Unai López

Unai López Cabrera (Basque: [unai lopes̻]; Spanish: [ˈunaj ˈlopeθ]; born 30 October 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Cabrera.
Unai López
Personal information
Full name Unai López Cabrera
Date of birth (1995-10-30) 30 October 1995
Place of birth Errenteria, Spain
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 8
Youth career
2008–2010 Antiguoko
2010–2011 Real Sociedad
2011–2013 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Basconia 21 (2)
2013–2016 Bilbao Athletic 73 (6)
2014– Athletic Bilbao 51 (1)
2016–2017 → Leganés (loan) 23 (2)
2017–2018 → Rayo Vallecano (loan) 39 (3)
National team
2011 Spain U16 5 (2)
2013 Spain U18 1 (0)
2013–2014 Spain U19 12 (3)
2014 Spain U21 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 July 2020

Club career

Born in Errenteria, Gipuzkoa, López joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2011 at the age of 14 from neighbouring Real Sociedad, after starting out at Antiguoko.[1][2] He made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the 2012–13 season in Tercera División, and in June 2013 was promoted to the reserves in Segunda División B.

On 2 July 2014, López was called up to the main squad by manager Ernesto Valverde for the Lions' pre-season matches.[3] In August he was also added in the B list for the campaign's UEFA Champions League,[4] being assigned the number 29 jersey.

On 27 August 2014, López was named on the bench for the Champions League play-off match against S.S.C. Napoli.[5] He made his first-team debut the following day, coming on as a substitute for Markel Susaeta in the 72nd minute of a 3–1 home win and also providing an assist to Ibai Gómez in the last goal.[6] His La Liga bow took place on the 30th, when he featured 23 minutes in the 3–0 defeat of Levante UD also at the San Mamés Stadium.[7]

On 26 July 2016, after a season back at the B side in Segunda División, López was loaned to CD Leganés for one year.[8] On 1 August of the following year, he moved to second tier club Rayo Vallecano on a one-year loan deal.[9]

López scored his first competitive goal for Athletic on 8 March 2020, from a free kick to open a 4–1 away league victory over Real Valladolid.[10]

Honours

Rayo Vallecano

References
  1. Artazu, M. (25 May 2011). "El Athletic ficha al cadete realista Unai López" [Athletic sign Real cadet Unai López]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. "Jugadores relevantes" [Relevant players] (in Spanish). Antiguoko KE. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  3. "El canterano Unai López hará la pretemporada a las órdenes de Valverde" [Youth player Unai López will make the pre-season at the orders of Valverde]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 July 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  4. "Kepa, Unai López y Aketxe, en la lista B para la Champions" [Kepa, Unai López and Aketxe, in the B-list for Champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 14 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. "Athletic Club – SSC Napoli, alineaciones" [Athletic Club – SSC Napoli, lineups] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  6. "Aduriz relishing Athletic's group stage adventure". UEFA. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  7. "El Athletic vence cómodamente al Levante (3–0)" [Athletic defeat Levante easily (3–0)] (in Spanish). EITB. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. "Unai López, talento y juventud para la zona de creación" [Unai López, talent and youth for the creative zone] (in Spanish). CD Leganés. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. "Cesión de Unai López" [Unai López's loan] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  10. "Real Valladolid 1–4 Athletic Club". Inside Athletic. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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