En directo: Athletic de Bilbao - Sevilla FC (2024)

FAQs

Has Athletic Bilbao ever won La Liga? ›

In 1982–83 season, Athletic became LaLiga champion after surpassing Santillana's Real Madrid in the standings on the last round. The following year they won a LaLiga and Copa del Rey double.

Its special philosophy in which only players that come from its own ranks and those trained in Basque clubs can play makes this union even stronger, if possible, than in other towns in Spain. Therefore, Athletic Club is considered to be more than a football club.

The sport was brought to Bilbao by English sailors and miners, one of Athletic's 33 founding members was an Englishman named Alfred Mills and several British footballers played key roles in Los Leones' first triumphs.

Athletic Club

2023–24 Copa del Rey / Champion

Athletic (whose official name is Athletic Club) have not always used Basque players only. Founded in 1898 after British workers and young Basques who had studied there brought football to Bilbao, plenty of foreigners played for the club in its early days.

In 2011 full-back Ramalho became the first black player to feature for Athletic, playing in the 2-1 La Liga win over Sevilla.

Telmo Zarra is the top goalscorer of Athletic Bilbao history.

History. In the first decade of their existence, Athletic selected English players for the team but since 1912, they have adhered to a policy of allowing only players born in the Basque Country or who learned their football skills at a Basque club to play for them.

Why is Bilbao called Bilbao? ›

From Basque billa (“stacking”) + Spanish vaho (“steam, mist”). Evolution of Spanish bello vado (“beautiful river crossing”), from the Roman name, Latin bellum vadum. From Basque billa-ibaia-bao (“river cove”).

What is Bilbao known for? Bilbao is famous for its iconic Guggenheim Museum, which is renowned for its architecture and contemporary art collection. The city is also known for its delicious Basque cuisine, with a range of traditional dishes such as pintxos and bacalao al pil-pil.

Inaki played for Spain at youth level before struggling to gain a senior call-up despite his form in LaLiga and ahead of the Qatar tournament he decided to switch his allegiance. The striker accepted an offer to switch nationalities to represent the birthplace of his parents, Ghana.

Athletic Club Bilbao, like Real Madrid and Barcelona, is owned by its members. As of this season, the club has a total of 44,560 socios.

Real Madrid CF

LaLiga / Current champion

What is Bilbao known for? Bilbao is famous for its iconic Guggenheim Museum, which is renowned for its architecture and contemporary art collection. The city is also known for its delicious Basque cuisine, with a range of traditional dishes such as pintxos and bacalao al pil-pil.

The club have twice reached the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, in 1998–99 and 2014–15, but did not qualify for the next phase on either occasion.