Athletic Club (women) B

For the men's reserve team, see Athletic Bilbao B.
Athletic Femenino B
Full nameAthletic Club Femenino B
Founded2002; 23 years ago (2002)
GroundLezama (Field 8),
Biscay, Spain
PresidentJon Uriarte
CoachIraia Iturregi
LeaguePrimera Federación
2021–22Segunda División Pro, 10th (North Group)
Websitehttps://www.athletic-club.eus/en/teams/athletic-club-b/2019-20

Athletic Club Femenino B is a Spanish women's association football team based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, Spain.

Founded in 2002, it is the reserve team of Athletic Club Femenino, and currently plays in the Primera Federación, playing their home matches at the Lezama Facilities.

Reserve teams in Spain play in the same league system as the senior team, rather than in a reserve team league. They must play at least one level below their main side, and thus Athletic B are ineligible for promotion to the Primera División and cannot play in the Copa de la Reina.

History

In 2002, Athletic Bilbao introduced a women's section to their football activities, absorbing a local club Leioa EFT. At the same time they introduced a women's reserve team (which had been established by Leioa the previous year)[1] with the aim of developing players for the senior side.

After a single season in the Basque provincial league, the B-team was promoted to the second tier – then known as the Primera Nacional – where they remained for two decades, winning their regional group in the competition four times (most recently in 2017)[2] but being ineligible for promotion.

Athletic B, whose players are usually between 16 and 21 years of age, are also regular participants in the Copa Vasca, a regional tournament for lower-league teams, and have won the trophy six times.

Below the reserve level Athletic have a C-team, introduced in 2019 and quickly promoted to the Basque provincial league,[3] and a girls' cadet (under-15) team, introduced in 2017 and competing at local youth level.[4] In common with all other teams fielded by the club, only players who meet their recruitment policy of having a connection to the 'greater Basque Country' are eligible to join.[5]

With the second tier re-organised in the early 2020s into two groups, then into just one, with a resultant uplift in the average standards (combined with general progress in the women's game in that period due to increasing investment and professionalisation), the teenagers of Athletic B began to find it difficult to remain competitive and it was no great surprise when they were finally relegated from the Primera Federación in 2023–24;[6] this would have caused Athletic C to have been demoted, but they were also among the bottom places in their Segunda Federación group and would have dropped down in any event.

Season to season

As Leioa EFT B

Season Division Place Copa Vasca[7][8]
2001–02 Provincial 5th[9]
2002–03 Provincial 3rd[10]

As Athletic Club B

Season Division Place Copa Vasca
2003–04 Primera Nac. 7th[a][11] Winners[12]
2004–05 Primera Nac. 7th[a][13] Winners[14]
2005–06 Primera Nac. 3rd[a][15] Group stage
2006–07 Primera Nac. 3rd[16] 2nd round
2007-08 Primera Nac. 2nd[a][17] Group stage
2008-09 Primera Nac. 2nd[a][18] Runners-up
2009–10 Primera Nac. 1st[a][19] Group stage
2010–11 Primera Nac. 2nd[a][20] Winners
2011–12 2ª 1st[b][21] Runners-up
2012–13 2ª 5th[b][22] Quarter-final
2013–14 2ª 1st[b][23] Semi-final
2014–15 2ª 2nd[b] Winners[24]
2015–16 2ª 3rd[b] Quarter-final
2016–17 2ª 1st[a] Runners-up[25]
2017–18 2ª 2nd[b] Winners[26]
2018–19 2ª 4th[a][c] Winners[27]
2019–20 2ª Pro 1st[d][e]
2020–21 2ª Pro 7th[f]/3rd[g]
2021–22 2ª Pro 10th[d]
2022–23 1ª Fed 11th
2023–24 1ª Fed 13th
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Placing in one of 6 regionalised groups.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Placing in one of 7 regionalised groups.
  3. ^ The team qualified to move up to the new Segunda División Pro but remained in the second tier of the system due to its creation.
  4. ^ a b Placing in one of 2 regionalised groups.
  5. ^ Season curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.
  6. ^ In 1 of 4 regionalised Autumn subgroups.
  7. ^ in 1 of 2 regionalised 'retention/relegation' Spring subgroups.

Notable graduates

See also: Category:Athletic Club (women) B players

Note: this list contains players who have appeared in at least 50 games for the first team or another top-level club. Current players in bold.

Name Senior Debut Ref
Arene Altonaga 2009 [28]
Ainhoa Álvarez 2014 [29]
Paula Arana 2021 [30]
Joana Arranz 2011 [31]
Ane Azkona 2016 [32]
Naiara Beristain 2009 [33]
Damaris Egurrola 2015 [34]
Sheila Elorza 2015 [35]
Joana Flaviano 2007 [36]
Alazne Gómez 2012 [37]
Oihane Hernández 2019 [38]
Jone Ibáñez 2015 [39]
Eztizen Merino 2012 [40]
Garazi Murua 2010 [41]
Irune Murua 2003 [42]
Irene Oguiza 2020 [43]
Maite Oroz 2015 [44][45]
Arrate Orueta 2003 [46]
Marta Perea 2015 [47]
Amaiur Sarriegi 2019 [48]
Andrea Sierra 2016 [49][45]
Maddi Torre 2015 [50]
Oihane Valdezate 2019 [51]
Leia Zarate 2016 [52]

References

  1. ^ "Ladies: History". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. ^ "El Athletic Femenino B, campeón de Segunda" [Athletic Women B, champions of the Second]. El Desmarque (in Spanish). 2 April 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. ^ The pedigree of a great lioness: Tzibi Juaristi, Athletic Bilbao, 28 May 2020
  4. ^ "Third ladies' team for Athletic". official website. Athletic Bilbao. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. ^ A new Cathedral: Athletic Club’s move to a new San Mamés, Simon Lloyd, Joe.co.uk
  6. ^ El filial femenino desciende de categoría [The women's reserve team is relegated], Athletic Club, 30 March 2024 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ "Pauldarrak y Athletic B juegan este sábado en Serralta la gran final de Copa Vasca" [Pauldarrak and Athletic B play the grand final of the Basque Cup this Saturday at Serralta]. Ligas Fútbol Femenino (in Spanish). 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Ladies B - Cup 2016-17 (other seasons can be selected)". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Territorial Vizcaína Femenina 2001–02" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Territorial Vizcaína Femenina (Grupo 2) 2002–03" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Liga Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2003–04" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  12. ^ "El Athletic Femenino B campeón de la Copa Vasca" [Athletic B champion of the Basque Cup]. AupaAthletic (in Spanish). 14 June 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2004–05" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  14. ^ "El Athletic B se ha proclamado campeón de la Copa Vasca" [Athletic B has been proclaimed champion of the Basque Cup]. AupaAthletic (in Spanish). 22 May 2005. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2005–06" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2006–07" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2007–08" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2008–09" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 2)[sic] 2009–10" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  20. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2010–11" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 2) 2011–12" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Liga 2ª División Femenina - Grupo II (2012/2013)" (in Spanish). Txapeldunak. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 2) 2013–14" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  24. ^ "El Athletic B levantó la Copa Vasca tras derrotar al Añorga con doblete de Paula" [El Athletic B lifts the Basque Cup after defeating Añorga through a double by Paula]. Txapeldunak (in Spanish). 22 June 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  25. ^ "El Pauldarrak se lleva su segunda Copa Vasca en detrimento del Athletic B al que se le resiste el doblete" [Pauldarrak take their second Basque Cup to deny Athletic B a double]. Ligas Fútbol Femenino (in Spanish). 10 June 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Copa Vasca Femenina (2017/2018): Calendario" [Women's Basque Cup (2017/2018): Fixtures] (in Spanish). Txapeldunak. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  27. ^ "Athletic Club B, champion of the Basque Women's Cup". Athletic Bilbao. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  28. ^ "Arene". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Ainhoa Álvarez". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Paula Arana". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  31. ^ "J.Arranz". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  32. ^ "Ane Azkona". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Beristain". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  34. ^ "Damaris". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  35. ^ "Sheila". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  36. ^ "Joana Flaviano". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  37. ^ "Alazne". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  38. ^ "Oihane". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Jone Ibáñez". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  40. ^ "Eztizen". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  41. ^ "Garazi". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  42. ^ "Irene M." Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  43. ^ "Oguiza". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  44. ^ "Maite". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  45. ^ a b "Amaia Peña, Andrea Sierra y Maite Oroz, campeonas de Europa sub-17" [Amaia Peña, Andrea Sierra and Maite Oroz, under-17 European champions]. Vavel (in Spanish). 5 July 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  46. ^ "Orueta". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  47. ^ "Marta Perea". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  48. ^ "Amaiur". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  49. ^ "Andrea Sierra". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  50. ^ "Maddi". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  51. ^ "Valdezate". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  52. ^ "Leia". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 10 April 2019.