Five years since Athletic Club Women’s fifth league title

On June 7, 2016, the Lionesses celebrated a fifth top-flight league title in front of all of Bilbao. After FC Barcelona were defeated by Atlético Madrid and Athletic beat Ovideo Moderno 3-0, Joseba Aguirre’s side went into the final weekend of the season with the title in their locker and nothing to lose against UDG Tenerife.

Winning the title capped off a season in which the Lionesses boasted a spectacular record of 25 wins, three draws and just two defeats.

After going nine years without winning the coveted trophy, the celebrations first took place in Lezama and then two days later there was an open-top bus tour through Bilbao. Thousands of Athletic fans turned out to mark an achievement which turned the Rojiblancas into the most successful team in the domestic game with five league championships (2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2006-2007 and 2015-2016).

What’s more, Eli Ibarra made Athletic Club history by being the only Lioness involved in all five league triumphs. Another player who stood out that season was Yulema Corres. The striker had one of her best seasons in Athletic’s attack, scoring 14 goals.

Five years later, we remember the fifth title that saw the Lionesses write their own page in the history of football, and it is an achievement that still lives strong in the memories of thousands of Athletic fans.