20/21 season record: 10th in La Liga
Home: Villarreal/San Mames Stadium
Coach: Marcelino
The evergreen tree of La Liga, Bilbao, with its long history and glorious tradition, has occupied a place in the league without ever being in danger of relegation. They have won the La Liga crown eight times and the Copa del Rey twenty-four times. However, since the departure of Bielsa in 2010, Bilbao have fallen into mid-table, and their unique selection strategy - recruiting only players from the Basque Country - has been strict but has limited the team's talent pool. The youth system was a strength, but it also led to a serious talent gap; around 2010, the team was expected to play in the Champions League due to its wealth of talent, but with the departure of core players such as Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente, the team's strengths have diminished, and the need for youth players to emerge has become more urgent. Although the team still managed to compete in the Eredivisie from 15/16 to 16/17, it has hovered around 10th place for the past three years, reflecting the fact that the team is in a critical period of talent turnover.
When Marcelino took over, the team continued its tradition of defense first, known for its impenetrable defense. At the same time, he introduced new elements to help the team solidify its position. Now that he has rallied the team's hearts, he is expected to lead the Red and White to a glorious season.
