1996–97 Athletic Bilbao season
| 1996–97 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | José María Arrate | ||
| Head coach | Luis Fernández | ||
| Stadium | San Mamés | ||
| La Liga | 6th (In 1997–98 UEFA Cup) | ||
| Copa del Rey | Fourth round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Cuco Ziganda (17)[1] All: Ismael Urzaiz (18) | ||
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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
| 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 |
| 21 | DF | ESP | Iñigo Larrainzar | 40 | 1 | 38+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP | Aitor Karanka | 39 | 1 | 35+2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | ESP | Aitor Larrazábal | 40 | 5 | 35+2 | 5 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Josu Urrutia | 39 | 0 | 36+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Julen Guerrero | 43 | 16 | 37+1 | 15 | 5 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Bittor Alkiza | 43 | 4 | 36+3 | 3 | 2+2 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | ESP | José Mari | 36 | 2 | 28+5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Cuco Ziganda | 46 | 17 | 31+11 | 17 | 1+3 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ESP | Ismael Urzaiz | 42 | 18 | 30+8 | 16 | 4 | 2 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Imanol Etxeberria | 25 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ESP | Joseba Etxeberria | 36 | 6 | 25+10 | 6 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Carlos García | 17 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | FRA | Bixente Lizarazu | 18 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Óscar Vales | 27 | 0 | 15+8 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Andoni Goikoetxea | 37 | 0 | 10+21 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ESP | Sergio Corino | 18 | 1 | 8+7 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 27 | MF | ESP | Felipe Guréndez | 18 | 0 | 6+7 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ESP | Edu Alonso | 13 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Genar Andrinúa (c) | 12 | 2 | 4+4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 22 | DF | ESP | Óscar Tabuenka | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ESP | Bolo[1] | 25 | 3 | 2+17 | 1 | 3+3 | 2 |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Eduardo Estíbariz | 8 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ESP | Mikel Kortina | 3 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| FW | ESP | Álvaro Florentino | 4 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| MF | ESP | Raúl Otxoa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | |
| DF | ESP | Javier Díaz Neira | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Ricardo Mendiguren[2] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | ESP | Iñaki Lafuente | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | ESP | Ibán Espadas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ESP | David Gallo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ESP | Raúl Gil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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
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:
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:
- ^ BET 1–2 DEP; DEP 3–0 BET
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD
Matches
| 1 September 1996 1 | Real Betis | 3–0 | Athletic | Sevilla |
| Finidi George 14' Roberto Rios 44' Sabas 85' |
Stadium: Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45000 |
| 12 October 1996 7 | Real Zaragoza | 1–1 | Athletic | Zaragoza |
| Higuera 46' | 16' Ziganda | Stadium: La Romareda Attendance: 30000 |
| 19 October 1996 8 | Athletic | 2-0 | CD Tenerife | Bilbao |
| Stadium: San Mamés |
| 16 November 1996 12 | Athletic | 2-0 | Valencia CF | Bilbao |
| Ziganda 16' Etxeberria 77' |
Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 |
| 17 November 1996 13 | Sporting Gijon | 2–4 | Athletic | Gijón |
| Sergio 9' Julio Salinas 82' |
Report | Urzaiz 5' Guerrero 56' Ziganda 68', 78' |
Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Prados García |
| 23 November 1996 14 | Athletic | 2–1 | FC Barcelona | Bilbao |
| Jose Mari 62' Guerrero 76' Korino Alkiza |
Report | 25' Abelardo Sergi Barjuan Guardiola Couto |
Stadium: San Mamés Referee: Hernanz Angulo |
| 7 December 1996 16 | Athletic | 1-1 | Atlético Madrid | Bilbao |
| Etxebarria 67' | 40' Pantic | Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 |
| 5 January 1997 18 | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Athletic | Madrid |
| Raúl 59' | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu |
| 12 January 1997 19 | Athletic | 2 – 2 | Celta Vigo | Bilbao, Spain |
| Ziganda 7' Alkiza 55' |
Report | 51' Gudelj 76' Berges |
Stadium: San Mamés Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega |
| 19 January 1996 20 | Deportivo La Coruña | 2-2 | Athletic | A Coruña |
| Donato 4' (pen.) Martins 44' |
26' Ziganda 87' Guerrero |
Stadium: Riazor Attendance: 22,000 |
| 2 February 1997 22 | Athletic | 0–3 | Real Betis | Bilbao |
| Report | 4' Alfonso 25' Olias 72' Kowalczyk 72 |
Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 |
| 9 March 1997 27 | Athletic | 2–2 | Real Zaragoza | Bilbao |
| Etxeberria 21' Karanka 32' |
17' Poyet 90' Poyet |
Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 37000 |
| 14 March 1997 29 | CD Tenerife | 3-3 | Athletic | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Stadium: Heliodoro Rodriguez |
| 12 April 1997 33 | Valencia CF | 5-2 | Athletic | Valencia |
| Ortega 2', 26' (pen.) Moya 29' Leandro 3', 34' |
43', 65' Urzaiz | Stadium: Mestalla Attendance: 40,000 |
| 16 April 1997 34 | Athletic | 4–0 | Sporting Gijon | Bilbao |
| Larrazábal 42' (pen.) Urzaiz 46', 57' Guerrero 72' |
Summary | Stadium: San Mamés Referee: Japón Sevilla |
| 20 April 1997 35 | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | Athletic | Barcelona |
| Abelardo 48' Ronaldo 64' |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 65,000 Referee: Puentes Leira |
| 10 May 1997 37 | Atlético Madrid | 2-1 | Athletic | Madrid |
| Karanka 13' (o.g.) Kiko 73' |
30' Carlos Garcia | Stadium: Vicente Calderón Attendance: 40,000 |
| 24 May 1997 39 | Athletic | 1–0 | Real Madrid | Bilbao |
| Carlos García 56' | Report | Stadium: San Mames |
| 1 June 1997 40 | Celta Vigo | 0 – 2 | Athletic | Vigo, Spain |
| Report | 65' Ziganda 75' Etxeberria |
Stadium: Balaídos Referee: Fernando Carmona Méndez |
| 16 June 1997 41 | Athletic | 1–0 | Deportivo La Coruña | Bilbao |
| Guerrero 63' | Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 |
See also
External links
- Official website (in English, Basque, and Spanish)
References
- ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Primera División 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Luis Fernandez : la légende du "machote" de Bilbao n'a pas pris une ride". rmcsport.bfmtv.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "LaLiga 1996/1997 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Un vasco echa al Athletic" (PDF). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Squad 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Athletic Bilbao - 1996/97". FootballSquads. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.