Athletic Bilbao Tickets

The Basque city of Bilbao takes extreme pride in the heritage of their football club Athletic Bilbao, one of the founding members of La Liga. The famous Lions are one of three clubs on the Iberian Peninsula to stay in the top-tier competition of Spanish football since its inception in 1929. The other two football clubs are heavyweights Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Tenure is not the only thing Bilbao shares with the previously mentioned world-renowned Spanish clubs. The trophy case at the team's facilities displays 8 La Liga titles and a remarkable 24 Copa del Rey trophies. Their cup achievements are only second to Barcelona's success in the Copa del Rey.

The unique aspect of Bilbao that sets it apart from most other teams in the policy is to include only players of Basque descent. This has been a rule practiced for over a century, and the team prefers to invest in local talent, creating a cohesive culture that many experts think contributes to their success.

Athletic Bilbao plays its home matches at San Mamés stadium. The venue retained the name of its predecessor but improved the capacity to 53,289 seats. Athletic Bilbao supporters can purchase Athletic Bilbao tickets for the exciting Primera División football match at SeatPick. The online platform offers affordable ticket prices and the opportunity to watch the Lions live as they devour their opponents on the football pitch.

About Athletic Club Bilbao Football Tickets

Football was transplanted into the Basque country from England at the end of the 19th century. Migrant workers from the British Isles, looking for job opportunities in the booming industrial city, and Spanish students returning from England, brought the game to the northern corner of Spain.

Even though founded in 1898, the club managed to absorb several local teams and started working on the first purpose-built football venue on the Pyrenees by 1903. The legendary San Mames stadium was opened in 1913 and nicknamed La Catedral.

Englishmen were not responsible only for the initial development. Under head coach Fred Pentland, the club won 2 La Liga titles in 1929-30 and 1930-31 seasons, signalling the emergence of a new force on the Spanish football scene. Before the Spanish Civil War broke out, 2 more titles arrived in the 1934 and 1936 seasons.

The 40s and 50s were the club's glory days, and two more league titles in 1942–43 and the 1955–56 season cemented the team's legacy. Unfortunately for loyal fans, a dry spell followed in the 60s and 70s.

The low-performing decades were interrupted with a comeback to the top of the La Liga in the 1982–83 season; a triumph repeated the following season when the Lions claimed their eighth La Liga title. That same 1983–84 season, the club won its 23rd Copa del Rey title. Although the enthusiasm was high in Bilbao that year, it also marked the start of a new dry spell. Bilbao would go without a title for 40 years, until they secured a Copa del Rey win over Mallorca in the 2024 Copa del Rey final, securing victory on penalties.

Fans planning to visit Estadio San Mamés can buy Athletic Club Bilbao tickets at SeatPick and watch their team play.

Top Rivalry

The Basque derby is a key match on the football calendar in La Liga as Bilbao compete for regional supremacy with Real Sociedad. Since the first match-up in 1909, the games between the local clubs have been hotly contested. The Basque teams have played over 170 matches in La Liga and Copa del Rey.

The numbers show that both teams have been evenly matched. Although passions are high on the pitch, the picture is not the same in the stands, where fans mix and interact freely, something unconventional for a local derby.

Top Managers

The club may not accept foreign players but has a more liberal attitude when managers are in question. Some popular names that coached local talents are Ernesto Valverde, Jupp Heynckes, Marcelo Bielsa, Joaquin Caparros, and Javier Clemente.

Famous Footballers that Played for the Lions

The policy of recruiting only footballers from the Basque region has restricted the opportunity to attract famous foreign players. Some of the popular local players include:

• Fernando Llorente
• Telmo Zarra
• Dani Ruiz
• Joseba Etxebarria
• Raul Garcia
• Nico Williams

Estadio San Mamés - Bilbao, Spain

Stadium Name: Estadio San Mamés

Capacity: 53,289

Address: Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, s/n, 48013, Bilbao, Spain

Description: The new San Mamés was opened in 2013, with a capacity of 53,289 seats, making it the 7th-largest football venue in Spain. It was originally chosen as a venue for UEFA Euro 2020, scheduled to host three group stage games and a Round of 16 match, but UEFA relocated Bilbao's fixtures to Seville in 2021 due to COVID-19 crowd restrictions. Apart from football matches, the stadium gets used for music concerts. Interestingly, the biggest attendance was not for a football match but a rugby game in 2018, when 52,282 people came to watch Leinster vs Racing 92.

Best Way to Travel

The venue is in central Bilbao, about a mile east of the old city centre and a 15-minute walk from the Guggenheim Museum. Public transportation is the best option to arrive at the venue and watch Athletic Club Bilbao play a La Liga fixture.

By Metro

There are two metro lines in the city, L1 and L2, and both pass the stadium. Remember to disembark at station San Mamés.

By Bus

Several buses transit near the venue, and fans can take buses 56, A3, A3336, and A3414.