Sabino Bilbao Líbano (11 December 1897 – 20 January 1983) was a Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder.

Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1920 Antwerp Team competition

Football career

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Born in Leioa, Biscay, Sabino played six seasons with Athletic Bilbao (1918–24), prior to the creation of La Liga. With the Basque giants he won two Copa del Rey trophies, in 1921 and 1923.

Sabino earned two caps with Spain, representing the nation in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and helping it win silver.[1] His debut came during the tournament in a 2–1 win against Sweden, being immortalized in the annals of Spanish football due to that match: in the play that led to the 1–1 equalizer, José María Belauste, his teammate also at Athletic, reportedly shouted as he requested the pass: "¡A mí el pelotón, Sabino, que los arrollo!" ("Send me that ball, Sabino, i'll crush them!" in Spanish).[2]

Sabino died in Getxo also in his native region on 20 January 1983, at the age of 85.

References

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  1. ^ "Sabino Bilbao". Olympedia. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ Algo más que un grito (More than a cry); El País, 23 December 2005 (in Spanish)
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