| 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 |
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 |
| 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 | |
Results
La Liga
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Betis | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 77[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2] |
| 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[lower-alpha 3] | |
| 7 | Valladolid | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 64[lower-alpha 3] | |
| 8 | Real Sociedad | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 63 |
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.
- 1 2 VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD
See also
External links
- Official website (in English, Basque, and Spanish)
References
- 1 2 "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Primera División 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. 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. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- 1 2 3 "Athletic Bilbao - 1996/97". FootballSquads. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ↑ "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1996/1997". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 November 2020.