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.
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| Full name | Athletic Club Femenino | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Las Leonas (The Lionesses) Neskak (Girls) Rojiblancas (Red-Whites) | ||
| Founded | 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 | ||
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History
editThe 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.
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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
editAs 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
editTitles
edit
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| Season | Competition | Stage | Result | Opponent | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 |
Women's Cup |
Group stage |
2–0 5–2 1–8 |
 Neulengbach 1º Dezembro Frankfurt |
Castrillo, Fernández Iturregi 2, Angulo, Ferreira, Ibarra Juaristi |
| 2004–05 |
Women's Cup |
Qualifying stage |
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 |
2–2 2–3 5–1 |
 Arsenal Djurgården/Älvsjö Aegina |
Iturregi, Vázquez Ferreira, Olabarrieta Vázquez, Fernández, Ibarra, Murua | ||
| 2005–06 |
Women's Cup |
Qualifying stage |
6–2 3–0 1–1 |
 Glasgow City Rapide Wezemaal Saestum |
Vázquez 3, Fernández, Gurrutxaga, Juaristi Fernández, Juaristi, Orueta Fernández |
| 2007–08 |
Women's Cup |
Qualifying stage |
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 |
Women's Champions League |
Round of 32 |
2–1 1–3 (a.e.t.) |
 Fortuna Hjørring |
Corres, Oroz Vázquez |
Players
editCurrent squad
editAs of 26 October 2024[22] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on Loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve team
editFormer players
editFor details of current and former players, see Category:Athletic Club (women) players.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ A new Cathedral: Athletic Club’s move to a new San Mamés, Simon Lloyd, Joe.co.uk
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Athletic Club B – players 2016–17". official website. Athletic Bilbao. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ A historic triple. El Mundo Deportivo, 18 April 2005
- ^ Río, Endika (9 October 2009). "El club planteará una subida de cuotas del 2.6%". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). p. 8.
- ^ Mari Paz dresses as a queen to give Espanyol its sixth Cup. Marca, 10 June 2012
- ^ "El Athletic se proclama campeón de la Primera División Femenina" (in Spanish). LaLiga. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Third ladies' team for Athletic". official website. Athletic Bilbao. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Despite the defeat, attendance record in San Mamés". Athletic Bilbao. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Record crowd watches Barcelona Women beat Atlético Madrid 2-0". BBC Sport. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ 17 years since the first Athletic women’s match at San Mamés, Athletic Bilbao, 30 March 2020
- ^ "Ladies - Cup 2016-17 (other seasons can be selected)". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "Territorial Vizcaína Femenina 2000–01" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Primera Nacional Femenina (Grupo 1) 2001–02" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Fase de ascenso a Superliga (Grupo 2) 2001–02" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ "Ladies - Cup 2016-17 (other seasons can be selected)". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Champions of the Carranza, Athletic Bilbao, 15 August 2019
- ^ "Athletic Club Women | Team 2022-23". Athletic Club. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
External links
edit
- UEFA profile
- Athletic Club at Txapeldunak
- From official website: