Athletic Club Femenino is the women’s section of the professional football club Athletic Bilbao. They compete in Liga F and are one of the most successful clubs, with 5 titles to their name. Like the men’s club, they share the policy of signing players native to or trained in football in the greater Basque Country.
The club was founded in 2002 as Leioa EFT after CD Sondika disbanded its women’s team. After Leioa had gained promotion to the new Superliga Femenina, it was absorbed by Athletic Bilbao, and the process was carried out by Ernesto Valverde and Andoni Zubizarreta.
Founded: 2002
First Manager: Iñigo Juaristi
*As per information available from the club’s modern era
Nickname: Las Leonas (The Lionesses), Neskak (Girls), Rojiblancas
(Red-Whites)
Current Manager: Víctor Martín
Trophies:
Official competitions
Primera División: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2015–16
Euskal Herria Cup: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023
Invitational competitions
Sport Mundi Tournament: 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012
COTIF: 2015
Teresa Herrera Trophy: 2017, 2018
Ramón de Carranza Trophy: 2019, 2021
Debut in Liga F: 2002
Home Ground: Lezama (Field 2), Biscay, Spain
Latest Standing (25-26): 7th
Stars of the Club:
Erika Vázquez – The club’s all-time top scorer with 264 goals in 423 appearances, who went on to win 3 league titles with them
Ainhoa Tirapu – Iconic long-serving captain and goalkeeper who made 358 appearances across 15 seasons
Iraia Iturregi – A Multi-time champion who later returned to manage the women’s first team
