Video Library: First European Cup played by Athletic (1956/57)

Among the number of videos that you can enjoy on our official YouTube channel, today we have chosen to show you a video compilation of the Athletic Club’s trajectory in the 1956/57 European cup.

After their 1955/56 double trophy season, winning a league title and sealing a Copa victory over Atlético de Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu, Athletic Club earned their right to take place in the following European Cup campaign.

Athletic made their debut in a round of 32 first-leg fixture against FC Oporto in Portugal, on September 20. They came out as winners (1-2) thanks to the goals from Gainza and Canito. In the second leg, another win was recorded (3-2) courtesy of Artetxe’s hat-trick.

Our opponents in the round of 16 were Budapest Honvéd FC, one of the most feared sides at the time, with players such as the legendary Bozsik, Kocsis, or Puskas, among their ranks. The final result was favourable to us, a 3-2 win at San Mamés, with goals from Artetxe, Markaida, and Arieta I. In Hungary, Athletic managed to take the lead three times during the game, thanks to the brace scored by Merodio and a goal from Arieta I. The final result was 3-3.

The 1956/57 European Cup quarter-final first leg, played between Athletic Club and Manchester United FC as the snow fell throughout the game at San Mamés, on January 16, is one of the most memorable matches in the collective memory of our club. The whirlwind of offensive football led to a final 5-3 win in a truly epic game. Uribe (two), Markaida, Mariodo, and Artetxe were the goal scorers that day. The second leg at Maine Road was a completely different story, and Athletic were knocked out after losing 3-0.

Up until now, our club has not been able to go further in the European Cup than that quarter-final.

The photograph that illustrates this article belongs to Elorza and in it you can see Artetxe hitting a shot during FC Oporto’s visit to Bilbao, in the first European Cup match played at San Mamés.