Javier Clemente
1981-86, 1990-91, 2005-06
Clemente had 3 spells in charge of Athletic after having a 5 year playing career with Athletic. His MOST successful spell was in his first spell as he collected 2 league titles, a Copa del Rey and a Supercopa. He is still managing today as the national team coach of Libya and he has managed several other teams and nations including Spain, Serbia, Cameroon, Marseille, Real Sociedad and the Basque national team!
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JANUARY
Lineup - Simon, Capa (Mosquera), Yeray, Martinez, Munoz, Vencedor, Sancet, N.Williams (I.Williams), Raul Garcia (Akhomach), Muniain, Villalibre
Disappointing but at least we didnt get beat. We never really looked like scoring although their keeper got the MOM award. A boring way to start 2022.
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Supercopa Semi-Final
Lineup - Simon, Capa (Mosquera), Yeray, Martinez (Nunez), Munoz, Vencedor, Sancet, N.Williams, Unai Lopez, Muniain, Villalibre
Get in!!!! Last year Barcelona played their backups and we trounced them but they didnt here and we still beat them. Villalibre and Nico Williams got the goals for us in the first half and although they pulled a goal back we managed to hold on to the victory.
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Supercopa Final
Lineup - Simon, Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Munoz, Vencedor (Dani Garcia),
Sancet*, N.Williams (I.Williams), Unai Lopez (Raul Garcia), Muniain, Villalibre
WE RETAIN THE SUPERCOPA!!!
We were superb here and won this match about 3 times over! lol. We took the lead when Sancet fired in from the edge of the area and it was all but won until they equalised in the 3rd minute of stoppage time. Into extra-time we went and Villalibre converted a penalty to put us back in front however minutes later he then missed a penalty. They then pressed us again but we sealed the cup when Raul Garcia scored with a brilliant finish and it was game over.
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Lineup - Simon, Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Munoz (Berenguer),
Vencedor*, Sancet (Raul Garcia), I.Williams (N.Williams), Unai Lopez, Muniain, Villalibre
Another disappointing result. It certainly seems that we are a better away side than a home side. We have gone 9 games unbeaten in the league but have only won 3 out of our last 10 which is a huge worry.
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Copa del Rey 3rd Round
Lineup -
Simon*, Mosquera, Nunez, Nolaskoain, Rodrigues, Dani Garcia (Vivian), Raul Garcia, N.Williams (Morcillo), Akhomach, Berenguer (Santana), Serrano
I played my backups here and they did the job but Mirandes put up a good account of themselves. Nico Williams gave us the lead and young regen striker Santana came off the bench to get a debut goal. Watch out for him in the future!
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Lineup - Simon, Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Munoz (N.Williams), Vencedor, Sancet (Raul Garcia), I.Williams, Unai Lopez, Muniain (Berenguer),
Villalibre*
Asier Villalibre rescued a point for us here with a stoppage time leveller to extend our unbeaten run but it is only 3 wins out of 11 now...... Villalibre had a goal disallowed in the first half that would have put us 2-0 up so that could have changed the result.
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Lineup - Simon, Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Munoz, Vencedor, Sancet (Raul Garcia), I.Williams (Akhomach), Unai Lopez, Muniain (Berenguer),
Villalibre*
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!
What a win. It may have been 3 wins out of 11 (7 draws) but I will take that to have this moment of humiliating Barcelona 4-0 at home. Villalibre was outstanding with 1 goal and 2 assists and the only downside was the injury to Oihan Sancet who will miss the best part of 2 months.
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Copa del Rey 4th Round
Lineup - Simon, Mosquera, Nunez, Nolaskoain (Vivian), Rodrigues, Dani Garcia, Raul Garcia,
N.Williams*, Akhomach, Berenguer (Morcillo), Serrano (Santana)
Just like in the last round Nico Williams and Santana got the goals to send us through but it should have been much more comfortable and had to come from behind to win.
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Lineup - Ezkieta, Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Munoz, Vencedor, Raul Garcia, I.Williams, Unai Lopez (Akhomach), Muniain (Berenguer), Villalibre (Morcillo)
Our 11 game unbeaten run in the league ends here despite taking the lead as Real gain revenge for their Supercopa defeat. I now tip our current run of form to 4 wins out of 13 but only 2 defeats! Ezkieta played in goal here as Simon got injured during the week.
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SUMMARY
Although the month ended in defeat overall we had a fine month. In the league we drew with Girona and Sevilla before thrashing Barcelona 4-0 with a perferct performance and a landmark result although we went on to lose to Real Madrid after taking the lead. We are still looking good for a Champions League spot but it was this time last season that things went skew wihiff and considering we have only won 4 out of 13 league games we better be careful.
In the Copa del Rey we took care of business thanks to Nico Williams and Santana and we start next month with a tough tie against Atletico Madrid.
We did retain the Supercopa however as we beat Barcelona 2-1 before going on to beat Real Madrid 3-1 in the final after extra-time. That makes it 2 trophies in 2 years but I am gunning for bigger trophies in reality. I am happy to take what I can get though!
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PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ASIER VILLALIBRE
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LA LIGA