Athletic Bilbao Quiz Questions and Answers

40 Athletic Bilbao questions in rounds of ten, with the answers kept separate so you can read them out. Free to use for a pub quiz, a matchday WhatsApp group or your own revision — no sign-up, and the page prints cleanly.

Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4

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Round 1

  1. In what year was Athletic Club (Athletic Bilbao) founded?
  2. What is Athletic Bilbao's nickname?
  3. What are Athletic Bilbao's traditional home colours?
  4. Athletic Bilbao's distinctive recruitment philosophy restricts signings to players with what characteristic?
  5. Athletic Bilbao was a founding member of Spain's top division when it launched in which year?
  6. The original San Mamés stadium first opened in which year?
  7. The current, rebuilt San Mamés stadium opened in which year?
  8. During the Franco era, Athletic was forced to adopt which Spanish-language version of its name?
  9. Athletic Bilbao's youth academy and training complex is located in which village near Bilbao?
  10. How does Athletic Bilbao traditionally celebrate major trophies in the city?
Answers — round 1
  1. 1898 — Athletic was founded in 1898, making it one of the oldest football clubs in Spain.
  2. The Lions (Los Leones) — They are known as Los Leones, Spanish for 'the Lions'.
  3. Red-and-white vertical stripes — Their red-and-white striped shirts are among the most recognisable kits in Spain.
  4. Basque roots or developed in the Basque region — The famous 'cantera' policy limits the squad to players who are Basque-born or developed in the Basque Country.
  5. 1929 — They were one of the founding clubs of the inaugural Primera División in 1929.
  6. 1913 — The first San Mamés opened in 1913, hosting an early match against Racing de Irún.
  7. 2013 — The new San Mamés was inaugurated in 2013 with a capacity of around 53,000.
  8. Atlético de Bilbao — Franco-era 'Spanishisation' turned the English word 'Athletic' into 'Atlético de Bilbao' before the club later reverted.
  9. Lezama — Lezama, opened in 1971, is the heart of Athletic's celebrated youth development.
  10. On a barge (La Gabarra) along the river — La Gabarra, a river barge, has paraded titles down the Nervión estuary since 1983.

Round 2

  1. Athletic Bilbao's fiercely contested 'Basque derby' is played against which neighbouring club?
  2. In the mid-1940s Athletic won the Copa in three consecutive years, starting in which year?
  3. Athletic Bilbao won their first La Liga title in which season?
  4. Athletic Bilbao won the second of their back-to-back early-1980s La Liga titles in which season?
  5. By the mid-1980s, how many La Liga titles had Athletic Bilbao won?
  6. Athletic Bilbao won the 2024 Copa del Rey final on penalties against which club?
  7. The 2024 Copa del Rey final was staged at which stadium?
  8. Athletic Bilbao lost the 2021 Copa del Rey final heavily to which club?
  9. The La Liga award for the top-scoring Spanish player is named after which Athletic Bilbao striker?
  10. Which Athletic Bilbao captain helped carry the then-banned Basque flag onto the pitch before a December 1976 derby?
Answers — round 2
  1. Real Sociedad — Real Sociedad, from San Sebastián, are Athletic's great Basque rivals.
  2. 1943 — Athletic lifted the cup (then the Copa del Generalísimo) in 1943, 1944 and 1945.
  3. 1929–30 — Athletic were crowned Spanish champions for the first time in 1929–30, in the early years of La Liga.
  4. 1983–84 — Athletic followed up their 1982–83 championship by retaining the league title in 1983–84.
  5. Eight — Athletic had claimed eight top-flight championships by the mid-1980s.
  6. Mallorca — Athletic edged Mallorca 4–2 on spot-kicks after a 1–1 draw.
  7. La Cartuja, Seville — The final was played at the neutral La Cartuja stadium in Seville.
  8. Barcelona — Barcelona won the 2021 final 4–0, with a brace from Lionel Messi.
  9. Telmo Zarra — The Zarra Trophy honours Telmo Zarra, a prolific striker of the 1940s and 1950s.
  10. José Ángel Iribar — Goalkeeper-captain José Ángel Iribar helped display the ikurriña, which was legalised soon after in 1977.

Round 3

  1. Which one-club attacking midfielder was Athletic Bilbao's talisman and fan idol throughout the 1990s?
  2. Defender Andoni Goikoetxea earned the nickname 'The Butcher of Bilbao' after a 1983 challenge that broke whose ankle?
  3. Which veteran striker scored a hat-trick in the first leg of Athletic Bilbao's 2015 Spanish Super Cup triumph?
  4. Which Athletic Bilbao-developed winger won UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain?
  5. In January 2018 Athletic Bilbao sold defender Aymeric Laporte, then a club-record sale, to which club?
  6. In 2018 Chelsea paid a then world-record fee for a goalkeeper to sign which Athletic Bilbao academy product?
  7. Midfielder Ander Herrera left Athletic Bilbao in 2014 to join which English club?
  8. In 2012 Athletic Bilbao sold midfielder Javi Martínez to which German club?
  9. Which coach led Athletic Bilbao's dominant, title-winning side of the early 1980s?
  10. Which Argentine coach guided Athletic Bilbao to the 2012 Europa League and Copa del Rey finals?
Answers — round 3
  1. Julen Guerrero — Julen Guerrero, a homegrown playmaker, became a 1990s icon and a Spain international.
  2. Diego Maradona — His brutal tackle on Diego Maradona at Camp Nou in 1983 gave rise to the grim nickname.
  3. Aritz Aduriz — Aritz Aduriz, still prolific into his late thirties, netted three in the first-leg rout.
  4. Nico Williams — Nico Williams, a product of Athletic's academy, scored in Spain's Euro 2024 final win.
  5. Manchester City — Laporte joined Manchester City for around €65m, a record fee received for Athletic at the time.
  6. Kepa Arrizabalaga — Kepa Arrizabalaga moved to Chelsea for about €80m, a world record for a goalkeeper at the time.
  7. Manchester United — Herrera signed for Manchester United in the summer of 2014.
  8. Bayern Munich — Javi Martínez joined Bayern Munich in a then club-record sale and won the Champions League there in 2013.
  9. Javier Clemente — Javier Clemente masterminded consecutive league titles and a cup double in the 1980s.
  10. Marcelo Bielsa — Marcelo 'El Loco' Bielsa took charge of Athletic from 2011 to 2013.

Round 4

  1. Which Slovak coach guided Athletic Bilbao to a league-and-cup double in 1955–56?
  2. Which bowler-hatted Englishman built Athletic Bilbao's dominant side of the late 1920s and early 1930s?
  3. Which manager led Athletic Bilbao to their 2024 Copa del Rey triumph?
  4. Athletic Bilbao reached the 1977 UEFA Cup final, losing on away goals to which Italian club?
  5. In the 2012 Europa League final Athletic Bilbao lost 3–0 to which fellow Spanish club?
  6. To reach the 2014–15 Champions League group stage, Athletic Bilbao won a qualifying play-off against which Italian club?
  7. Athletic Bilbao qualified for the Champions League by finishing La Liga runners-up in which season under Luis Fernández?
  8. As reigning Spanish league champions, Athletic Bilbao contested which European competition in the mid-1980s?
  9. Which Athletic Bilbao striker was part of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad?
  10. Which goalkeeper, a title-winner with Athletic Bilbao in the 1980s, went on to play at four World Cups for Spain (1986, 1990, 1994, 1998)?
Answers — round 4
  1. Ferdinand Daučík — Ferdinand Daučík's side pipped their rivals to the 1955–56 title by a single point and also won the cup.
  2. Fred Pentland — Fred Pentland, nicknamed 'El Bombín' (the bowler hat), delivered multiple league titles and cups.
  3. Ernesto Valverde — Ernesto Valverde, in a third spell at the club, ended the long trophy drought in 2024.
  4. Juventus — The tie finished 2–2 on aggregate and Juventus took the trophy on away goals.
  5. Atlético Madrid — Atlético Madrid won the Bucharest final 3–0 in May 2012.
  6. Napoli — Athletic beat Napoli over two legs, sealing it at the new San Mamés, to make the group stage.
  7. 1997–98 — A second-place finish in 1997–98 sent Athletic into the Champions League the following season.
  8. The European Cup — Domestic champions of that era entered the European Cup, the forerunner of the Champions League.
  9. Fernando Llorente — Fernando Llorente travelled to South Africa 2010 as an Athletic player and lifted the trophy with Spain.
  10. Andoni Zubizarreta — Andoni Zubizarreta began his career in Athletic's goal before a long international career as Spain's number one.

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