History of Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao, officially known as Athletic Club, are a professional football club hailing from the Basque Country. They got their moniker of Los Leones from Saint Mammes of Caesarea, whose story was that one time he was able to pacify some lions after he was placed in a pit with them. 

The team has the fourth most La Liga titles with eight. That said, the tournament Bilbao are at home with the most is Copa del Rey, where they have been in the finals 39 times, winning 23 – or 24 according to the club’s own history. They are second to Barcelona in cup titles won and finals appearances, the latter of which they are tied with Real Madrid. 

Athletic also had the distinction of being awarded the Supercopa de España in 1984 after completing a domestic double, the last time they won either the Copa del Rey or La Liga. In addition, the pride of Basque is the only founding member of La Liga that has never been relegated aside from Madrid and Barça. 

Zarra is the third highest scorer at La Liga behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.