1996–97 Athletic Bilbao season

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.

Athletic Bilbao

1996–97 season
President	José María Arrate
Head coach	Luis Fernández
Stadium	San Mamés
La Liga	6th
Copa del Rey	4th Round
Top goalscorer	League: Cuco Ziganda, 17[1] All: Ismael Urzaiz, 18
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

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	ESP	Juanjo Valencia	23	0	23	0	0	0
3	DF	FRA	Bixente Lizarazu	18	0	16	0	1+1	0
4	DF	ESP	Aitor Karanka	39	1	35+2	1	2	0
5	DF	ESP	Genar Andrinúa (c)	12	2	4+4	1	4	1
6	MF	ESP	Josu Urrutia	39	0	36+1	0	1+1	0
7	MF	ESP	Andoni Goikoetxea	37	0	10+21	0	5+1	0
8	MF	ESP	Julen Guerrero	43	16	37+1	15	5	1
9	FW	ESP	Cuco Ziganda	46	17	31+11	17	1+3	0
10	DF	ESP	Aitor Larrazábal	40	5	35+2	5	2+1	0
11	FW	ESP	Ismael Urzaiz	42	18	30+8	16	4	2
12	DF	ESP	Carlos García	17	3	17	3	0	0
13	GK	ESP	Imanol Etxeberria	25	0	19	0	6	0
14	MF	ESP	Óscar Vales	27	0	15+8	0	4	0
15	DF	ESP	Sergio Corino	18	1	8+7	0	3	1
16	MF	ESP	Ricardo Mendiguren	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	FW	ESP	Joseba Etxeberria	36	6	25+10	6	0+1	0
18	MF	ESP	Bittor Alkiza	43	4	36+3	3	2+2	1
20	DF	ESP	Eduardo Estíbariz	8	0	2+2	0	3+1	0
21	DF	ESP	Iñigo Larrainzar	40	1	38+1	1	1	0
22	DF	ESP	Óscar Tabuenka	4	0	3+1	0	0	0
23	MF	ESP	José Mari	36	2	28+5	2	3	0
24	MF	ESP	Edu Alonso	13	0	5+3	0	5	0
26	GK	ESP	Iñaki Lafuente	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	MF	ESP	Felipe Guréndez	18	0	6+7	0	5	0
28	FW	ESP	Bolo	25	3	2+17	1	3+3	2
29	MF	ESP	Mikel Kortina	3	1	1+1	1	0+1	0
	DF	ESP	Javier Díaz Neira	1	0	0	0	1	0
	FW	ESP	Ibán Espadas	0	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ESP	Álvaro Florentino	4	1	0+1	0	3	1
	FW	ESP	David Gallo	0	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	ESP	Raúl Gil	0	0	0	0	0	0
	MF	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 v t e	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. VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD

See also

• 1996–97 La Liga
• 1996–97 Copa del Rey

External links

• Official website (in English, Basque, and Spanish)

References

1. "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. "Athletic Bilbao - 1996/97". FootballSquads. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
7. "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.