# 1996–97 Athletic Bilbao season

The 1996–97 season was the 96th season in Athletic Bilbao's history and their 66th consecutive season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

## Season summary

Athletic had been without a permanent head coach since replacing Dragoslav Stepanović with caretaker manager José María Amorrortu in March 1996. They filled the vacancy ahead of the new season by appointing Spanish-born Frenchman Luis Fernández, previously manager of Paris Saint-Germain in his adopted homeland.
Fernández's appointment led to an immediate improvement in league form, and Bilbao finished the La Liga season in 6th place. This was their best league finish since 1993–94, and also meant a return to the UEFA Cup in 1997–98.
Their performance in the Copa del Rey, however, left room for improvement. They were eliminated at the last sixteen stage by Racing Santander, following an ill-tempered second leg at San Mamés which saw three players red carded.

## 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 | Juanjo Valencia | 23 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | FRA | Bixente Lizarazu | 18 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP | Aitor Karanka | 39 | 1 | 35+2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Genar Andrinúa (c) | 12 | 2 | 4+4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Josu Urrutia | 39 | 0 | 36+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ESP | Andoni Goikoetxea | 37 | 0 | 10+21 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Julen Guerrero | 43 | 16 | 37+1 | 15 | 5 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Cuco Ziganda | 46 | 17 | 31+11 | 17 | 1+3 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | ESP | Aitor Larrazábal | 40 | 5 | 35+2 | 5 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ESP | Ismael Urzaiz | 42 | 18 | 30+8 | 16 | 4 | 2 |
| 12 | DF | ESP | Carlos García | 17 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Imanol Etxeberria | 25 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Óscar Vales | 27 | 0 | 15+8 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ESP | Sergio Corino | 18 | 1 | 8+7 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | ESP | Ricardo Mendiguren | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ESP | Joseba Etxeberria | 36 | 6 | 25+10 | 6 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Bittor Alkiza | 43 | 4 | 36+3 | 3 | 2+2 | 1 |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Eduardo Estíbariz | 8 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | ESP | Iñigo Larrainzar | 40 | 1 | 38+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ESP | Óscar Tabuenka | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ESP | José Mari | 36 | 2 | 28+5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ESP | Edu Alonso | 13 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | ESP | Iñaki Lafuente | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ESP | Felipe Guréndez | 18 | 0 | 6+7 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ESP | Bolo | 25 | 3 | 2+17 | 1 | 3+3 | 2 |
| 29 | MF | ESP | Mikel Kortina | 3 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | DF | ESP | Javier Díaz Neira | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ESP | Ibán Espadas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ESP | Álvaro Florentino | 4 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| | FW | ESP | David Gallo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ESP | Raúl Gil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ESP | Raúl Otxoa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
    1.^ Mendiguren was transferred to Las Palmas during the season.
    2.^ Bolo was loaned to Osasuna during the season.

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 4 | Real Betis | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 77 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 71 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Athletic Bilbao | 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 72 | 57 | +15 | 64 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Valladolid | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 64 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 8 | Real Sociedad | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 63 | |
* ↑ BET 1–2 DEP; DEP 3–0 BET
* ↑ Since Barcelona, winners of 1996–97 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Real Betis earned a spot in the first round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
* 1 2 VLD 0–0 ATH; ATH 0–0 VLD