Rey won by Athletic.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/futbol-fef-reconocera-barca-liga/dasftb/20090403dasdaiftb_58/Tes|title=La FEF no reconocerá al Barça la Liga del año 37|trans-title=The FEF will not recognize Barça's League in 1937| date=3 April 2009| newspaper=Diario AS|accessdate=31 December 2017| language= Spanish}}</ref>}}
|[[1903 Copa del Rey|1903]], [[1904 Copa del Rey|1904]], [[1910 Copa del Rey|1910]], [[1911 Copa del Rey|1911]], [[1914 Copa del Rey|1914]], [[1915 Copa del Rey|1915]], [[1916 Copa del Rey|1916]], [[1921 Copa del Rey|1921]], [[1923 Copa del Rey|1923]], [[1930 Copa del Rey|1930]], [[1931 Copa del Rey|1931]], [[1932 Copa del Rey|1932]], [[1933 Copa del Presidente de la República|1933]], [[1943 Copa del Generalísimo|1943]], [[1944 Copa del Generalísimo|1944]], [[1944–45 Copa del Generalísimo|1944–45]], [[1949–50 Copa del Generalísimo|1949–50]], [[1955 Copa del Generalísimo|1955]], [[1956 Copa del Generalísimo|1956]], [[1958 Copa del Generalísimo|1958]], [[1969 Copa del Generalísimo|1969]], [[1972–73 Copa del Generalísimo|1972–73]], [[1983–84 Copa del Rey|1983–84]], [[2023–24 Copa del Rey|2023–24]]
|-
!scope=row|[[Supercopa de España]]
|align=center| 3
|1984,{{efn|Cup awarded automatically as the club won both the [[Copa del Rey]] and [[La Liga]].}} [[2015 Supercopa de España|2015]], [[2021 Supercopa de España|2021]]
|-
!scope=row|[[Copa Eva Duarte]]
|align=center| 1
|1950
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Regional honours
!scope=col|Honour
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col|Years
|-
!scope=row| Copa Vasca
|align=center| 1
|1936<ref name=reg>[http://www.el-area.com/espanya/subpaginas/futbol_regional-3.htm#fpv El Area]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arquero-arba.futbolme.net/Copa/1934-35/3435-v.htm|title=Copa Vasca 1934–35|trans-title=Basque Cup 1934–35|language=Spanish|website=FutbolME|accessdate=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044223/http://www.arquero-arba.futbolme.net/Copa/1934-35/3435-v.htm|archive-date=9 December 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
!scope=row| Campeonato Regional del Norte
|align=center| 5{{efn|In the 1917–18  [[Biscay Championship|North Championship]], Athletic 'retired from the competition once finalised'.<ref name=cn1718>{{cite web|url=http://www.arquero-arba.futbolme.net/Copa/1917-18/1718-n.htm|title=Campeonato Regional del Norte 1917–18|trans-title=North Regional Championship 1917–18|language=Spanish|website=FutbolME|accessdate=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044240/http://www.arquero-arba.futbolme.net/Copa/1917-18/1718-n.htm|archive-date=9 December 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Amberes">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McHXDwAAQBAJ&dq=1918+campeonato+vizcaino&pg=PA168 |title=¡¡¡Amberes!!! Allí nació la furia española|trans-title=Antwerp!!! There the Spanish fury was born|language=Spanish|author=Félix Martialay|access-date=17 January 2022|page=168|year=2000|publisher={{ill|CIHEFE|es|Centro de Investigaciones de Historia y Estadística del Fútbol Español}} |isbn=9788492109777}}</ref> after finishing top of the table.}}
|1913-14, 1914-15, 1915-16, 1919-20, 1920-21
|-
!scope=row| Campeonato Regional de Vizcaya
|align=center| 12{{efn|The 1938–39 [[Biscay Championship]] was won by [[Bilbao Athletic]], a makeshift squad formed after the [[Spanish Civil War]].<ref name=BA>{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/history-bilbao-athletic.html|title=Bilbao Athletic history|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|accessdate=28 February 2018|archive-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924141635/http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/history-bilbao-athletic.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The club includes this win and that in the 1935 Copa Vasca (below) for a total of 17.}}
|1922-23, 1923-24, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1930-31, 1931-32, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1938-39, 1939-40
|}

== Results ==
{{See also|List of Athletic Bilbao seasons}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:60px;"|Season
!colspan="9" |League
! rowspan="2" style="width:60px; text-align:center;"|[[Copa del Rey|Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancuphist.html |title=Spanish Cup Winners |publisher=Rsssf.com |access-date=3 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102110300/http://rsssf.com/tabless/spancuphist.html |archive-date=2 January 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|[[UEFA#Competitions|Europe]]
!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Other Comp.
!colspan="2" |Top scorer(s)<ref>Goals scored in all competitions.</ref>
|-
!Div
!Pos
!Pld
!W
!D
!L
!GF
!GA
!Pts
!Player(s)
!Goals
|-
!|[[2014–15 Athletic Bilbao season|2014–15]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
|bgcolor=BBEBFF|[[2014–15 La Liga|7th]]
||38
||15
||10
||13
||42
||41
||'''55'''
|style="background:silver;"| [[2014–15 Copa del Rey|RU]]
||[[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]]<hr>[[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]
||[[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|GS]]<hr>[[2014–15 UEFA Europa League|R32]]
||
||
|bgcolor="#E6E6FA"|[[Aritz Aduriz]]
||26
|-
!|[[2015–16 Athletic Bilbao season|2015–16]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
|bgcolor=BBEBFF|[[2015–16 La Liga|5th]]
||38
||18
||8
||12
||58
||45
||'''62'''
|| [[2015–16 Copa del Rey|QF]]
||[[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]
|| [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|QF]]
||[[Supercopa de España]]
|bgcolor=gold| '''[[2015 Supercopa de España|W]]'''
|bgcolor="#E6E6FA"|[[Aritz Aduriz]]
||36
|-
!|[[2016–17 Athletic Bilbao season|2016–17]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
|bgcolor=BBEBFF|[[2016–17 La Liga|7th]]
||38
||19
||6
||13
||53
||43
||'''63'''
|| [[2016–17 Copa del Rey|R16]]
||[[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]
|| [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League|R32]]
||
||
||[[Aritz Aduriz]]
||24
|-
!|[[2017–18 Athletic Bilbao season|2017–18]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
||[[2017–18 La Liga|16th]]
||38
||10
||13
||15
||41
||49
||'''43'''
|| [[2017–18 Copa del Rey|R32]]
||[[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]
|| [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|R16]]
||
||
||[[Aritz Aduriz]]
||20
|-
!|[[2018–19 Athletic Bilbao season|2018–19]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
||[[2018–19 La Liga|8th]]
||38
||13
||14
||11
||41
||45
||'''53'''
||[[2018–19 Copa del Rey|R16]]
|
|
||
||
||[[Iñaki Williams]]
||14
|-
!|[[2019–20 Athletic Bilbao season|2019–20]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
||[[2019–20 La Liga|11th]]
||38
||13
||12
||13
||41
||38
||'''51'''
|style="background:silver;"|[[2019–20 Copa del Rey|RU]]
|
|
||
||
||[[Raúl García (footballer, born 1986)|Raúl García]]
||15
|-
![[2020–21 Athletic Bilbao season|2020–21]] 
||[[La Liga|1D]]
||[[2020–21 La Liga|10th]]
||38
||11
||13
||14
||46
||42
||'''46'''
|style="background:silver;"|[[2020–21 Copa del Rey|RU]]
|
|
|[[Supercopa de España]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''[[2021 Supercopa de España|W]]'''
||[[Raúl García (footballer, born 1986)|Raúl García]]
||10
|-
![[2021–22 Athletic Bilbao season|2021–22]] 
||[[La Liga|1D]]
||[[2021–22 La Liga|8th]]
||38
||14
||13
||11
||43
||36
||'''55'''
|[[2021–22 Copa del Rey|SF]]
|
|
|[[Supercopa de España]]
|style="background:silver;"|[[2022 Supercopa de España|RU]]
||[[Iñaki Williams]]
||8
|-
!|[[2022–23 Athletic Bilbao season|2022–23]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
||[[2022–23 La Liga|8th]]
||38
||14
||9
||15
||47
||43
||'''51'''
|[[2022–23 Copa del Rey|SF]]
|
|
||
||
||[[Iñaki Williams]]
||11
|-
!|[[2023–24 Athletic Bilbao season|2023–24]]
||[[La Liga|1D]]
|bgcolor=BBEBFF|[[2023–24 La Liga|5th]]
||38
||19
||11
||8
||61
||37
||'''68'''
|bgcolor=gold| <span style="color:red;">'''[[2023–24 Copa del Rey|W]]'''</span>
|
|
||
||
||[[Gorka Guruzeta]]
||16{{efn|14 goals in LaLiga}}
|}
<small>
'''Pos.''' = Position; '''Pld''' = Matches played; '''W''' = Matches won; '''D''' = Matches drawn; '''L''' = Matches lost; '''GF''' = Goals for; '''GA''' = Goals against; '''Pts''' = Points
</small>

{{legend|gold|Winners|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|vertical=0}}
{{legend|silver|Runners-up|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|vertical=1}}
{{legend|#D0F0C0|Champions League Qualification|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|vertical=2}}
{{legend|#BBEBFF|Europa League Qualification|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|vertical=3}}
{{legend|#E6E6FA|[[Zarra Trophy]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA|vertical=4}}

== Statistics and records ==
{{Main|List of Athletic Bilbao records and statistics}}

=== Statistics ===

''Institutional information:''

* '''Associates''': 43,699 (2023)
* '''Official fans groups''': 485 (at 2023)
* '''Budget''': [[Euro|€]]135,889,275 (at 2022–23 season)
* '''TV income''': €66,560,000 (at 2022–23 season)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/liga-1a-division/20231229/laliga-publica-el-reparto-de-los-derechos-de-tv-por-equipo-con-1-525-millones_300198080.html?amp=1 |title=LALIGA publica el reparto de los derechos de TV por equipo, con 1.525 millones |publisher=El Desmarque |date=29 December 2023 |access-date=29 December 2023 |language=spanish |archive-date=29 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229135659/https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/liga-1a-division/20231229/laliga-publica-el-reparto-de-los-derechos-de-tv-por-equipo-con-1-525-millones_300198080.html?amp=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Best positions''

* '''Seasons in La Liga''': all<ref name="FIFA_AC">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31071/index.html |title=Classic club: Athletic Bilbao |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=17 November 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915111333/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31071/index.html |archive-date= 15 September 2011}}</ref>
* '''Best position in La Liga''': 1st (8 times)
* '''Worst position in La Liga''': 17th (once)
* '''Historical position in the ranking of La Liga''': 4th<ref>[[:es:Anexo:Clasificación histórica de la primera división española de fútbol|Ranking of La Liga]]</ref>
* '''Best position in UEFA Champions League / European Cup''': Quarter-finals ([[1956–57 European Cup|1956–57]])
* '''Best position in UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup''': Runners-up ([[1976–77 UEFA Cup|1976–77]], [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League|2011–12]])
* '''Entries in UEFA competitions''': 32 (until the 2023–24 season)
:: '''5''' participations in the [[UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League / European Cup]]
:: '''19''' participations in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup]]
:: '''2''' participations in the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]
:: '''5''' participations in the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]
:: '''1''' participation in the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]

''Goals records''

* '''Most goals scored in one match home''': Athletic 12–1 [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] (1930–31)
* '''Most goals scored in one match away''': [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]] 1–8 Athletic (1958–59)
* '''Most goals scored in one match in [[Copa del Rey]]''': Athletic 12–1 [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]] (1946–47)
* '''Most goals scored in one match in European competitions''': {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Standard Liège]] 1–7 Athletic (2004–05)

''Player records''
* '''Top goalscorers''': [[Telmo Zarra]] (335), [[Dani (footballer, born 1951)|Dani]] (199), [[Aritz Aduriz]] (172)
* '''Most appearances''': [[José Ángel Iribar]] (614), [[Iker Muniain]] (560), [[Txetxu Rojo]] (541)
* '''Most seasons at the club:''' [[Agustín Gaínza]] (21), [[José Ángel Iribar]] (18), [[José Luis Panizo]], [[José Orúe]] and [[Txetxu Rojo]] (17)
* '''Most professional titles won with the club''': [[Agustín Gaínza]] (10 titles)
* '''Youngest player to debut (in amateur competitions)''': [[Domingo Acedo]] (16 years old, 4 months, 12 days)<ref name=mundomuni>{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20090730/muniain-se-cita-con-la-historia_53754562211.html|title=Muniain se cita con la historia|trans-title=Muniain has an appointment with history|newspaper=[[Mundo Deportivo]]|language=es|date=30 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-date=30 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730225728/http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20090730/muniain-se-cita-con-la-historia_53754562211.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=europressmuni>{{cite news|url=http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-iker-muniain-16-anos-convierte-segundo-jugador-mas-joven-debutar-athletic-20090730234739.html|title=Iker Muniain, con 16 años, se convierte en el segundo jugador más joven en debutar con el Athletic|trans-title=Iker Muniain, 16, becomes the second youngest player to debut with Athletic|newspaper=[[Europa Press (news agency)|Europa Press]]|language=es|date=31 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-date=30 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730233457/http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-iker-muniain-16-anos-convierte-segundo-jugador-mas-joven-debutar-athletic-20090730234739.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Youngest player to debut (in professional competitions)''': [[Iker Muniain]] (16 years old, 7 months, 11 days)<ref name=correomuni>{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2009-07-30/iker-muniain-jugador-joven-200907302313.html|title=Iker Muniain, el jugador más joven en debutar con el Athletic|trans-title=Iker Muniain, the youngest player to debut for Athletic|newspaper=[[El Correo]]|language=es|date=20 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-date=2 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202212030/https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2009-07-30/iker-muniain-jugador-joven-200907302313.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''Youngest goalscorer (in amateur competitions)''': [[Domingo Acedo]] (16 years old, 4 months, 12 days)<ref name=mundomuni/><ref name=europressmuni/>
* '''Youngest goalscorer (in professional competitions)''': [[Iker Muniain]] (16 years old, 7 months, 18 days)<ref name=correomuni/>
* '''Oldest player to retire''': [[Armando Ribeiro]] (39 years old, 119 days)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elconfidencial.com/multimedia/album/deportes/futbol/liga/2015-06-23/los-15-jugadores-mas-veteranos-de-la-liga-valeron-estara-en-la-lista_898013/|title=Los 15 jugadores más veteranos de la Liga: Valerón estará en la lista|trans-title=The 15 most veteran players of the League: Valerón will be on the list|newspaper=[[El Confidencial]]|language=es|date=23 June 2015|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818090452/https://www.elconfidencial.com/multimedia/album/deportes/futbol/liga/2015-06-23/los-15-jugadores-mas-veteranos-de-la-liga-valeron-estara-en-la-lista_898013/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* '''Oldest goalscorer''': [[Aritz Aduriz]] (38 years old, 302 days)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/athletic/2017/12/10/5a2d7acae5fdea0c098b456f.html|title=Aduriz, el jugador más veterano en marcar con el Athletic en Liga|trans-title=Aduriz, the oldest player to score with Athletic in the League|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=10 December 2017|access-date=20 May 2018|archive-date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909090412/http://www.marca.com/futbol/athletic/2017/12/10/5a2d7acae5fdea0c098b456f.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Most expensive player signed''': [[Iñigo Martínez]] (2018 for €32M from [[Real Sociedad]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2018/01/30/inigo-martinez-signing|title=Iñigo Martínez signing|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|date=30 January 2018|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129192832/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2018/01/30/inigo-martinez-signing|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/athletic-bilbao-sign-martinez-from-real-sociedad/g2qcqw6nfa8t1fj74qrh862fb|title=Athletic Bilbao sign Inigo Martinez to replace Aymeric Laporte|publisher=Goal.com|date=30 January 2018|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204103855/https://www.goal.com/en/news/athletic-bilbao-sign-martinez-from-real-sociedad/g2qcqw6nfa8t1fj74qrh862fb|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Most expensive player sold''': [[Kepa Arrizabalaga]] (2018 for €80M/[[Pound sign|£]]71m to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45120514|title=Kepa Arrizabalaga: Chelsea sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper in world record deal|work=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2018|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180814083810/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45120514|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Records ===
* Together with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Athletic is one of only three teams to have contested all editions of La Liga, [[List of unrelegated association football clubs|without ever having been relegated]]<ref name=rec>{{cite web |url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/records.html |title=Athletic Club Records |publisher=Athletic-club.net |access-date=12 May 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924141407/http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/records.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* In the 1929–30 season, finished the league unbeaten over 18 games<ref name=rec/>
* Has the record for the biggest win in La Liga (12–1 over Barcelona, 1931)<ref name=rec/>
* Has the record for the biggest win in Copa del Rey (12–1 over [[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]], 1947)<ref name=rec/>
* Has the record for the biggest wins away to Real Madrid (0–6 at [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]]), Barcelona (0–6 at [[Camp Nou]]), [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] (1–5) and [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]] (1–8)<ref name=rec/>
* Zarra is the Spanish player with the most goals in La Liga history (251)<ref name=rec/>
* Zarra is the Spanish player with the most goals in a single La Liga season (38)<ref name=rec/>
* Zarra is the Spanish player with the most top scorer awards in La Liga history (6)<ref name=rec/>
* Zarra is the Spanish player with the most hat tricks in La Liga history (23)<ref name=rec/>
* Gaínza has the record of most goals scored in a Liga match (8)<ref name=rec/>
* Gaínza has the record of most appearances in the Copa del Rey by an outfield player (99)<ref>{{cite web| url=https://as.com/futbol/album/los-12-futbolistas-que-mas-partidos-de-copa-del-rey-han-jugado-g/| title=Los 12 futbolistas que más partidos de Copa del Rey han jugado| trans-title=The 12 footballers who have played the most Copa del Rey games| date=18 January 2023| newspaper=Diario AS| access-date=14 January 2024| language=es| archive-date=14 January 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114190459/https://as.com/futbol/album/los-12-futbolistas-que-mas-partidos-de-copa-del-rey-han-jugado-g/| url-status=live}}</ref>
* Zarra is the top scorer in the history of the Copa del Rey (81)<ref name=rec/>
* Zarra holds the record for most goals in a Copa del Rey final (4)<ref name=rec/>

== Stadium information ==
[[File:Bilbao San Mamés Stadium 4.jpg|thumb|right|San Mames exterior view at night]]

*'''Name''': [[San Mamés Stadium (2013)|San Mamés]]
*'''Nickname''': La Catedral ([[English language|en:]] The cathedral)
*'''City''': [[Bilbao]]
*'''Opened''': September 2013
*'''Capacity''': 53,289<ref name="capacity"/>
*'''Beginning construction''': 25 May 2010
*'''End construction (partial)''': September 2013
*'''End construction (total)''': August 2014
*'''Pitch size''': {{convert|105|×|68|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*'''Sports Facilities''': Lezama

[[File:San Mames 5, Euskal Herria.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2.72|Panoramic view of San Mames stadium]]

== Lezama facilities ==
[[File:Lezamakirol2.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of the Lezama complex, 2019]]
The [[Lezama Facilities]] is the complex where all of the categories of Athletic train. It was opened in the 1971–72 season, under the presidency of Felix Oráa. At present, facilities include, ''inter alia'', five natural grass fields, a gymnasium, a pediment, a medical center and a residence for young players. Lezama has undergone remodeling since 1995 under the presidency of José María Arrate with the construction of new roads and parking entry and exit able to absorb the large number of vehicles that come every day, and a platform cover bringing greater convenience to fans attending the matches of the youth teams and other youth football teams.

These facilities are located in the municipality of [[Lezama]], approximately 13 km from [[Bilbao]].

=== Future ===
The Board has given the green light to the so-called "Lezama Master Plan"{{when|date=January 2019}}, which was founded with the purpose of modernizing the structures of both the youth teams and first team. The "Plan" is the result of a rigorous study of the basic needs for the future of the Athletic Club. The work will take place over the course of two to three years and its budget is around €12 million. The club is committed to consolidate its cantera structure, which is the basis for the future of the club and in this regard Lezama will be expanded to classrooms for youth work in the lower categories and create an audiovisual department.

== Club rivalries ==

=== Real Sociedad ===
{{main|Basque derby}}
Athletic Club's main historical rival is [[Real Sociedad]], a neighboring club against which it plays the classic Basque derby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabilondo |first=Aritz |date=2021-04-03 |title=El sueño de la Copa era Real |url=https://as.com/futbol/2021/04/03/copa_del_rey/1617467299_513055.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Diario AS |language=es}}</ref> Both teams have maintained a great rivalry since their beginnings, and although Athletic had a notably superior trajectory for many decades, since the 1980s the differences between both clubs have equalized significantly and, at the same time, the rivalry has increased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reportaje: Derbi vasco - Marca.com |url=http://archivo.marca.com/reportajes/07/01/26/derbi_vasco/historia.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=archivo.marca.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sánchez |first=Pablo |date=2021-06-13 |title=Se cumplen 11 años del retorno de la Real Sociedad a la élite |url=https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/real-sociedad/20210613/crecimiento-exponencial-se-cumplen-11-anos-del-retorno-a-la-elite_151297419.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=ElDesmarque |language=es}}</ref>

=== Real Madrid and Barcelona ===
{{main|El Viejo Clásico|Athletic–Barcelona clásico}}
Against [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], Athletic has competed for many league and cup titles throughout its history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MARCA.com |date=2015-08-18 |title=El Athletic logra su segunda Supercopa |url=https://www.marca.com/2015/08/18/futbol/equipos/athletic/1439849629.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=MARCA.com |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletic-Barça, el otro clásico de nuestro fútbol - Marca.com |url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/barcelona/es/desarrollo/1176332.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=archivo.marca.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-18 |title=El Athletic se queja de insultos desde las gradas del Bernabéu a Susaeta y Gurpegi |url=https://www.20minutos.es/deportes/noticia/real-madrid-athletic-susaeta-1650861/0/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias |language=es}}</ref> Athletic has recorded the most victories against both opponents (79 wins over Barcelona and 76 over Madrid, as of 2024), ahead of the likes of [[Atlético Madrid]], [[Valencia CF|Valencia]], [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] and [[Real Sociedad]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=El votante del PP es el más aficionado a los toros, la siesta, la colonia y las rubias {{!}} elmundo.es |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/19/eleccionesgenerales/1203416455.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.elmundo.es}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

=== Osasuna ===
{{see also|Basque football derbies#Osasuna and Navarre}}
Athletic also maintains a significant rivalry with [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]], and there has been continuous friction between the clubs in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agencias |date=2003-12-22 |title=El Athletic denuncia al Osasuna por impago de un convenio |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2003/12/22/deportes/1072052894_850215.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=cadena SER |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Muez |first=Mikel |date=2000-06-11 |title=Javier Miranda Presidente del Club Atlético Osasuna: "Quiero que Osasuna sea el lugar de encuentro de una sociedad plural" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/06/11/paisvasco/960752412_850215.html |access-date=2024-03-19 |work=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal bar|Association football|Spain}}

*[[Bilbao Athletic]] – [[reserve team|B team]] in [[Segunda División B]]
*[[CD Basconia]] – [[farm team|affiliate team]] for under-20 players in ''[[Tercera División]]''
*[[Athletic Bilbao cantera]] – [[youth system]] up to 19 years, in leagues including ''[[División de Honor Juvenil de Fútbol|División de Honor Juvenil]]''
*[[Athletic Bilbao (women)]] – [[Women's association football|women's team]] in the ''[[Primera División (women)|Primera División Femenino]]''
*[[List of Athletic Bilbao records and statistics]]
*[[Athletic Bilbao signing policy]]
*[[One Club Award]] – an annual award organised by Athletic that honours players who only represented one club over the course of their career.
*[[Politics and sports]]

==Notes==
<references group="note" />
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/}} {{in lang|en|eu|es}}
* [https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/clubs/athletic-club Athletic Club] at [[La Liga]] {{in lang|en|es}}
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/50125--athletic-club/ Athletic Club] at [[UEFA]]
* {{Commons category-inline|Athletic Club de Bilbao}}

{{Athletic Bilbao}}
{{Original La Liga clubs}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Athletic Bilbao related articles
|list =
{{Athletic Bilbao squad}}
{{Athletic Bilbao managers}}
{{Athletic Bilbao matches}}
}}
{{Primera División de España}}
{{La Liga seasons}}
{{National sports teams of the Basque Country}}

[[Category:Athletic Bilbao| ]]
[[Category:La Liga clubs]]
[[Category:Football clubs in the Basque Country (autonomous community)]]
[[Category:Copa del Rey winners]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Bilbao]]
[[Category:Unrelegated association football clubs]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1898]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in Spain]]