The Basque club Athletic Bilbao has a storied relationship with the Copa del Rey, a competition it has cherished nearly as much as its own regional identity. Although Barcelona sits ahead in the all-time list, Athletic remains deeply tied to this cup, having claimed the trophy 23 times. Yet, long years have elapsed since Valverde era teams lifted the cup, and the club has not secured the crown since 1984.
That memorable 1-0 victory came in a final against Diego Armando Maradona’s Barcelona, with Endika delivering the decisive strike. It was a historic moment for the club, which also achieved league glory in the same year, securing the domestic double. The win added to a tradition of excellence in a competition that has celebrated Athletic fans for decades.
Over the years Athletic Bilbao has taken the Copa del Rey seriously, winning titles across multiple eras. The club boasted a long run of successes in the early to mid twentieth century, with triumphs scattered through the 1900s and 1910s, and continuing through the 1930s and beyond. This record places Athletic firmly behind Barcelona in total trophies won, but it remains a benchmark of prestige for the Basque side and its supporters. The team has converted its cup runs into a historical narrative of endurance, punctuated by occasional droughts and dramatic comebacks, reflecting a tradition that values the cup as a central pillar of club pride.
In addition to the 23 titles, Athletic Bilbao has reached the final on 16 occasions, earning runners-up medals more often than not in a handful of recent years. The club’s presence in finals during 2009, 2012, 2015, 2020, and 2021 underscores a consistent cup pedigree, even as the trophy eluded them in the more recent decades. This persistent near-miss has shaped a sense of hope among fans that a new generation might recapture the magic of those historic cup-winning seasons.
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