1995–96 Athletic Bilbao season

The 1995–96 season was the 95th season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 65th consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

Athletic Bilbao
1995–96 season
PresidentJosé María Arrate
Head coachDragoslav Stepanović (to 17 March)
José María Amorrortu (caretaker, from 18 March)
StadiumSan Mamés
La Liga15th
Copa del ReyRound of 16
Top goalscorerLeague: Julen Guerrero, 9
Cuco Ziganda, 9[1]

All: Cuco Ziganda, 11

Season summary edit

For the second season running, Athletic had to find a new head coach, having dismissed Javier Irureta in March 1995.[2] José María Amorrortu, normally in charge of Athletic Bilbao B, stepped up until the end of the season, but in July Dragoslav Stepanović was appointed as a permanent replacement. The Yugoslavian was previously the coach of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

Stepanović's reign began well, with a 4–0 victory over Racing Santander at San Mamés on the opening day of their La Liga campaign.[3] However, in January Athletic were eliminated in the last sixteen of the Copa del Rey by Real Zaragoza,[3] and by mid April were 15th in the league, having won just eight of their first 31 games.[4] Following a 1–0 home defeat by Valencia on 17 March, and with the team only four points clear of the relegation playoff zone,[4] Bilbao decided to replace Stepanović with immediate effect.

Almost exactly a year after first doing so, Amorrortu stepped into the breach until the end of the season. He wasn't able to drastically improve Athletic's fortunes, although they did win three more matches before the end of the season, and finish clear of relegation danger in 15th place.[5] Frenchman Luis Fernández, previously of Paris Saint-Germain, was appointed as the new permanent head coach at the end of the season.[6]

Squad statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

[1][7][8][9]

No. Pos Nat Player Total La Liga Copa del Rey
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   ESP Juanjo Valencia 41 0 35 0 6 0
2 DF   ESP Andoni Lakabeg[1] 3 0 0+2 0 0+1 0
3 DF   ESP Aitor Larrazábal 41 3 35+1 2 5 1
4 DF   ESP Aitor Karanka 34 0 31 0 3 0
5 DF   ESP Genar Andrinúa 19 2 15+1 2 3 0
6 MF   ESP Josu Urrutia 28 0 22+3 0 1+2 0
7 MF   ESP Andoni Goikoetxea 37 0 29+4 0 3+1 0
8 MF   ESP Julen Guerrero 39 10 33 9 6 1
9 FW   ESP Cuco Ziganda 38 11 18+15 9 2+3 2
10 MF   ESP Ander Garitano 31 2 24+2 2 5 0
11 FW   ESP Ernesto Valverde 13 1 5+8 1 0 0
12 DF   ESP Carlos García 43 7 26+12 5 4+1 2
13 GK   ESP Jorge Aizkorreta 8 0 7+1 0 0 0
14 MF   ESP Óscar Vales 43 1 34+3 1 6 0
15 DF   ESP José Manuel Galdames 17 0 14+2 0 1 0
17 FW   ESP Joseba Etxeberria 39 10 28+5 7 5+1 3
18 MF   ESP Bittor Alkiza 29 0 12+15 0 0+2 0
19 FW   ESP Ricardo Mendiguren 2 0 0+2 0 0 0
20 DF   ESP Eduardo Estíbariz 23 0 10+11 0 2 0
21 DF   ESP Iñigo Larrainzar 45 0 39 0 6 0
22 DF   ESP Óscar Tabuenka 27 1 12+11 1 2+2 0
24 DF   ESP Jon Ander Lambea 5 0 4 0 1 0
25 FW   ESP Bolo 22 3 14+6 3 1+1 0
26 DF   ESP Txutxi 13 1 9+1 0 3 1
31 FW   ESP Gorka Bidaurrázaga 4 0 2+2 0 0 0
35 MF   ESP Felipe Guréndez 7 0 4+1 0 1+1 0
FW   ESP David Gallo 0 0 0 0 0 0
1.^ Lakabeg was transferred to Celta Vigo during the season.[8]

Results edit

La Liga edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
13 Zaragoza 42 11 15 16 51 59 −8 48[a]
14 Oviedo 42 12 12 18 48 67 −19 48[a]
15 Athletic Bilbao 42 11 15 16 44 55 −11 48[a]
16 Valladolid 42 11 14 17 57 62 −5 47[b]
17 Racing Santander 42 11 14 17 47 69 −22 47[b]
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. ^ a b c SEV: 10 pts;ZAR: 8 pts; ROV: 6 pts → ROV 0–0 ATH; ATH: 6 pts → ATH 0–1 ROV
  2. ^ a b RAC 0–0 VLD; VLD 3–1 RAC


See also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Primera División 1995/1996". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Irureta dice 'sí' a la Real" (PDF). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao » Fixtures & Results 1995/1996". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Primera División 1995/1996 » 31. Round". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. ^ "LaLiga 1995/1996 Table, Results, Fixtures – (Football/Spain)". flashscore.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Luis Fernandez : la légende du "machote" de Bilbao n'a pas pris une ride". rmcsport.bfmtv.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Squad 1995/1996". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Athletic Bilbao - 1995/96". FootballSquads. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Athletic Bilbao » Appearances Copa del Rey 1995/1996". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 24 November 2020.