Bilbao Athletic
Encyclopedia
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao
, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country
. The reserve team
of Athletic Bilbao
, it was founded in 1964, and currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2
, holding home matches at Instalaciones Athletic Bilbao.
Unlike the English League
, reserve teams in Spain
play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However, reserves cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore, Bilbao Athletic are ineligible for promotion to the first division
. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter the Copa del Rey
. In addition, only under-23 players, or under-25 with a professional contract, can switch between senior and reserve teams.
, when both La Liga
and the Copa del Rey
were suspended; several of top Athletic players subsequently joined the Euskadi XI
. This team was put together at the suggestion of José Antonio Aguirre, the president of the Basque Country
, himself a former Athletic Bilbao
footballer.
The team went on tour to raise funds for the Basque cause, and also played in Europe
and Mexico
. However, the Campeonato de Vicaya continued to be played. With their best players on tour with the Basque national team, Athletic Bilbao could only field weakened sides and, as a result, chose to enter under the name Bilbao Athletic. Despite this, they still won the championship; the club's name was derived from the two clubs that merged in 1903 to become Athletic Bilbao - Bilbao Football Club and Athletic Club.
The name was revived in 1964, when Athletic Bilbao decided to establish a reserve team with Agustín Gaínza
as coach. The new Bilbao Athletic initially played in local regional leagues, before winning promotion to the Tercera División
in 1966, under Rafa Iriondo. In 1969 they were promoted to Segunda División
..
In 1983–84, with José Ángel Iribar
as coach, and an emerging Julio Salinas
as striker
, the reserves finished in second place, only trailing Castilla CF
; both teams were ineligible for promotion, and Salinas won the Pichichi
.
Bilbao Athletic returned to the third level in 1996, but the main squad continued to be nurtured with several players which had spells with the reserves.
class="wikitable">
Season
Division
Place
Copa del Rey
1981/82
2ªB
10th
1982/83
2ªB
1st
1983/84
2ª
2nd
1984/85
2ª
15th
1985/86
2ª
7th
1986/87
2ª
6th
1987/88
2ª
17th
1988/89
2ªB
1st
1989/90
2ª
3rd
1990/91
2ª
13th
1991/92
2ª
13th
1992/93
2ª
15th
1993/94
2ª
14th
1994/95
2ª
16th
1995/96
2ª
18th
1996/97
2ªB
12th
1997/98
2ªB
2nd
------------------
see also
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
. The reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
of Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, it was founded in 1964, and currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, holding home matches at Instalaciones Athletic Bilbao.
Unlike the English League
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
, reserve teams in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However, reserves cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore, Bilbao Athletic are ineligible for promotion to the first division
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
. In addition, only under-23 players, or under-25 with a professional contract, can switch between senior and reserve teams.
History
The Bilbao Athletic name was first used in 1938 during the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, when both La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
and the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
were suspended; several of top Athletic players subsequently joined the Euskadi XI
Basque Country national football team
The Basque Country football team is considered the national team of the Basque Country greater region as selected players from the Basque Country Autonomous Community, the nearby Navarre and the Northern Basque Country in France play for it...
. This team was put together at the suggestion of José Antonio Aguirre, the president of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, himself a former Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
footballer.
The team went on tour to raise funds for the Basque cause, and also played in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. However, the Campeonato de Vicaya continued to be played. With their best players on tour with the Basque national team, Athletic Bilbao could only field weakened sides and, as a result, chose to enter under the name Bilbao Athletic. Despite this, they still won the championship; the club's name was derived from the two clubs that merged in 1903 to become Athletic Bilbao - Bilbao Football Club and Athletic Club.
The name was revived in 1964, when Athletic Bilbao decided to establish a reserve team with Agustín Gaínza
Agustín Gaínza
Agustín Gaínza Vicandi was a Spanish/Basque footballer and coach born in Basauri, Vizcaya. Also known as Piru. He played as a left sided winger or forward for Atlético Bilbao and Spain. Between 1940 and 1959 he made 381 La Liga appearances, scoring 120 goals...
as coach. The new Bilbao Athletic initially played in local regional leagues, before winning promotion to the Tercera División
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
in 1966, under Rafa Iriondo. In 1969 they were promoted to Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
..
In 1983–84, with José Ángel Iribar
José Ángel Iribar
José Ángel Iribar Cortajarena, nicknamed El Chopo , is a retired Spanish football goalkeeper and manager....
as coach, and an emerging Julio Salinas
Julio Salinas
Julio Salinas Fernández is a retired Spanish footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s....
as striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, the reserves finished in second place, only trailing Castilla CF
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
; both teams were ineligible for promotion, and Salinas won the Pichichi
The Pichichi Trophy
In Spanish football, the Pichichi is the trophy awarded by Spanish sports newspaper Marca to the top goalscorer for each league season. The award is named after the famous Athletic Bilbao player, Rafael Moreno "Pichichi"...
.
Bilbao Athletic returned to the third level in 1996, but the main squad continued to be nurtured with several players which had spells with the reserves.
Club names
- Bilbao Athletic - (1964–92)
- Athletic Bilbao B - (1992–2007)
- Bilbao Athletic - (2007–)
Season to season
| class="wikitable"> | |||
| Season | Division | Place | Copa del Rey Copa del Rey The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol .... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964/65 | Regional | — | |
| 1965/66 | Regional | — | |
| 1966/67 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
1st | |
| 1967/68 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
3rd | |
| 1968/69 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
1st | |
| 1969/70 | 2ª Segunda División The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:... |
13th | |
| 1970/71 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
5th | |
| 1971/72 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
9th | |
| 1972/73 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
5th | |
| 1973/74 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
13th | |
| 1974/75 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
8th | |
| 1975/76 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
4th | |
| 1976/77 | 3ª Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
4th | |
| 1977/78 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
5th | |
| 1978/79 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
7th | |
| 1979/80 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
12th | |
| 1980/81 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
3rd |
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
| class="wikitable"> | |||
| Season | Division | Place | Copa del Rey Copa del Rey The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol .... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998/99 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
6th | |
| 1999/00 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
8th | |
| 2000/01 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
6th | |
| 2001/02 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
6th | |
| 2002/03 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
4th | |
| 2003/04 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
11th | |
| 2004/05 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
9th | |
| 2005/06 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
6th | |
| 2006/07 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
15th | |
| 2007/08 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
15th | |
| 2008/09 | 2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
11th | |
| 2009/10 2009–10 Segunda División B The 2009–10 Segunda División B season was the 79th since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 29 August 2009, and the season ended on 20 June 2010 with the promotion play-off finals.- Group 1:... |
2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
15th | |
| 2010/11 2010–11 Segunda División B The 2010–11 Segunda División B season is the 80th since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 28 August 2010, and the season ended on 26 June 2011 with the promotion play-off finals.- Group 1:... |
2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
12th | |
| 2011/12 2011–12 Segunda División B The 2011–12 Segunda División B season is the 81st since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 20 August 2011, and the season is scheduled to end on 24 June 2012 with the promotion play-off finals.-Group 1:... |
2ªB Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
— |
------------------
- 13 seasons in Segunda DivisiónSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
- 22 seasons in Segunda División BSegunda División BSegunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
- 10 seasons in Tercera DivisiónTercera DivisiónTercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
- 2 seasons in Categorías RegionalesDivisiones Regionales de FútbolThe Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol are the Spanish football lower divisions. They are administered by the Autonomous football federations. The level immediately above is the Tercera División. The autonomous regional divisions are:-External links:*...
Current squad
As of 2 November 2011.Honours
- Vizcayan Championships: 1938–39
- Third DivisionSegunda División BSegunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
: 1982–83, 1988–89 - Fourth DivisionTercera DivisiónTercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
: 1966–67, 1968–69
Stadium
Famous players
| José Ramón Alexanko José Ramón Alexanko José Ramón Alexanko Ventosa , also referred to as Alesanco or Alexanco, is a retired Spanish footballer and manager.... Rafael Alkorta  Fernando AmorebietaFernando Amorebieta Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central defender.... Gaizka Garitano Gaizka Garitano Aguirre Gaizka Garitano Aguirre is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder.-Football career:... Andoni Goikoetxea Julen Guerrero Julen Guerrero Julen Guerrero López is a retired Spanish footballer who played solely for Athletic Club de Bilbao.Ambidextrous, the attacking midfielder was mainly known for his skills and shooting ability... |
José Ángel Iribar José Ángel Iribar José Ángel Iribar Cortajarena, nicknamed El Chopo , is a retired Spanish football goalkeeper and manager....  Javier Iturriaga Aitor Karanka Julio SalinasJulio Salinas Julio Salinas Fernández is a retired Spanish footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s.... Francisco Yeste Francisco Yeste Francisco "Fran" Javier Yeste Navarro is a Spanish footballer who plays for Olympiacos F.C. in Greece.Usually an attacking midfielder , he played 11 years of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao , appearing in 353 official games and scoring 59 goals.-Athletic Bilbao:Born in... |
see also
External links
- Team profile; at Athletic Bilbao's official website
- Futbolme team profile