# 2008–09 Athletic Bilbao season

The 2008–09 season was the 108th season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 78th consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.
This season was the first since 1999–2000 without Dani Aranzubia who left to join fellow club Deportivo La Coruña.

## 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 | Gorka Iraizoz | 45 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2 | FW | ESP | Gaizka Toquero | 26 | 3 | 10+10 | 1 | 2+4 | 2 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Koikili Lertxundi | 26 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP | Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora | 14 | 0 | 10+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | VEN | Fernando Amorebieta | 36 | 0 | 28+1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Joseba del Olmo | 11 | 1 | 2+8 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | David López | 35 | 5 | 26+3 | 3 | 5+1 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Joseba Garmendia | 12 | 1 | 5+6 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Fernando Llorente | 43 | 17 | 34 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| 10 | MF | ESP | Francisco Yeste | 32 | 3 | 24+4 | 3 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ESP | Igor Gabilondo | 23 | 4 | 11+6 | 2 | 5+1 | 2 |
| 12 | FW | ESP | Iñigo Vélez | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Armando | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Markel Susaeta | 40 | 1 | 24+10 | 1 | 5+1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ESP | Andoni Iraola | 41 | 6 | 33 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Pablo Orbaiz | 38 | 1 | 27+3 | 1 | 6+2 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ESP | Joseba Etxeberria | 26 | 2 | 7+16 | 2 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Carlos Gurpegui | 26 | 0 | 10+9 | 0 | 3+4 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ESP | Ander Murillo | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Aitor Ocio | 37 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | ESP | Ion Vélez | 38 | 5 | 17+12 | 3 | 6+3 | 2 |
| 22 | MF | ESP | Iñaki Muñoz | 6 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ESP | Javi Martínez | 41 | 6 | 30+2 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| 26 | MF | ESP | Ander Iturraspe | 5 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ESP | Xabier Etxeita | 16 | 1 | 8+6 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ESP | Eneko Bóveda | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | MF | ESP | Adrien Goñi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | DF | ESP | Mikel Balenziaga | 26 | 0 | 21+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 47 | DF | ESP | Xabi Etxebarria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ESP | Javier Casas | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Competitions
### La Liga
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 11 | Almería | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 45 | 61 | −16 | 46 | |
| 12 | Racing Santander | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 46 | |
| 13 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 47 | 62 | −15 | 44 | Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round |
| 14 | Sporting Gijón | 38 | 14 | 1 | 23 | 47 | 79 | −32 | 43 | |
| 15 | Osasuna | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 47 | −6 | 43 | |
* 1 2 ALM 1–1 RAC; RAC 0–2 ALM
* ↑ Since Barcelona, winners of the 2008–09 Copa del Rey, already qualified for the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Athletic Bilbao earned a spot in the third qualifying round of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.
* 1 2 SPG: 12 pts; OSA: 2 pts → OSA 3–3 VLD; VLD: 2 pts → VLD 0–0 OSA