The 2003-04 campaign delivered a successful season for Athletic Bilbao as Los Leones surged to a 5th-place finish in La Liga, their best in six years, securing a coveted spot in the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1998. This achievement came in the first season under new head coach Ernesto Valverde. Spearheading the charge was the local attacking midfielder Francisco Yeste, whose career-best 11 goals were decisive in a campaign built on renewed ambition and momentum. Despite a humiliating early exit from the Copa del Rey, this year marked a significant and triumphant return to European relevance and remains a pivotal chapter in the club's modern history.