# 2015–16 Athletic Bilbao season

The 2015–16 season was the 117th in Athletic Club's history and the 85th in the top tier. On 17 August 2015, Athletic defeated Barcelona 5–1 on aggregate to win the Supercopa de España, the club's first silverware since 1984.

## Squad

According to the official website. Sabin Merino wore number 25 in domestic matches.

### Player statistics

| S | P | N | Name | Super Cup | Super Cup | Super Cup | Super Cup | League | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Europe | Europe | Total | Total | Total | Total |
| S | P | N | Name | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M |
| 1 | GK | | Gorka Iraizoz (vc) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 3244 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 3424 |
| 2 | DF | | Eneko Bóveda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 96 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 1462 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 183 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 620 | 25 | 12 | 0 | 2361 |
| 3 | DF | | Gorka Elustondo | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 465 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 398 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 975 |
| 4 | DF | | Aymeric Laporte | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 2213 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 450 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1080 | 44 | 1 | 5 | 3923 |
| 5 | MF | | Javier Eraso | 2 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 778 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 396 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 610 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 1950 |
| 6 | MF | | Mikel San José | 1 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 2691 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 234 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 893 | 43 | 8 | 4 | 3908 |
| 7 | MF | | Beñat Etxebarria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 2900 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 303 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1023 | 47 | 7 | 3 | 4398 |
| 8 | MF | | Ander Iturraspe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 700 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 337 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 392 | 15 | 13 | 0 | 1429 |
| 10 | DF | | Óscar de Marcos | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 2886 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 363 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1055 | 50 | 4 | 2 | 4484 |
| 11 | FW | | Ibai Gómez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 228 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 343 |
| 13 | GK | | Iago Herrerín | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 174 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 540 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1470 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 2184 |
| 14 | FW | | Markel Susaeta (3rd c) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 22 | 6 | 3 | 1920 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 272 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1040 | 39 | 8 | 5 | 3406 |
| 15 | FW | | Iñaki Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 8 | 1638 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 417 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 374 | 29 | 8 | 13 | 2429 |
| 16 | DF | | Xabier Etxeita | 2 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 2485 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 360 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1020 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 4023 |
| 17 | MF | | Mikel Rico | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 691 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 177 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 431 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 1306 |
| 18 | MF | | Carlos Gurpegi (c) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1143 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 550 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1887 |
| 19 | MF | | Iker Muniain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 1020 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 239 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 1365 |
| 20 | FW | | Aritz Aduriz | 2 | 0 | 4 | 169 | 30 | 4 | 20 | 2776 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 364 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 1177 | 49 | 6 | 36 | 4486 |
| 21 | FW | | Borja Viguera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 289 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 240 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 619 |
| 22 | MF | | Raúl García | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 7 | 2384 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 158 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 671 | 36 | 5 | 11 | 3213 |
| 24 | DF | | Mikel Balenziaga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 2906 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 273 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1005 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 4364 |
| 25 | DF | | Enric Saborit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| 27 | FW | | Sabin Merino | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 1129 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 224 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 540 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 1959 |
| 30 | DF | | Iñigo Lekue | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1157 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 375 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 514 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 2070 |
| Players moved to reserve team or on loan in winter transfer window ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | | Kike Sola | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 74 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 230 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 430 |
| 23 | MF | | Ager Aketxe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 186 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 283 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 486 |

### Disciplinary record

| S | P | Name | Super Cup | Super Cup | Super Cup | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Europe | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Gorka Iraizoz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | DF | Eneko Bóveda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Gorka Elustondo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Aymeric Laporte | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | MF | Javier Eraso | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Mikel San José | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | Beñat Etxebarria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Ander Iturraspe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | Óscar de Marcos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Ibai Gómez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Iago Herrerín | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Markel Susaeta | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | Iñaki Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Xabier Etxeita | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Mikel Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | Carlos Gurpegi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | Iker Muniain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Aritz Aduriz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | Borja Viguera | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Raúl García | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Mikel Balenziaga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Enric Saborit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Sabin Merino | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | Iñigo Lekue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Players moved to reserve team or on loan in winter transfer window |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | Kike Sola | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | Ager Aketxe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

### From the youth system

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 25 | DF | ESP | Enric Saborit |
| 27 | FW | ESP | Sabin Merino |
| 30 | DF | ESP | Iñigo Lekue |

### Transfer

In
| Date | Name | Moving from | Fee |
| 5 June 2015 | Eneko Bóveda | Eibar | Free |
| 5 June 2015 | Javier Eraso | Leganés | Free |
| 1 July 2015 | Gorka Elustondo | Real Sociedad | Free |
| 31 August 2015 | Raúl García | Atlético Madrid | Undisclosed |
Out
| Date | Name | Moving to | Fee |
| 15 June 2015 | Andoni Iraola | New York City | Free |
| 8 July 2015 | Unai Bustinza | Leganés | Loan |
| 12 July 2015 | Unai Albizua | Leganés | Free |
| 14 July 2015 | Gaizka Toquero | Alavés | Free |
| 23 July 2015 | Erik Morán | Zaragoza | Loan |
| 13 August 2015 | Jon Aurtenetxe | Tenerife | Loan |
| 13 August 2015 | Guillermo Fernández | Leganés | Loan |
| 15 January 2016 | Kike Sola | Middlesbrough | Loan |

## Staff

According to the official website.
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Ernesto Valverde |
| Assistant coach | Jon Aspiazu |
| Technical coaches | Joseba Etxeberria, Alberto Iglesias |
| Physical coaches | José Antonio Pozanco, Xabier Clemente |
| Goalkeeper coach | Aitor Iru |
| Representative | Andoni Imaz |
| Doctors | Josean Lekue, Paco Angulo |
| Masseur | Juan Manuel Ipiña |
| Physiotherapists | Álvaro Campa, Beñat Azula, Isusko Ortuzar |
| Podiatrist | Kepa Galardi |
| Materials managers | Txetxu Gallego, Jon Eskalza, Iker López |

## Pre-season and friendlies

For the second time in their history (117 years), Athletic played in the United States when they shut out Club Tijuana 2–0 in a preseason contest in Boise, Idaho on 18 July 2015. The team's first trip to the U.S. took place on 4 April 1967 in Chicago, when Athletic beat Red Star Belgrade 3–1, also in a friendly.

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| La Liga | 23 August 2015 | 14 May 2016 | Matchday 1 | 5th | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 047.37 |
| Europa League | 30 July 2015 | 14 April 2016 | Third qualifying round | Quarter-finals | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 17 | +11 | 056.25 |
| Copa del Rey | 2 December 2015 | 27 January 2016 | Round of 32 | Quarter-finals | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 066.67 |
| Supercopa de España | 14 August 2015 | 17 August 2015 | Final | Winners | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 050.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 62 | 32 | 12 | 18 | 105 | 70 | +35 | 051.61 |
Source: Competitions

### La Liga

League table
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 3 | Atlético Madrid | 38 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 63 | 18 | +45 | 88 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 4 | Villarreal | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 64 | Qualification for the Champions League play-off round |
| 5 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 62 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
| 6 | Celta Vigo | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 60 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
| 7 | Sevilla | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 52 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2015–16 Copa del Rey, Barcelona, qualified for European competition based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners (Europa League group stage) was passed to the sixth-placed team and the spot awarded to the sixth-placed team (Europa League third qualifying round) was passed to the seventh-placed team.
* ↑ Sevilla qualified for the Champions League group stage by winning the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. Based on their league position (7th), they would have received the spot above to enter the Europa League third qualifying round. This spot was vacated without replacement as per UEFA regulations.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Round by round
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | D | W | W | W | L | W | D | L | W | W | D | L | L | W | W | D | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | W | L | D | W | D | W |
| Position | 17 | 20 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |

#### Matches
### Copa del Rey

Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-finals

### UEFA Europa League
#### Qualifying phase

Third qualifying round
Play-off round

#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Athletic Bilbao | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 13 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 2 | FC Augsburg | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 9 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 3 | Partizan | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 14 | −4 | 9 | |
| 4 | AZ | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 4 | |

#### Knockout phase

Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-finals