# List of Athletic Bilbao players

Athletic Bilbao is an association football club based in Bilbao, in Biscay in the Basque Country of Spain. The club was a founder member of the Spanish league, better known as La Liga, in 1928, and has won the league championship eight times. As of 2012, Athletic has played for 82 years in the Primera División, the top tier of Spanish football, and is one of only three clubs, the others being Real Madrid and Barcelona, never to have been relegated from La Liga.
The club is known for its policy of recruiting only players from the greater Basque Country, a region which includes Labourd, Soule and Lower Navarre in France as well as the Spanish provinces of Biscay, Guipúzcoa, Álava and Navarre. This policy, which for many years applied both to signings from other clubs and to youngsters admitted to the club's academy, has in recent years become more flexible, so that players whose career developed in the youth system of other clubs in the region are now acceptable, irrespective of their country of birth.
Athletic won the Copa del Rey three times between 1914 and 1916. The team of that period included the prolific goalscorer Rafael "Pichichi" Moreno; he scored the first goal in the San Mamés Stadium on 21 August 1913, scored a hat-trick in the 1915 Copa del Rey final, and his 89 games for the club produced a total of 78 goals. Since 1953, the top scorer in La Liga each season has been awarded the Pichichi Trophy, named in his honour.
On 29 September 1940, Telmo Zarra played his first league match for the club. During his time at Athletic, he won six Pichichi awards, a league record, and helped the club achieve a league championship and five Copa del Rey trophies. He retired in 1955, having played 352 matches and scored 333 goals. Since 2006, the annual Zarra Trophy is awarded to the highest goalscorer of Spanish nationality in La Liga. Joseba Etxeberria, who joined Athletic from Real Sociedad in 1995 for a record transfer fee of €3 million, is the player with the most appearances for the club in the last 30 years. He signed a one-year extension to his contract in 2009 in which he agreed to play the 2009–10 season unpaid in the hope of reaching 500 games before he retired; he finished the season (and his professional career) on 514.

## Players

Appearance and goal totals include matches in La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and regional competitions. Substitute appearances are included. Table is initially sorted in descending order of appearances and includes all Athletic players who have made 100 appearances or more.
A statistical analysis by El Correo in 2023 showed that the more historic players at the top of the list had played many more minutes overall than those from the modern era with fewer or no substitutions available – Orúe was on the field for the entirety of all matches he played, with contemporaries Panizo, Gaínza and Canito not doing so only twice apiece, contrasting sharply with the likes of Muniain and Susaeta whose totals for coming on and coming off were each well into the hundreds. On the other hand, the stats do not count the increasingly lengthy stoppage time typically being applied in the 21st century.

### Key

| * | Club record holder |
| Name in italics | Currently playing for Athletic |
| Bold | Record goals or appearances (all competitions) |
| Name | Pos. | Athletic Bilbao career | League App. | League Goals | Cup App. | Cup Goals | Euro App. | Euro Goals | Other App. | Other Goals | Total App. | Total Goals |
| José Ángel Iribar * | GK | 1962–1980 | 466 | 0 | 93 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 614 | 0 |
| Iker Muniain | FW | 2009–2024 | 434 | 56 | 65 | 10 | 61 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 560 | 76 |
| Txetxu Rojo | FW | 1965–1982 | 414 | 47 | 87 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 541 | 67 |
| Óscar de Marcos | DF | 2009– | 409 | 25 | 51 | 3 | 65 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 532 | 38 |
| Joseba Etxeberria | FW | 1995–2010 | 445 | 87 | 41 | 10 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 514 | 103 |
| Andoni Iraola | DF | 2003–2015 | 406 | 33 | 56 | 2 | 46 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 510 | 38 |
| Markel Susaeta | MF | 2007–2019 | 379 | 38 | 50 | 6 | 75 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 507 | 56 |
| Agustín Gaínza | FW | 1940–1959 | 380 | 117 | 99 | 30 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 489 | 148 |
| José María Orúe | DF | 1950–1951 1952–1968 | 391 | 1 | 74 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 483 | 1 |
| Aitor Larrazábal | DF | 1990–2004 | 390 | 39 | 37 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 445 | 43 |
| Canito | DF | 1948–1963 | 354 | 4 | 76 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 440 | 6 |
| Julen Guerrero | MF | 1992–2006 | 372 | 101 | 41 | 11 | 17 | 4 | – | – | 430 | 116 |
| Estanislao Argote | FW | 1977–1990 | 332 | 63 | 69 | 12 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 428 | 76 |
| Iñaki Williams | FW | 2014– | 342 | 75 | 45 | 15 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 421 | 99 |
| Ismael Urzaiz | FW | 1996–2007 | 367 | 115 | 34 | 12 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 419 | 128 |
| Aritz Aduriz | FW | 2002–2003 2006–2008 2012–2020 | 316 | 118 | 41 | 16 | 48 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 407 | 172 |
| José Panizo | MF | 1938–1955 | 326 | 136 | 79 | 36 | – | – | 7 | 1 | 412 | 173 |
| Carmelo Cedrún | GK | 1950–1964 | 334 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 404 | 0 |
| Dani | FW | 1974–1986 | 303 | 147 | 68 | 37 | 25 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 403 | 199 |
| Josu Urrutia | MF | 1987–2003 | 348 | 10 | 39 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 401 | 11 |
| Mikel San José | DF | 2009–2020 | 304 | 27 | 39 | 3 | 53 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 397 | 37 |
| Fidel Uriarte | FW | 1962–1974 | 296 | 90 | 65 | 20 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 394 | 119 |
| Carlos Gurpegui | MF | 2002–2016 | 313 | 18 | 37 | 1 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 393 | 22 |
| Gorka Iraizoz | GK | 2007–2017 | 315 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 392 | 0 |
| Manuel Sarabia | FW | 1976–1977 1978–1988 | 284 | 84 | 72 | 28 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 382 | 119 |
| Andoni Goikoetxea | DF | 1974–1987 | 277 | 35 | 65 | 8 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 369 | 44 |
| Antón Arieta | FW | 1964–1974 | 265 | 62 | 62 | 15 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 363 | 82 |
| Raúl García | MF | 2015–2024 | 292 | 65 | 39 | 10 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 363 | 84 |
| Ángel María Villar | MF | 1971–1981 | 291 | 8 | 47 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 362 | 11 |
| Genar Andrinúa | DF | 1983–1985 1986–1997 | 304 | 16 | 39 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 356 | 21 |
| Zarra * | FW | 1940–1955 | 277 | 252 | 74 | 81 | – | – | 3 | 5 | 354 | 338 |
| Francisco Yeste | MF | 1998–2010 | 302 | 50 | 32 | 6 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 353 | 59 |
| José Artetxe | FW | 1950–1965 | 276 | 107 | 65 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 350 | 137 |
| Koldo Etxeberria | DF | 1961–1972 | 259 | 1 | 54 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 346 | 5 |
| Santiago Urquiaga | DF | 1978–1987 | 255 | 3 | 64 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 345 | 7 |
| Iñaki Sáez | DF | 1962–1974 | 263 | 7 | 50 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 337 | 8 |
| Agustín Gisasola | DF | 1970–1983 | 258 | 17 | 56 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 334 | 21 |
| Fernando Llorente | FW | 2005–2013 | 262 | 83 | 35 | 16 | 35 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 333 | 115 |
| José Gallego | MF | 1979–1980 1981–1991 | 259 | 14 | 41 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 331 | 17 |
| Bittor Alkiza | MF | 1994–2003 | 287 | 8 | 25 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 328 | 10 |
| Rafael Iriondo | FW | 1940–1953 | 257 | 80 | 65 | 33 | – | – | 9 | 2 | 331 | 115 |
| Mikel Balenziaga | DF | 2008–2009 2013–2023 | 246 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 321 | 1 |
| Ander Iturraspe | MF | 2008–2019 | 232 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 320 | 3 |
| Jesús Aranguren | DF | 1962–1975 | 247 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 319 | 4 |
| Pablo Orbaiz | MF | 2000–2011 | 263 | 10 | 39 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 318 | 13 |
| José Argoitia | FW | 1960–1972 | 231 | 52 | 53 | 13 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 310 | 68 |
| Koldo Agirre | FW | 1957–1970 | 231 | 44 | 56 | 15 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 304 | 63 |
| Patxi Salinas | DF | 1982–1992 | 239 | 7 | 44 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 302 | 11 |
| Eneko Arieta | FW | 1951–1966 | 244 | 128 | 46 | 30 | 10 | 4 | – | – | 300 | 162 |
| Jesús Garay | DF | 1950–1960 | 236 | 7 | 50 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 296 | 10 |
| Mauri | FW | 1953–1964 | 245 | 59 | 41 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 294 | 72 |
| Rafael Alkorta | DF | 1987–1993 1997–2002 | 263 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 294 | 6 |
| José Ángel Ziganda | FW | 1991–1998 | 255 | 77 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 291 | 91 |
| Iñigo Larrainzar | DF | 1993–2003 | 251 | 6 | 30 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 289 | 7 |
| Ismael Urtubi | MF | 1980–1981 1982–1992 | 210 | 28 | 45 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 279 | 37 |
| José Larrauri | DF | 1965–1974 | 200 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 24 | 0 | – | – | 277 | 0 |
| Carlos | FW | 1970–1981 | 213 | 81 | 44 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 276 | 118 |
| Nando | DF | 1941–1952 | 213 | 6 | 60 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | 276 | 6 |
| Ander Garitano | MF | 1987–1996 | 234 | 35 | 33 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 275 | 42 |
| Miguel de Andrés | MF | 1979–1988 | 198 | 9 | 50 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 268 | 12 |
| Raimundo Lezama | GK | 1941–1957 | 197 | 0 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 264 | 0 |
| Carlos García | DF | 1992–2003 | 226 | 21 | 27 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 264 | 25 |
| Santiago Ezquerro | FW | 1998–2005 | 222 | 45 | 23 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 260 | 57 |
| Javi González | MF | 1997–2007 | 220 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 13 | 2 | – | – | 254 | 12 |
| Fernando Amorebieta | DF | 2005–2013 | 195 | 3 | 28 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 254 | 4 |
| José Núñez | DF | 1971–1976 1978–1986 | 177 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 252 | 2 |
| Jesús María Lacruz | DF | 1997–2006 | 224 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 251 | 12 |
| Javi Martínez | MF | 2006–2012 | 201 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 251 | 26 |
| Manuel Etura | DF | 1953–1966 | 205 | 2 | 35 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 247 | 3 |
| Txema Noriega | FW | 1979–1987 | 183 | 41 | 39 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 245 | 56 |
| Beñat | MF | 2006–2007 2013–2020 | 182 | 6 | 23 | 2 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 242 | 11 |
| Andoni Zubizarreta | GK | 1981–1986 | 169 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 239 | 0 |
| José Maguregi | DF | 1952–1961 | 198 | 35 | 32 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 237 | 41 |
| Luis de la Fuente | DF | 1980–1987 1991–1993 | 168 | 2 | 42 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 234 | 5 |
| Roberto Bertol | MF | 1939–1950 | 187 | 0 | 44 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | 271 | 0 |
| Iñigo Lekue | DF | 2015– | 185 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 242 | 4 |
| Iñigo Liceranzu | DF | 1981–1988 | 169 | 17 | 41 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 231 | 18 |
| Tiko | MF | 1999–2008 | 198 | 21 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 26 |
| Yeray | DF | 2016– | 188 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 228 | 3 |
| Isaac Oceja | DF | 1933–1948 | 186 | 1 | 34 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 0 | 226 | 1 |
| José Lasa | MF | 1972–1978 | 177 | 19 | 27 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 224 | 23 |
| Ricardo Mendiguren | FW | 1986–1997 | 193 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 23 |
| Aymeric Laporte | DF | 2012–2018 | 161 | 7 | 20 | 2 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 222 | 10 |
| Daniel Astrain | DF | 1971–1979 | 182 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 222 | 4 |
| Ignacio Uribe | FW | 1953–1963 | 174 | 57 | 35 | 9 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 214 | 68 |
| Andoni Lakabeg | DF | 1988–1995 | 192 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 212 | 3 |
| Venancio | FW | 1944–1947 1948–1955 | 167 | 70 | 39 | 21 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 208 | 93 |
| Gaizka Toquero | FW | 2008–2015 | 156 | 20 | 20 | 3 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 207 | 24 |
| Javier Escalza | DF | 1973–1980 | 162 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 206 | 1 |
| Fernando Tirapu | DF | 1977–1983 | 151 | 3 | 45 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 5 |
| Óscar Vales | DF | 1993–1997 1999–2005 | 178 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 2 |
| Mikel Vesga | MF | 2016–2018 2019– | 163 | 9 | 33 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 203 | 10 |
| Aitor Karanka | DF | 1993–1998 2002–2006 | 182 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 202 | 4 |
| Unai Simón * | GK | 2018– | 179 | 0 | 12 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | 195 | 0 |
| Yuri | DF | 2018– | 161 | 10 | 32 | 4 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 195 | 14 |
| Juanjo Valencia | GK | 1992–1999 | 172 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 195 | 0 |
| Dani García | MF | 2018– | 166 | 1 | 25 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | 195 | 1 |
| Ibai | FW | 2010–2016 2019–2021 | 145 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 193 | 18 |
| Dani Aranzubia | GK | 1999–2008 | 162 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 0 |
| Manolín | MF | 1949–1955 | 160 | 7 | 27 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 189 | 8 |
| Luis Fernando | MF | 1984–1992 | 157 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 188 | 4 |
| Ernesto Valverde | FW | 1990–1996 | 170 | 43 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 188 | 49 |
| Félix Marcaida | FW | 1952–1963 | 149 | 69 | 30 | 10 | 8 | 4 | – | – | 187 | 83 |
| Guillermo Gorostiza * | FW | 1929–1936 1939–1940 | 140 | 110 | 47 | 37 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 187 | 147 |
| José Iraragorri | FW | 1929–1936 1946–1949 | 141 | 94 | 46 | 25 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 187 | 119 |
| José Ángel Rojo | MF | 1970–1977 | 143 | 8 | 30 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 186 | 12 |
| Iñigo Martínez | DF | 2018–2023 | 152 | 6 | 21 | 2 | – | – | 4 | 0 | 177 | 8 |
| Miguel Ángel Sola | MF | 1980–1985 | 125 | 15 | 37 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 177 | 24 |
| Mikel Rico | MF | 2013–2019 | 126 | 10 | 18 | 3 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 176 | 14 |
| Ander Herrera | MF | 2011–2014 2022– | 134 | 7 | 24 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 11 |
| Igor Gabilondo | MF | 2006–2012 | 147 | 19 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 175 | 24 |
| José Muguerza | DF | 1928–1936 | 129 | 1 | 45 | 2 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 174 | 3 |
| Vicente Biurrun | GK | 1986–1990 | 151 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 173 | 0 |
| Javier Irureta | MF | 1975–1980 | 136 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 29 |
| Álex Berenguer | MF | 2020– | 141 | 22 | 24 | 6 | – | – | 4 | 0 | 169 | 28 |
| Patxi Ferreira | DF | 1984–1989 1997–2000 | 143 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 169 | 14 |
| Roberto | MF | 1928–1936 | 118 | 10 | 47 | 5 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 165 | 15 |
| Endika | FW | 1980–1987 | 113 | 15 | 36 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 164 | 23 |
| Felipe | MF | 1995–2006 | 138 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 3 |
| José María Igartua | DF | 1968–1975 | 118 | 13 | 30 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 16 |
| Gregorio Blasco * | GK | 1926–1936 | 113 | 0 | 47 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 160 | 0 |
| Francisco Celaya | DF | 1941–1951 | 117 | 0 | 42 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 159 | 0 |
| Oihan Sancet | MF | 2019– | 134 | 23 | 21 | 2 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 157 | 25 |
| Ander Murillo | DF | 2001–2009 | 132 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 157 | 1 |
| Bata | FW | 1929–1936 | 118 | 108 | 38 | 34 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 156 | 142 |
| Luis Prieto | DF | 2002–2008 | 134 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 6 |
| Lafuente | FW | 1925–1934 | 96 | 24 | 57 | 16 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 153 | 40 |
| Iñaki Lafuente | GK | 1999–2009 | 128 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 151 | 0 |
| Juan María Zorriqueta | DF | 1958–1970 | 116 | 12 | 23 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 16 |
| Eduardo Estíbariz | DF | 1988–1997 | 125 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 2 |
| Asier del Horno | DF | 2000–2005 2007–2008 | 124 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 18 |
| David López | MF | 2007–2012 | 118 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144 | 16 |
| Imanol Etxeberria | GK | 1995–2001 | 120 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 0 |
| Xabi Etxeita | DF | 2008–2010 2013–2018 | 89 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 140 | 8 |
| Francisco Gárate | FW | 1935–1946 | 105 | 44 | 25 | 10 | – | – | 5 | 1 | 135 | 55 |
| Félix Zubiaga | DF | 1964–1975 | 106 | 18 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 21 |
| Xabier Eskurza | MF | 1989–1994 | 114 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 130 | 8 |
| Chirri II | FW | 1927–1935 | 90 | 31 | 38 | 11 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 128 | 42 |
| José María Amorrortu | FW | 1973–1978 | 99 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 10 |
| Serafín Areta | DF | 1949–1957 | 111 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 4 |
| Asier Villalibre | FW | 2016–2017 2019–2024 | 102 | 11 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 127 | 21 |
| Nico Williams | FW | 2021– | 103 | 11 | 17 | 8 | – | – | 2 | 1 | 122 | 20 |
| Victor Unamuno | FW | 1928–1933 1939–1942 | 86 | 72 | 30 | 20 | – | – | 6 | 5 | 122 | 97 |
| Isidoro Urra | MF | 1935–1946 | 96 | 9 | 21 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 120 | 10 |
| Iago Herrerín | GK | 2013–2016 2017–2021 | 56 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 0 |
| Aitor Ocio | DF | 2001–2003 2007–2012 | 95 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 119 | 2 |
| Óscar Tabuenka | DF | 1990–1998 | 98 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 7 |
| José Ramón Alexanko | DF | 1976–1980 | 91 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 8 |
| Iñaki Churruca | FW | 1976–1980 | 85 | 19 | 17 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 26 |
| Unai Nuñez | DF | 2017–2022 | 99 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 116 | 3 |
| Ander Capa | DF | 2018–2023 | 96 | 5 | 14 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 112 | 5 |
| Ion Andoni Goikoetxea | MF | 1994–1998 | 92 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 1 |
| José María Castellanos | DF | 1928–1934 | 79 | 0 | 33 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 112 | 0 |
| Pedro Uralde | FW | 1987–1990 | 96 | 34 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 41 |
| José Ramón Betzuen | DF | 1966–1973 | 79 | 5 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 7 |
| Juan Garizurieta | MF | 1927–1934 | 74 | 3 | 35 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 109 | 3 |
| Hermenegildo Elices | FW | 1933–1936 1939–1944 | 77 | 26 | 26 | 11 | – | – | 6 | 8 | 109 | 45 |
| Juan José Mieza | DF | 1935–1946 1940–1946 | 77 | 0 | 26 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 0 | 109 | 0 |
| Dani Vivian | DF | 2021– | 86 | 3 | 17 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 108 | 3 |
| Julio Salinas | FW | 1982–1986 | 68 | 13 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 105 | 29 |
| Jon Aurtenetxe | DF | 2009–2013 2014–2015 | 72 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 5 |
| Armando Merodio | FW | 1955–1963 | 88 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 39 |
| Ustaritz | DF | 2005–2011 | 85 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 103 | 1 |
| Javi Luke | FW | 1990–1995 | 82 | 12 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 18 |
| Luis María Zugazaga | DF | 1964–1971 | 63 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 0 |
| Higinio Ortúzar | MF | 1939–1943 | 70 | 0 | 24 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 0 | 100 | 0 |

### Club captains

Listed below are all the captains of Athletic Bilbao since football became professional in Spain with the introduction of La Liga in 1929.
| Period | Captain | Position |
| 1929–1934 | Lafuente | FW |
| 1934–1936 | José Iraragorri | FW |
| 1939–1942 | Victorio Unamuno | FW |
| 1942–1948 | Isaac Oceja | DF |
| 1948–1950 | Roberto Bertol | MF |
| 1950–1955 | José Luis Panizo | FW |
| 1955–1959 | Agustín Gainza | FW |
| 1959–1963 | Canito | DF |
| 1963–1965 | José Luis Artetxe | FW |
| 1965–1968 | José Orúe | DF |
| 1968–1969 | Koldo Aguirre | MF |
| 1969–1972 | Koldo Etxeberria | DF |
| 1972–1974 | Iñaki Sáez | DF |
| 1974–1980 | José Ángel Iribar | GK |
| 1980–1982 | Txetxu Rojo | FW |
| 1982–1986 | Dani | FW |
| 1986–1987 | Andoni Goikoetxea | DF |
| 1987–1988 | Manuel Sarabia | FW |
| 1988–1990 | Estanislao Argote | FW |
| 1990–1991 | Txetxu Gallego | MF |
| 1991–1992 | Ismael Urtubi | MF |
| 1992–1995 | Genar Andrinua | DF |
| 1995–2006 | Julen Guerrero | MF |
| 2006–2010 | Joseba Etxeberria | FW |
| 2010–2011 | Pablo Orbaiz | MF |
| 2011–2016 | Carlos Gurpegi | MF |
| 2016–2017 | Gorka Iraizoz | GK |
| 2017–2019 | Markel Susaeta | MF |
| 2019–2024 | Iker Muniain | FW |
| 2024–... | Óscar de Marcos | DF |
Note: One club man; played for the club throughout his professional career.