| 2000–01 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | José María Arrate | |||
| Head coach | Txetxu Rojo | |||
| Stadium | San Mamés | |||
| La Liga | 12th | |||
| Copa del Rey | Round of 16 | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ismael Urzaiz (10 goals)[1] All: Ismael Urzaiz (13 goals) | |||
The2000–01 season was the100th season inAthletic Bilbao's history and their 70th consecutive season inLa Liga, the top division ofSpanish football.
Athletic Bilbao began their centenary season with a new head coach following the departure of FrenchmanLuis Fernández. Fernández had been in charge for four years, becoming Athletic's most successful coach for a generation by leading them to the runners-up spot inLa Liga in1997–98.[2] To replace him, Bilbao legendTxetxu Rojo was tempted away fromReal Zaragoza, who he had just guided to an exceptional 5th place inthe league, six places higher than his new club.[3] This would be Rojo's second spell atSan Mamés, having previously led the team briefly during the1989–90 season.
Rojo could not replicate his La Liga success with Athletic, as they slipped yet further to 12th place, their worst performance for five years.[4] They fared little better in theCopa del Rey, being eliminated at the last 16 stage byRacing Santander.
Rojo departed at the end of the season, returning to Zaragoza, and was replaced by another returning former coach, GermanJupp Heynckes, who had most recently been manager ofBenfica in Portugal.[5][6]
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | La Liga | Copa del Rey | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | Iñaki Lafuente | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | Iñigo Larrainzar | 28 | 1 | 24+1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 3 | MF | Óscar Vales | 35 | 0 | 30+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | Rafael Alkorta | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | MF | Felipe Guréndez | 35 | 1 | 20+11 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | Josu Urrutia | 23 | 1 | 20+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 7 | MF | Andoni Imaz | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | Julen Guerrero | 29 | 4 | 25+2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Santi Ezquerro | 19 | 3 | 14+5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | DF | Aitor Larrazábal | 28 | 4 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |
| 11 | DF | Jesús María Lacruz | 33 | 1 | 30+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 12 | DF | Carlos García | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | GK | Imanol Etxeberria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | DF | Roberto Ríos | 20 | 1 | 15+2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 15 | MF | Carlos Merino | 7 | 0 | 0+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | MF | Francisco Yeste | 38 | 7 | 13+21 | 6 | 3+1 | 1 | |
| 17 | FW | Joseba Etxeberria | 31 | 5 | 26+2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | Bittor Alkiza | 26 | 1 | 18+4 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | |
| 19 | DF | Mikel Lasa | 6 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 20 | FW | Ismael Urzaiz | 38 | 13 | 34 | 10 | 4 | 3 | |
| 22 | MF | Javi González | 29 | 3 | 15+11 | 3 | 2+1 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | Tiko | 25 | 2 | 9+13 | 2 | 1+2 | 0 | |
| 24 | MF | Pablo Orbaiz | 31 | 0 | 23+4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | |
| 25 | GK | Dani Aranzubia | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 27 | DF | Asier del Horno | 15 | 0 | 11+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 35 | FW | David Asensio | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 37 | MF | David Cuéllar | 9 | 0 | 0+8 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 38 | MF | Unai Expósito | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Alavés | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 58 | 59 | −1 | 49 |
| 11 | Las Palmas | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 42 | 62 | −20 | 46 |
| 12 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 44 | 60 | −16 | 43[a] |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 68 | −16 | 43[a] |
| 14 | Rayo Vallecano | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 56 | 68 | −12 | 43[a] |