Athletic Club manager Terzic has utilized 30 different players across the team’s first twelve matches of the 2026-27 season, according to reporting from Mundo Deportivo.
This extensive rotation reflects a deliberate strategy to evaluate the full depth of the squad following a summer without new signings.
Terzic arrived in Bilbao with a clear objective: to gain firsthand knowledge of as many players as possible. As part of this assessment, he designed a preseason schedule featuring multiple friendlies against modest clubs throughout Bizkaia.
With no external additions during the summer transfer window, the manager has turned to internal solutions to strengthen the squad. Players like Gere, Canales, and Rincón have successfully secured roles within the rotation after returning from their respective loan spells. Johaneko has become a consistent fixture, appearing in all but two of the club's matches so far this season.
The youth system, locally referred to as “cachorros,” has also provided significant contributions. Imga, Txus Vizcay, Conde, and Selton have all been called upon, with Imga and Vizcay now fully embedded in the first-team dynamic. According to Mundo Deportivo, Imga and Vizcay have made their official debuts for the club under Terzic’s leadership, while Conde and Selton were specifically drafted into the squad for Copa del Rey duties.
While the manager has relied on a large group, participation levels vary significantly. Eight of the 30 players used have logged fewer than 90 minutes of competitive action. Specific circumstances have limited the availability of others: Padilla has been restricted to cup appearances, and Prados is working to regain form following a serious knee injury.
Other departures and setbacks have also affected the rotation, such as Adama’s loan move to West Ham and a health-related absence for Djaló following his return from Guinea-Bissau.
Despite the high number of players utilized, Monreal remains the only member of the squad who has been named to a matchday list without yet making his debut. He was included in the squad for league fixtures against Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Elche, as well as the cup match against Prat, but did not leave the bench in any of those instances.
