Unai Bilbao

Unai Bilbao Arteta (born 4 February 1994) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Mexican club Necaxa. He played for Bilbao Athletic at the professional level in his homeland.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Bilbao and the second or maternal family name is Arteta.
Unai Bilbao
Personal information
Full name Unai Bilbao Arteta
Date of birth (1994-02-04) 4 February 1994
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Necaxa (on loan from Atlético San Luis)
Number 3
Youth career
2007–2010 Indautxu
2010–2011 Barakaldo
2011–2013 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Barakaldo 5 (0)
2012–2014 Basconia 32 (2)
2014–2018 Bilbao Athletic 95 (9)
2018– Atlético San Luis 54 (3)
2020– → Necaxa (loan) 23 (3)
National team
2011 Spain U17 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 February 2021

Club career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Bilbao made his debut as a senior with Barakaldo CF in 2011, in Segunda División B. In June of that year he joined Athletic Bilbao, returning to the youth setup, but also appearing with the farm team in Tercera División.[1]

On 26 May 2014, Bilbao was promoted to the reserves in the third level.[2] He contributed with 29 appearances and two goals during the season, as the B-side returned to Segunda División after a 19-year absence.[3]

Bilbao made his professional debut on 24 August 2015, starting and being sent off in a 0–1 home loss against Girona FC.[4]

In May 2018, Athletic Bilbao confirmed that Bilbao would leave the club when his contract expired in July;[5] despite having been captain of the reserves and accumulated the most playing minutes among the squad in the preceding season, he was too old to continue with that team and there was no place in the senior squad, with contemporaries Yeray Álvarez and Unai Núñez already promoted ahead of him.[6]

Atlético San Luis

In June 2018, Bilbao agreed to join Atlético San Luis of Mexico's second tier Ascenso MX. In December of the same year, he helped the team to claim the 2018–19 Apertura title, beating Dorados de Sinaloa (coached by Diego Maradona) in the Liguilla final.[7][8]

Necaxa

On 1 July 2020, Unai Bilbao sign for Necaxa in a season-long loan deal. He made his debut On July 24, against Tigres UANL in the first season game.

Honours

Atlético San Luis

References
  1. "Urrutia defiende que la base del primer equipo sea vizcaína" [Urrutia defends that the foundation of the first team must be vizcaína] (in Spanish). Gara. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  2. "Registrations and de-registrations in Bilbao Athletic". Athletic's official website. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. "El Bilbao Athletic, a Segunda 19 años después y el Cádiz tendrá que esperar" [Bilbao Athletic, into Segunda 19 years later and Cadiz will have to wait] (in Spanish). EFE. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  4. "El que la sigue, la consigue" [The one that follows it, gets it] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  5. "Departures at Bilbao Athletic". Athletic Bilbao. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  6. "Unai Bilbao: "Me atrae el fútbol mexicano"" [Unai Bilbao: "I'm attracted to Mexican football"] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. "Unai Bilbao se proclama campeón en México y Maradona la lía" [Unai Bilbao proclaimed champion in Mexico over the leader Maradona] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  8. "Palabra de Unai Bilbao" [Word of Unai Bilbao] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
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