# 2001–02 Athletic Bilbao season

The 2001–02 season was the 101st season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 71st consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

## Season summary

Ahead of the season, head coach Txetxu Rojo departed after only one season in charge, returning to his previous post at Real Zaragoza. In his place, Athletic hired German Jupp Heynckes, who had been out of work since leaving Portuguese club Benfica the previous September. Heynckes was returning to San Mamés, having previously coached the club between 1992 and 1994, and he had had considerable success in the meantime, winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 1998.
Heynckes was able to guide the Bilbao side back into the La Liga top ten, securing a ninth-place finish. They enjoyed a successful run in the Copa del Rey, reaching the semifinals before being defeated by eventual runners-up Real Madrid. This marked their best cup run since reaching the same stage in 1986–87.

## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | La Liga | La Liga | Copa del Rey | Copa del Rey |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Iñaki Lafuente | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ESP | Iñigo Larrainzar | 22 | 0 | 18+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Aitor Larrazábal | 30 | 3 | 25+1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP | Rafael Alkorta | 6 | 1 | 5+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Carlos García | 39 | 2 | 17+15 | 2 | 4+3 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Josu Urrutia | 24 | 1 | 14+5 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Óscar Vales | 30 | 0 | 25+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Julen Guerrero | 26 | 7 | 17+3 | 5 | 5+1 | 2 |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Santi Ezquerro | 43 | 9 | 12+23 | 5 | 5+3 | 4 |
| 10 | MF | ESP | Francisco Yeste | 28 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 5+1 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | ESP | Javi González | 34 | 0 | 24+6 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Jesús María Lacruz | 30 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | ESP | Andoni Imaz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ESP | Roberto Ríos | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ESP | Felipe Guréndez | 21 | 0 | 10+5 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Pablo Orbaiz | 32 | 1 | 21+5 | 1 | 4+2 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ESP | Joseba Etxeberria | 37 | 9 | 27+4 | 8 | 3+3 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Bittor Alkiza | 36 | 1 | 28+5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ESP | Asier del Horno | 12 | 1 | 9+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ESP | Ismael Urzaiz | 42 | 18 | 34+2 | 16 | 4+2 | 2 |
| 21 | FW | ESP | David Karanka | 8 | 2 | 0+6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 22 | DF | ESP | Aitor Ocio | 17 | 0 | 12+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ESP | Tiko | 38 | 11 | 22+10 | 7 | 3+3 | 4 |
| 24 | MF | ESP | David Cuéllar | 10 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | ESP | Dani Aranzubia | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | ESP | Carlos Gurpegui | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 | DF | ESP | Ander Murillo | 17 | 0 | 7+4 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 |

## Results
### La Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 7 | Alavés | 38 | 17 | 3 | 18 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 54 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 8 | Sevilla | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 51 | 40 | +11 | 53 | |
| 9 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 53 | |
| 10 | Málaga | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 53 | Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round |
| 11 | Rayo Vallecano | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 46 | 52 | −6 | 49 | |
* ↑ Since Deportivo and Real Madrid, finalists of 2001–02 Copa del Rey, were qualified for the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League, Alavés entered UEFA Cup as best qualified in no european places (7th placed)
* 1 2 3 SEV: 7 pts → SEV 3–3 ATH; ATH: 7 pts → ATH 0–1 SEV; MLG: 3 pts