1996–97 Athletic Bilbao season

Athletic Bilbao
1996–97 season
PresidentJosé María Arrate
Head coachLuis Fernández
StadiumSan Mamés
La Liga6th
Copa del Rey4th Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cuco Ziganda, 17[1]
All: Ismael Urzaiz, 18

The 1996–97 season was the 96th season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 66th consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

Season summary

Athletic had been without a permanent head coach since replacing Dragoslav Stepanović with caretaker manager José María Amorrortu in March 1996. They filled the vacancy ahead of the new season by appointing Spanish-born Frenchman Luis Fernández,[2] previously manager of Paris Saint-Germain in his adopted homeland.

Fernández's appointment led to an immediate improvement in league form, and Bilbao finished the La Liga season in 6th place.[3] This was their best league finish since 1993–94, and also meant a return to the UEFA Cup in 1997–98.

Their performance in the Copa del Rey, however, left room for improvement. They were eliminated at the last sixteen stage by Racing Santander, following an ill-tempered second leg at San Mamés which saw three players red carded.[4]

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[1][5][6][7]

No. Pos Nat Player Total La Liga Copa del Rey
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Spain ESP Juanjo Valencia 23 0 23 0 0 0
3 DF France FRA Bixente Lizarazu 18 0 16 0 1+1 0
4 DF Spain ESP Aitor Karanka 39 1 35+2 1 2 0
5 DF Spain ESP Genar Andrinúa (c) 12 2 4+4 1 4 1
6 MF Spain ESP Josu Urrutia 39 0 36+1 0 1+1 0
7 MF Spain ESP Andoni Goikoetxea 37 0 10+21 0 5+1 0
8 MF Spain ESP Julen Guerrero 43 16 37+1 15 5 1
9 FW Spain ESP Cuco Ziganda 46 17 31+11 17 1+3 0
10 DF Spain ESP Aitor Larrazábal 40 5 35+2 5 2+1 0
11 FW Spain ESP Ismael Urzaiz 42 18 30+8 16 4 2
12 DF Spain ESP Carlos García 17 3 17 3 0 0
13 GK Spain ESP Imanol Etxeberria 25 0 19 0 6 0
14 MF Spain ESP Óscar Vales 27 0 15+8 0 4 0
15 DF Spain ESP Sergio Corino 18 1 8+7 0 3 1
16 MF Spain ESP Ricardo Mendiguren[1] 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 FW Spain ESP Joseba Etxeberria 36 6 25+10 6 0+1 0
18 MF Spain ESP Bittor Alkiza 43 4 36+3 3 2+2 1
20 DF Spain ESP Eduardo Estíbariz 8 0 2+2 0 3+1 0
21 DF Spain ESP Iñigo Larrainzar 40 1 38+1 1 1 0
22 DF Spain ESP Óscar Tabuenka 4 0 3+1 0 0 0
23 MF Spain ESP José Mari 36 2 28+5 2 3 0
24 MF Spain ESP Edu Alonso 13 0 5+3 0 5 0
26 GK Spain ESP Iñaki Lafuente 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF Spain ESP Felipe Guréndez 18 0 6+7 0 5 0
28 FW Spain ESP Bolo[2] 25 3 2+17 1 3+3 2
29 MF Spain ESP Mikel Kortina 3 1 1+1 1 0+1 0
DF Spain ESP Javier Díaz Neira 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Spain ESP Ibán Espadas 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW Spain ESP Álvaro Florentino 4 1 0+1 0 3 1
FW Spain ESP David Gallo 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF Spain ESP Raúl Gil 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF Spain ESP Raúl Otxoa 3 0 0 0 2+1 0
1.^ Mendiguren was transferred to Las Palmas during the season.[6]
2.^ Bolo was loaned to Osasuna during the season.[6]

Results

La Liga

Main article: 1996–97 La Liga

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
4 Real Betis 42 21 14 7 81 46 +35 77[a] Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[b]
5 Atlético Madrid 42 20 11 11 76 64 +12 71 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
6 Athletic Bilbao 42 16 16 10 72 57 +15 64[c]
7 Valladolid 42 18 10 14 57 46 +11 64[c]
8 Real Sociedad 42 18 9 15 50 47 +3 63
Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ BET 1–2 DEP; DEP 3–0 BET
  2. ^ Since Barcelona, winners of 1996–97 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Real Betis earned a spot in the first round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
  3. ^ a b VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD


See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Primera División 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Luis Fernandez : la légende du "machote" de Bilbao n'a pas pris une ride". rmcsport.bfmtv.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. ^ "LaLiga 1996/1997 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Un vasco echa al Athletic" (PDF). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Squad 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Athletic Bilbao - 1996/97". FootballSquads. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.