| 1996–97 season | |
|---|---|
| President | José María Arrate |
| Head coach | Luis Fernández |
| Stadium | San Mamés |
| La Liga | 6th |
| Copa del Rey | Fourth round |
| Top goalscorer | League:Cuco Ziganda (17)[1] All:Ismael Urzaiz (18) |
The1996–97 season was the96th season inAthletic Bilbao's history and their 66th consecutive season inLa Liga, the top division ofSpanish football.
Athletic had been without a permanent head coach since replacingDragoslav Stepanović withcaretaker managerJosé María Amorrortu in March 1996. They filled the vacancy ahead of the new season by appointing Spanish-born FrenchmanLuis Fernández,[2] previously manager ofParis Saint-Germain in his adopted homeland.
Fernández's appointment led to an immediate improvement in league form, and Bilbao finished theLa Liga season in 6th place.[3] This was their best league finish since1993–94, and also meant a return to theUEFA Cup in1997–98.
Their performance in theCopa del Rey, however, left room for improvement. They were eliminated at the last sixteen stage byRacing Santander, following an ill-tempered second leg atSan Mamés which saw three players red carded.[4]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Real Betis | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 77[a] | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[b] |
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 71 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Athletic Bilbao | 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 72 | 57 | +15 | 64[c] | |
| 7 | Valladolid | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 64[c] | |
| 8 | Real Sociedad | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 63 |