Bilbao Athletic

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Bilbao Athletic

Full name

Bilbao Athletic Club

Nickname(s)

Los Cachorros (The pups)

Founded

1938

Ground

Estadio de Lezama
Bilbao, Basque Country,
Spain
(Capacity 2,000)

Chairman

Fernando García Macua

Manager

Luis de la Fuente

League

2ªB - Group 2

2007-08

2ªB - Group 2 15th





Home colours





Away colours

Bilbao Athletic is the reserve team of Athletic Bilbao and is sometimes referred to as Athletic Bilbao B. They currently play in the Segunda Division B - Group 2. Unlike the English League, reserve teams in Spain play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore Bilbao Athletic are ineligible for promotion to the Primera Division. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter the Copa del Rey. In addition only under-23 players, or under-25 players with a professional contract, can switch between senior and reserve teams.

1 History
2 Current squad
3 Selected Managers
4 Famous players
5 Trophies
6 Seasons
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] History

The Bilbao Athletic name was first used in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War, when both La Liga and the Copa del Rey were suspended. Several of the top Athletic players subsequently joined the Euskadi XI. This team was put together at the suggestion of José Antonio Aguirre, the president of the Basque Country and a former Athletic Bilbao footballer. The team went on tour to raise funds for the Basque cause and played in Europe and Mexico. However, the Campeonato de Vicaya continued to be played. With their best players on tour with the Euskadi XI, Athletic Bilbao could only field weakened sides and as a result they chose to enter under the name Bilbao Athletic. Despite this, they still won the championship. The name is derived from the two clubs, Bilbao Football Club and Athletic Club, that merged in 1903 to become Athletic Bilbao.

The name was revived in 1964 when Athletic Bilbao decided to establish a reserve team with Agustín Gaínza as coach . The new Bilbao Athletic initially played in local regional leagues before winning promotion to the Tercera División in 1966 under coach Rafa Iriondo. In 1969 they were promoted to the Segunda División.

In 1984 with José Ángel Iribar as coach and an emerging Julio Salinas, they were runners-up to Castilla CF in the Segunda División. Salinas also won the divisional Pichichi.

[edit] Current squad

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Iago
		GK	Raúl
		GK	Ibon López
		DF	Anaitz
		DF	Gaizka Bergara
		DF	Ander Gago
		DF	Ander Larrea
		DF	Jon Moya
		MF	Igor Angulo
		MF	Beñat Etxebarria
		MF	Eneko
		MF	Xabier Etxeita

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Adrien Goñi
		MF	Oinatz
		MF	Iñigo Pérez
		MF	Francisco Javier Soberón
		MF	Markel Susaeta (currently with the first team)
		FW	Aimar
		FW	Aitor Ramos
		FW	Eder
		FW	Ismael
		FW	Joseba García
		FW	Julen Goñi
		FW	Urko