Jesús María Duñabeitia
Jesús María Duñabeitia Vidal (25 November 1929 – 26 November 2013) was a Spanish politician from the Basque Nationalist Party and a football administrator. He is the only person to have been president of Athletic Bilbao (1977–1982 and mayor of Bilbao (1990–1991). Known as "Beti", he was born in Bilbao's Casco Viejo and was the son of Athletic Bilbao player Alberto Duñabeitia (1900–1980). He also played football and won a medal in an international university tournament.
In 1977 he became president of Athletic Bilbao during Spain's transition to democracy, and the club began to fly the Basque flag officially. He appointed Javier Clemente as manager, opened the presidency to universal suffrage of club members, and allowed women to join the club. After turning down a plan to build a new stadium, he supported renovating the existing grounds for the 1982 FIFA World Cup and left the club in 1982 to pursue full-time politics.
In 1983 he was elected to Bilbao City Council, becoming the councillor in charge of social welfare under Mayor José Luis Robles. Later, while leading the Water Board, he had to impose water restrictions during the droughts of 1988 and 1989. Following the resignation of Mayor José María Gorordo, Duñabeitia became mayor in December 1990, serving until the June 1991 election.
He died the day after his 84th birthday. His funeral at Bilbao Cathedral was attended by colleagues from football and politics.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:40 (CET).