Athletic Club, commonly known abroad as Athletic Bilbao, or simply as Athletic domestically, is a professional football club based in the city of Bilbao in the Basque Country, Spain. They are known as Los Leones because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés, which was named after Saint Mammes, an early Christian thrown to the lions by the Romans. Mammes pacified the lions and was later made a saint. The team plays its home matches at the San Mamés Stadium. Its home colours are red and white-striped shirts with black shorts.
Bixente Jean-Michel Lizarazu is a French former professional footballer who played as a left-back.
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux, commonly referred to as Girondins de Bordeaux or simply Bordeaux, is a French football club based in the city of Bordeaux in Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It competes in the Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of football in France, after an administrative double relegation in 2024.
Jean-Louis Gasset is a French former football player. He is currently the manager of Ligue 1 side Montpellier. As a player, he played as a midfielder, spending ten years at his hometown club Montpellier.
Ludovic Lamine Sané is a former footballer. He played primarily a centre-back but has also been used as holding midfielder. Born in France, he represented Senegal at international level.
Iñigo Martínez Berridi is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Aymeric Jean Louis Gérard Alphonse Laporte is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and the Spain national team.
Iñaki Williams Arthuer is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao and the Ghana national team.
Luis de la Fuente Castillo is a Spanish football manager and former professional player who played as a left-back. He is the manager of the Spain national team.
The cantera (quarry) of Spanish professional football club Athletic Bilbao is the organisation's youth academy, developing players from childhood through to the integration of the best prospects into the adult teams.
Since 1912, the Spanish football club Athletic Bilbao has had an unwritten rule whereby the club will only sign players who were born in the Basque Country or who learned their football skills at a Basque club. On occasion, youth players have also been invited to join due to ancestral links to the region, but no senior players have been signed based on Basque heritage alone.
Association football has been a part of Basque Country culture since the end of the 19th century. As of 2023, three Basque teams play in La Liga, the top division of the Spanish football system: Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alavés.
Iker Bilbao Mendiguren is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Real Unión.
Sophie Istillart is a French retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Bilbao Football Club was a football team based in Bilbao, Spain, which existed during the years 1900 and 1903. In 1902 they combined with city rivals Athletic Club to form Club Vizcaya, a team which won the 1902 Copa de la Coronación. The following year they were absorbed by Athletic Club.
Juan José Astorquia Landabaso, also known as Juanito Astorquia, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward for Athletic Club. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the amateur beginnings of Athletic Club from Bilbao, having been the fundamental head behind the foundation of the club in 1898 and its official establishment in 1901, and then serving as the club's first captain until 1904 and as its second president between 1902 and 1903.
William Llewellyn Dyer was an English businessman and a professional footballer who played as a striker for Athletic Club. He was one of the first pioneers of football in the Basque Country, standing out as a great striker for some of the earliest Basque clubs in existence such as Bilbao FC, Club Bizcaya, and Athletic Club, winning three back-to-back Spanish Cups with the latter two between 1902 and 1904, and being the joint top scorer in the 1902 Copa de la Coronación with 5 goals.
Álvaro Djaló Dias-Fernandes is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao.
Pedro Larrañaga Arana, also known as Perico Larrañaga, was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender for Athletic Bilbao. He was one of the co-founders of Athletic Club in 1901 and was part of the team that won the 1902 Copa de la Coronación, the first national championship disputed in Spain.
Walter Evans was an English footballer who played as a striker for Athletic Club. He was one of the first pioneers of football in the Basque Country, standing out as a great striker for some of the earliest Basque clubs in existence such as Bilbao FC, Club Bizcaya, and Athletic Club, winning three back-to-back Spanish Cups between 1902 and 1904, and being the joint top scorer in the 1902 Copa de la Coronación with 5 goals. The dates of his birth and death are unknown.
