Athletic Club (women)

Spanish football club

Football club

Athletic Femenino

Full name| Athletic Club Femenino
Nickname(s)| Las Leonas
(The Lionesses)
Neskak
(Girls)
Rojiblancas
(Red-Whites)
Founded| 2002; 23 years ago (2002)
Ground| Lezama (Field 2),
Biscay, Spain
Capacity| 3,250
President| Aitor Elizegi
Head coach| Iraia Iturregi
League| Liga F
2023–24| 5th
Website| https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/teams/athletic-club-women/2019-20

Home colours

Away colours

|

Athletic Club Femenino is the women's football section of Athletic Bilbao, competing in Liga F. Athletic is one of the most successful women's teams in Spain, with five championships. Just as with the men's team, their official policy is to sign players native to or trained in football in the greater Basque Country.[1] The team plays at the club's facilities in Lezama on the outskirts of Bilbao.

## History

[edit]

The team was founded in 2000 as Leioa EFT after CD Sondika disbanded its women's team, which had played in the defunct División de Honor in the 1990s. After Leioa gained promotion to the new Superliga Femenina in just two years, it was absorbed by Athletic Bilbao, with the process coordinated by Ernesto Valverde and Andoni Zubizarreta.[2] At that time a reserve team, Athletic B, was also introduced – they currently compete in the second tier, the Primera Federación.[3]

In their debut season Athletic won the championship, and successfully defended the title in the next two seasons, becoming the first team to be awarded the trophy to keep permanently.[4] After a disappointing 2006 season, Athletic won its fourth title in 2007. As a result of their title wins they made four appearances in the UEFA Women's Cup, being knocked out in the group stages by 1\. FFC Frankfurt in 2004, Djurgårdens IF in 2005, SV Saestum in 2006 and ASDCF Bardolino in 2008.

Aerial view of the team's mini-stadium at Lezama, 2019

In June 2008, the club agreed a decision (which was ratified in 2009) for the women's team to become an official women's section rather than be handled like a youth team.[5] Athletic finished third in the next four championships between 2008 and 2011. In 2012 they were runners-up, and reached the Copa de la Reina final for the first time, losing to RCD Espanyol after extra time.[6] On 5 January 2013, the team celebrated its tenth anniversary, beating Arsenal LFC in a friendly match. They were cup runners-up again in 2014, this time losing on penalties to FC Barcelona, having finished second behind the same club in the league.

On 5 June 2016, Athletic won its fifth league title, nine years after its last success.[7] They competed in the UEFA Women's Champions League the following season, where they were eliminated by Danish champions Fortuna Hjorring in the Round of 32.

In June 2017, the club announced they would introduce a second reserve team for the coming season, made up of girls aged 13 to 15.[8] Later that year, a club proposal to enter another girls team (12/13 years) into a local boys' youth league was rejected by the provincial council.[9]

In January 2019, the club broke the European record for attendance at a women's football match with 48,121 spectators at San Mamés for a Copa de la Reina quarter-final fixture, a 2–0 loss to Atlético Madrid.[10][11] (however, it only stood for a few months until Barcelona played Atlético in front of a 60,739 crowd).[12] That match was the 14th played by the women's team in the two versions of the club's main stadium since the first in 2003, with three more played there during the next year.[13]

## Season to season

[edit]

Main article: List of Athletic Bilbao Femenino seasons

### As Leioa EFT

[edit]

Season  | Division  | Place  | Copa de la Reina[14]

|
|
|

2000–01  | Reg. | 1st[15] | N/A
2001–02  | 1ª Nac. | 1st[16][17] | N/A

### As Athletic Bilbao

[edit]

Season  | Division  | Place  | Copa de la Reina[18]

|
|
|

2002–03 | 1ª | 1st  | Quarterfinals
2003–04 | 1ª | 1st  | Semifinals
2004–05 | 1ª | 1st  | Quarterfinals
2005–06 | 1ª | 5th  | Quarterfinals
2006–07 | 1ª | 1st  | Quarterfinals
2007–08 | 1ª | 3rd  | Quarterfinals
2008–09 | 1ª | 3rd  | Quarterfinals
2009–10 | 1ª | 3rd  | Quarterfinals
2010–11 | 1ª | 3rd  | Quarterfinals
2011–12 | 1ª | 2nd  | Runner-up[19]
2012–13 | 1ª | 2nd  | Quarterfinals
2013–14 | 1ª | 2nd  | Runner-up[20]
2014–15 | 1ª | 3rd  | Quarterfinals
2015–16 | 1ª | 1st  | Quarterfinals
2016–17 | 1ª | 5th  | Quarterfinals
2017–18 | 1ª | 3rd  | Semifinals
2018–19 | 1ª | 5th  | Quarterfinals
2019–20 | 1ª | 5th  | Semifinals
2020–21 | 1ª | 11th  | Did not enter
2021–22 | 1ª | 7th  | Round of 16
2022–23 | 1ª | 10th  | Semifinals

## Honours

[edit]

### Titles

[edit]

Athletic players celebrating the team's fourth championship on 6 May 2007 at San Mamés.

#### Official competitions

[edit]

* Primera División (5): 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2015–16
* Euskal Herria Cup (9): 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023

#### Invitational competitions

[edit]

* Sport Mundi Tournament (4): 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012
* COTIF: 2015
* Teresa Herrera Trophy: 2017, 2018
* Ramón de Carranza Trophy: 2019[21]

## UEFA competition record

[edit]

See also: Spanish women's football clubs in international competitions § Athletic Bilbao

Season | Competition | Stage | Result | Opponent | Scorers

|
|
|
|
|

2003–04

0 | Women's Cup

0 | Group stage

0 | 2–0
5–2
1–8 |  Neulengbach
1º Dezembro
Frankfurt | Castrillo, Fernández
Iturregi 2, Angulo, Ferreira, Ibarra
Juaristi
2004–05

0 | Women's Cup

0 | Qualifying stage

0 | 10–3
1–1
5–0 |  Newtownabbey Strikers
Maccabi Holon
Clujana | Sánchez 2, Fernández, Ferreira, Iturregi, Onaindia, Orueta, Vázquez, Zabala \+ 1 o.g.
Juaristi
Fernández 2, Vázquez 2, Orueta
Group stage

0 | 2–2
2–3
5–1 |  Arsenal
Djurgården/Älvsjö
Aegina | Iturregi, Vázquez
Ferreira, Olabarrieta
Vázquez, Fernández, Ibarra, Murua
2005–06

0 | Women's Cup

0 | Qualifying stage

0 | 6–2
3–0
1–1 |  Glasgow City
Rapide Wezemaal
Saestum | Vázquez 3, Fernández, Gurrutxaga, Juaristi
Fernández, Juaristi, Orueta
Fernández
2007–08

0 | Women's Cup

0 | Qualifying stage

0 | 4–0
16–0
0–1 |  Krka Novo Mesto
Birkirkara
Bardolino | Díez, Ferreira, Murua, Vázquez
Vázquez 7, Juaristi 3, Olabarrieta 2, Díez, Iturregi, Murua, Sánchez

2016–17

0 | Women's Champions League

0 | Round of 32

0 | 2–1
1–3 (a.e.t.) |  Fortuna Hjørring | Corres, Oroz
Vázquez

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

As of 26 October 2024[22] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  ESP | Mariasun Quiñones
2  | DF |  ESP | Maddi Torre
3  | DF |  ESP | Naia Landaluze
4  | MF |  ESP | Marta Unzué
5  | MF |  ESP | Maite Valero
6  | MF |  ESP | Irene Oguiza (captain)
7  | FW |  ESP | Nahikari García
8  | MF |  ESP | Itxaso Uriarte
9  | FW |  ESP | Sanadri
10  | MF |  ESP | Mariana Cerro
11  | FW |  ESP | Ane Azkona
12  | DF |  ESP | Garazi Fácila
13  | GK |  ESP | Adriana Nanclares
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

14  | MF |  ESP | Leire Baños
15  | MF |  ESP | Clara Pinedo
16  | MF |  ESP | Maite Zubieta
17  | MF |  ESP | Nerea Nevado
18  | FW |  ESP | Sara Ortega
19  | FW |  ESP | Jone Amezaga
20  | DF |  ESP | Ane Elexpuru
21  | DF |  GER | Bibiane Schulze-Solano
22  | FW |  ESP | Peke Barea
23  | FW |  ESP | Patri Zugasti
24  | DF |  ESP | Itsaso Miranda

### Out on Loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

### Reserve team

[edit]

Main article: Athletic Club Femenino B

### Former players

[edit]

For details of current and former players, see Category:Athletic Club (women) players.

## See also

[edit]

* Athletic–Barcelona rivalry
* Women's Basque derby

## References

[edit]

1. ^ A new Cathedral: Athletic Club’s move to a new San Mamés, Simon Lloyd, Joe.co.uk
2. ^ Gil, Aimara G. (6 October 2022). "Hace 20 años del primer Athletic femenino" [20 years since the first Athletic women]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 December 2023.
3. ^ "Athletic Club B – players 2016–17". official website. Athletic Bilbao. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
4. ^ A historic triple. El Mundo Deportivo, 18 April 2005
5. ^ Río, Endika (9 October 2009). "El club planteará una subida de cuotas del 2.6%". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). p. 8.
6. ^ Mari Paz dresses as a queen to give Espanyol its sixth Cup. Marca, 10 June 2012
7. ^ "El Athletic se proclama campeón de la Primera División Femenina" (in Spanish). LaLiga. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
8. ^ "Third ladies' team for Athletic". official website. Athletic Bilbao. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
9. ^ Alega falta de tiempo y de consenso con las demás escuadras femeninas para hacer una excepción con este grupo formado por niñas de 12 y 13 años (The Delegation prevents Athletic from including a team of girls in the men's league), El Correo (in Spanish), 13 October 2017
10. ^ "Despite the defeat, attendance record in San Mamés". Athletic Bilbao. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
11. ^ "Récord del fútbol femenino español: 48.121 espectadores en San Mamés" [Record for Spanish women's football: 48,121 spectators at San Mamés]. El Mundo. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
12. ^ "Record crowd watches Barcelona Women beat Atlético Madrid 2-0". BBC Sport. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
13. ^ 17 years since the first Athletic women’s match at San Mamés, Athletic Bilbao, 30 March 2020
14. ^ "Ladies - Cup 2016-17 (other seasons can be selected)". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
15. ^ "Territorial Vizcaína Femenina 2000–01" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
16. ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2001–02" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
17. ^ "Fase de ascenso a Superliga (Grupo 2) 2001–02" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
18. ^ "Ladies - Cup 2016-17 (other seasons can be selected)". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
19. ^ Laura Marta (11 June 2012). "El Español [sic] conquista su sexta Copa de la Reina al ganar 2-1 al Athletic" [Espanyol wins its sixth Copa de la Reina by beating Athletic 2-1]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 January 2019.
20. ^ David Menayo (21 June 2014). "Los penaltis coronan al Barcelona como campeonas de Copa" [Penalties see Barcelona crowned as Cup winners]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 January 2019.
21. ^ Champions of the Carranza, Athletic Bilbao, 15 August 2019
22. ^ "Athletic Club Women | Team 2022-23". Athletic Club. Retrieved 19 September 2022.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Athletic Club de Bilbao (women).

* UEFA profile
* Athletic Club at Txapeldunak
* From official website:
* Team history
* Appearances
* Goalscorers
* A-Z of players
* Debuts

* v
* t
* e

Athletic Bilbao

* History
* Players
* Managers
* Presidents
* Statistics
* Men's seasons
* Women's seasons
* Europe

Other teams|

* Bilbao Athletic
* Athletic Femenino (women)
* Femenino B (women)
* Athletic Cantera (youth)

Home stadium|

* Lamiako (1901–1910)
* Jolaseta (1910–1913)
* San Mamés (1913–2013)
* San Mamés (2013–)

Training ground|

Lezama Facilities

Affiliated Clubs|

* CD Basconia

Related articles|

* Biscay Championship
* Bilbao FC
* Bizcaya
* Athletic Bilbao signing policy
* One Club Award

Rivalries|

* Basque football derbies
* Basque derby (Real Sociedad)
* El Viejo Clásico (Real Madrid)
* Barcelona rivalry

* Category
* Category

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* e

* Liga F
* 2024–25 teams

* Athletic Club
* Atlético de Madrid
* Barcelona
* Betis
* Deportivo La Coruña
* Eibar
* Espanyol
* Granada
* Levante
* Levante Badalona
* Madrid CFF
* Real Madrid
* Real Sociedad
* Sevilla
* UD Tenerife
* Valencia

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
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