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Athletic Bilbao B

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Athletic Bilbao B[a]
Full nameBilbao Athletic
Nickname(s)Los Leones / Lehoiak
(The Lions)
Los Cachorros / Katxorroak
(The Cubs)
Founded1964; 60 years ago (1964)
GroundLezama (Field 2)
Capacity3,250
ChairmanJon Uriarte
ManagerJokin Aranbarri
LeaguePrimera Federación – Group 1
2023–24Segunda Federación – Group 2, 1st of 18 (champions)

Athletic Club "B", officially Bilbao Athletic,[1] is the reserve team of Athletic Club,[a] a football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country in Spain. The team currently compete in the Primera Federación – Group 1. Founded in 1964, the team holds home matches at the small stadium attached to the club's training facility at Lezama, holding 3,250 spectators[2] or occasionally at San Mamés Stadium, with its 53,500-seat capacity, for important fixtures.

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 La Liga. 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. In recent years, most of Bilbao Athletic's players have been graduates from the club's youth setup ('cantera') via the feeder team, Basconia. As a result of Athletic's signing policy, only Basque players feature also for the reserve team.

History

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The Bilbao Athletic name was first used in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War, when both La Liga and the Copa del Rey were suspended; most of the top Athletic players had joined the Euzkadi XI, a team put together at the suggestion of José Antonio Aguirre, the president of the Basque Country (and himself a former Athletic Bilbao footballer). Euzkadi went on tour to raise funds for the Basque cause, and also played in the Mexican domestic league. However, at home the Campeonato de Vizcaya had resumed in 1938. With their best players abroad with Euzkadi, Athletic could only field weakened sides and, to avoid possible shameful results damaging the club's reputation, chose to enter under the name Bilbao Athletic (derived from the two clubs that merged in 1903 to become Athletic Bilbao – Bilbao Football Club and Athletic Club).[3] Despite the low expectations, they still won the championship and entered the 1939 Copa del Generalísimo, as the club itself regrouped for a return to normality.

In the 1940s, a reserve team called CD Bilbao played at regional level for a few seasons, but when they had the opportunity of promotion to the third tier, the club opted instead to send players to strengthen its more prestigious local partner Arenas de Getxo.[4]

The name was revived in 1964, when Athletic decided to establish a reserve team with Agustín Gaínza as coach. The new Bilbao Athletic initially played in regional leagues before winning promotion to Tercera División in 1966, under Rafa Iriondo; in 1969 they first reached Segunda División.

Aerial view of the team's mini-stadium at Lezama, 2019

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 dropped back down to the third level in 1996, but the main squad continued to be nurtured with several players who had spells with the reserves.

Bilbao Athletic played home games at San Mamés during the 2015–16 season due to league requirements, but attracted crowds of only a few thousand for most games.

After 19 seasons in Segunda División B, Bilbao Athletic returned to the second tier after defeating Cádiz CF 3–1 on aggregate in the promotion playoffs.[5] However, in their campaign in the Segunda they were reliant on the same group, a core squad of 20-year-olds who had never played at such a high level before, and despite battling performances in most of their games, a pattern of narrow defeats led to the team finishing bottom and being relegated back down at the first attempt.[6] Somewhat ironically, the promoted teams that season were CD Leganés whose squad included three players on loan from Athletic who would have been eligible to play for Bilbao Athletic that season, as well as the parent club's local rivals Alavés and Osasuna.

The team came close to another promotion in 2020–21, losing to Burgos after extra time in the final round of the promotion play-offs[7] (they had lost in the opening round in 2018 and 2020).

League re-organisation in 2021 meant the third level became the Primera Federación, consisting of only two groups and a higher average standard of play than in the four groups of Segunda B. In 2022–23, Bilbao Athletic finished bottom of their section (in which the reserves of local rivals Osasuna and Real Sociedad survived comfortably) and were relegated to the five-group Segunda Federación – the first time the team had been in the fourth tier since the 1960s, and potentially damaging for player progression at the club with a wider gap between the standards of this level and La Liga.[8] They bounced back to the third tier immediately by winning their group in 2023–24, losing only twice.[9]

Premier League International Cup

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Athletic have competed in the Premier League International Cup (an Under-23 tournament, all matches played in England), with most of the players selected for their squad drawn from Bilbao Athletic plus some younger additions from Basconia and the Juvenil squads (the rules permit the use of a limited number of overage players, but Athletic do not use them). In 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17 the club qualified from their group but were eliminated in the quarter-finals, while in the 2017–18,[10] 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2023–24 editions, they bowed out at the group stage (they did not enter in 2022–23).

Background

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  • As farm team:
    • Club Atlético de Bilbao Amateur (1964–1966)
    • Bilbao Atlético Club (1966–1972)[n. 1]
    • Bilbao Athletic Club (1972–1991)[n. 1]
  • As reserve team:
    • Athletic Club "B" (1991–2006)[n. 1]
    • Bilbao Athletic (2006–)[n. 1]

Season to season

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Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1964–65 4 1ª Reg. 17th DNP
1965–66 4 1ª Reg. 1st DNP
1966–67 3 3ª 1st DNP
1967–68 3 3ª 3rd DNP
1968–69 3 3ª 1st DNP
1969–70 2 2ª 13th Round of 32
1970–71 3 3ª 5th 3rd round
1971–72 3 3ª 9th 1st round
1972–73 3 3ª 5th 3rd round
1973–74 3 3ª 13th 1st round
1974–75 3 3ª 8th 1st round
1975–76 3 3ª 4th 2nd round
1976–77 3 3ª 4th 1st round
1977–78 3 2ª B 5th 2nd round
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1978–79 3 2ª B 7th 2nd round
1979–80 3 2ª B 12th 2nd round
1980–81 3 2ª B 3rd DNP
1981–82 3 2ª B 10th 2nd round
1982–83 3 2ª B 1st 2nd round
1983–84 2 2ª 2nd 2nd round
1984–85 2 2ª 15th 1st round
1985–86 2 2ª 7th 1st round
1986–87 2 2ª 6th 3rd round
1987–88 2 2ª 17th 4th round
1988–89 3 2ª B 1st DNP
1989–90 2 2ª 3rd Withdrew[nb 1]
1990–91 2 2ª 13th N/A
Season Tier Division Place
1991–92 2 2ª 13th
1992–93 2 2ª 15th
1993–94 2 2ª 14th
1994–95 2 2ª 16th
1995–96 2 2ª 18th
1996–97 3 2ª B 12th
1997–98 3 2ª B 2nd
1998–99 3 2ª B 6th
1999–2000 3 2ª B 8th
2000–01 3 2ª B 6th
2001–02 3 2ª B 6th
2002–03 3 2ª B 4th
2003–04 3 2ª B 11th
2004–05 3 2ª B 9th
2005–06 3 2ª B 6th
2006–07 3 2ª B 15th
2007–08 3 2ª B 15th
2008–09 3 2ª B 11th
2009–10 3 2ª B 15th
2010–11 3 2ª B 12th
Season Tier Division Place
2011–12 3 2ª B 8th
2012–13 3 2ª B 3rd
2013–14 3 2ª B 5th
2014–15 3 2ª B 2nd
2015–16 2 2ª 22nd
2016–17 3 2ª B 8th
2017–18 3 2ª B 4th
2018–19 3 2ª B 6th
2019–20 3 2ª B 3rd
2020–21 3 2ª B 2nd
2021–22 3 1ª RFEF 15th
2022–23 3 1ª Fed. 20th
2023–24 4 2ª Fed. 1st
2024–25 3 1ª Fed.
  1. ^ Before the start of the competition

Players

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Current squad

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As of 9 September 2024.[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Spain ESP Oier Gastesi
3 DF Spain ESP Jon de Luis
4 DF Spain ESP Aimar Duñabeitia
5 DF Spain ESP Eneko Ebro
6 MF Spain ESP Alejandro Rego
7 MF Spain ESP Iker Varela
8 MF Spain ESP Beñat Gerenabarrena (captain)
9 FW Spain ESP Ibai Sanz
10 MF Spain ESP Ibon Sánchez
11 FW Spain ESP Aingeru Olabarrieta
12 DF Spain ESP Javier Elías
14 DF Spain ESP Ander Izagirre
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF Spain ESP Junior Bita
17 MF Spain ESP Eneko Aguilar
18 MF Spain ESP Peio Canales
19 FW Spain ESP Ekain Azkune
21 FW Spain ESP Endika Buján
22 DF Spain ESP Xabi Irurita
23 FW Spain ESP Asier Hierro
24 DF France FRA Johaneko Louis-Jean
25 GK Spain ESP Mikel Santos
26 MF Spain ESP Javi Sola
28 MF Spain ESP Eñaut Lete
31 FW Spain ESP Igor Oyono

Reserve team

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Main article: CD Basconia

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK Spain ESP Eric Gamen
33 DF Spain ESP David Osipov
No. Pos. Nation Player
34 MF Spain ESP Gaizka Alboniga-Menor

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Spain ESP Erlantz Palacín (at Sestao River until 30 June 2025)
— DF Spain ESP Miguel Barandalla (at Sestao River until 30 June 2025)
— FW Spain ESP Aimar Vicandi (at Barakaldo until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Spain ESP Álvaro Marin (at Amorebieta until 30 June 2025)
— FW Spain ESP Luis Bilbao (at Barakaldo until 30 June 2025)

Coaching staff

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Position Staff
Head coach Spain Jokin Aranbarri
Assistant head coach Spain Ander Murillo
Analyst Spain Iñigo Lizarralde
Goalkeeping coach Spain Armando Ribeiro
Fitness coach Spain Mikel Legarreta
Psychologist Spain Iñigo "Txolo" Aguinaga
Physiotherapist Spain Jon Ciaurri
Spain Xabier Mendieta
Medical services Spain Juan Manuel Santisteban
Nurse Spain Joseba Andoni Monasterio
Kit manager Spain José Félix Gallastegi
Match delegate Spain Javier Arkotxa

Honours

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Bilbao Athletic in training

Stadium

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Main article: Lezama Facilities

For big matches, they use San Mamés, the first team stadium.

Selected coaches

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See also: Category:Athletic Bilbao B managers

Notable players

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See also: Category:Athletic Bilbao B footballers

Note: This list includes players that have appeared in at least 100 top league games and/or have reached international status.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d In 1940, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued a circular ordering clubs to eliminate all foreign words from their names (see Language policies of Francoist Spain). From then until July 1972, when the 1940 Decree-Law was repealed, the club and its subsidiary were unable to recover their original names. In 1991, as part of FREF measures to formalise the relationships between clubs and their affiliated teams, the official name had to be simplified to the club's name followed by 'B'. With federation permission, the Bilbao Athletic name was restored by the club in 2006.[4]
  1. ^ a b The club is known colloquially in English as Athletic Bilbao, with this naming convention also used here for the reserves
  2. ^ a b Third tier
  3. ^ a b c Promoted directly
  4. ^ Not promoted in 1967 play-offs
  5. ^ Not promoted in 1969 play-offs
  6. ^ Fourth tier

References

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  1. ^ 1960-1969: The youth academy grows stronger, Athletic Club website
  2. ^ "Athletic: El campo 2 de Lezama sube su aforo hasta los 3.250 espectadores" [Field 2 in Lezama increases its capacity to 3,250 spectators]. Mundo Deportivo. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Bilbao Athletic history". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Historial del Bilbao Athletic [History of Bilbao Athletic], Vicent Masià Pous, La Futbolteca (in Spanish)
  5. ^ "El Bilbao Athletic, a Segunda 19 años después y el Cádiz tendrá que esperar" [Bilbao Athletic, into Segunda 19 years later and Cadiz will have to wait] (in Spanish). EFE. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. ^ "El Bilbao Athletic empata contra Osasuna y pierde la categoría" [Bilbao Athletic draw with Osasuna and lose the category] (in Spanish). El Correo. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  7. ^ RESUMEN | Saúl Berjón recoge el testigo de Dani Pendín como héroe del conjunto burgalés (1-0) [SUMMARY | Saúl Berjón picks up the witness of Dani Pendín as the hero of the Burgos team (1-0)], RFEF (in Spanish), 23 May 2021
  8. ^ La debacle del Bilbao Athletic, “una cagada” que abre una grieta en Lezama [The debacle of Bilbao Athletic, a "screw-up" that opens a crack in Lezama], Patxo De la Rica, Relevo, 1 May 2023 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ El Bilbao Athletic conquista el terreno perdido un año después [Bilbao Athletic conquers the lost ground a year later], Javier R. Beltrán, Diario AS, 21 April 2024 (in Spanish)
  10. ^ "Report: Swans U23 0 Athletic Bilbao B 2". Swansea City A.F.C. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Bilbao Athletic - Plantilla 2024-25". Athletic Club. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  12. ^ "El "Cuco" Ziganda agranda su trayectoria deportiva – Navarra Deportiva" [The "Cuco" Ziganda enlarges his sports career] (in Spanish). 29 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
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