Beñat Etxebarria

Beñat

Beñat in action for Betis in 2012
Personal information
Full name Beñat Etxebarria Urkiaga
Date of birth (1987-02-19) 19 February 1987
Place of birth Igorre, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Athletic Bilbao
Number 7
Youth career
1997–1998 Arratia
1998–2005 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Basconia 21 (3)
2006–2008 Bilbao Athletic 75 (5)
2006–2009 Athletic Bilbao 1 (0)
2008–2009Conquense (loan) 34 (6)
2009–2010 Betis B 34 (3)
2010–2013 Betis 105 (14)
2013– Athletic Bilbao 84 (4)
National team
2004–2005 Spain U17 5 (0)
2012 Spain 4 (0)
2011– Basque Country 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:38, 26 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2012
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Etxebarria and the second or maternal family name is Urkiaga.

Beñat Etxebarria Urkiaga (Basque: [beɲat etʃeβaria urkiaɣa], Spanish: [beˈɲat etʃeβaˈri.a urˈkjaɣa]; born 19 February 1987), known simply as Beñat, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central midfielder.

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Coming through the prolific youth ranks at Athletic Bilbao, Lezama, Beñat was born in Igorre, Biscay, and played his first three years with both the third team, CD Basconia, and the reserve side.

On 29 October 2006, he appeared in his first – and only – La Liga game, which consisted of six minutes against CA Osasuna in a 1–1 away draw after replacing another youth product, Francisco Yeste.[1]

Betis

Etxeberria training with Betis in 2010

In 2008–09, Beñat played with UB Conquense in the third division,[2] after which he was released by Athletic. In the summer he signed with Real Betis, but spent his first season with the reserves also in level three.[3]

Beñat made his debut for Betis' main squad on 29 August 2010, playing the second half of the 4–1 home win against Granada CF and assisting on a Salva Sevilla goal. Three days later he scored in his first start, a 2–1 home triumph against UD Salamanca in the Copa del Rey;[4] in the league campaign he contributed with 36 matches (30 starts, 2.521 minutes of action) as the Andalusians returned to the top flight after three years, netting four times.

On 2 May 2012, Beñat scored twice for his fifth and sixth goals of the season, in a 2–1 win at Sevilla FC for the local derby. The winner came in the 90th minute.[5]

On 24 November 2012, Beñat netted the game's only goal in a 1–0 home success over Real Madrid. He scored with a shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 17th minute.[6] He finished the campaign with 34 games and four goals, helping the club finish seventh and qualify to the UEFA Europa League.

Athletic return

In June 2013, Beñat returned to Athletic Bilbao, signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of 8 million.[7] On 16 September, he took the first touch at the new San Mamés Stadium against Celta de Vigo and scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory; he was substituted to a standing ovation, and dedicated his performance to his grandparents.[8]

On 14 April 2016, Beñat was the only player to miss in a penalty shootout against compatriots Sevilla in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.[9]

International career

Beñat played with the Spanish youth teams at under-17 level. He made his debut for the full side on 26 May 2012, playing 45 minutes in a 2–0 friendly win with Serbia in St. Gallen[10] and thus becoming the first Betis player since Juanito to don the national team shirt, nearly four years later.[11]

Club statistics

As of match played on 30 May 2015
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bilbao Athletic 2005–06[12] Segunda División B 160160
2006–07[12] Segunda División B 293293
2007–08[12] Segunda División B 302302
Total 755755
Athletic Bilbao 2006–07[12] La Liga 1010
Conquense (loan) 2008–09[12] Segunda División B 34611357
Betis B 2009–10[12] Segunda División B 343343
Betis 2010–11[12] Segunda División 36461425
2011–12[12] La Liga 35610366
2012–13[12] La Liga 34460404
Total 1051413111815
Athletic Bilbao 2013–14[12] La Liga 23140271
2014–15[13] La Liga 282709[lower-alpha 1]0442
Total 51311090713
Career total 301312529033533

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

References

  1. Osasuna 1–1 Athletic Bilbao; ESPN Soccernet, 29 October 2006
  2. "El Conquense consigue la segunda cesión rojiblanca: Beñat" [Conquense gets second loan from rojiblancos: Beñat] (in Spanish). Marca. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. "El Betis ficha a Beñat (Athletic) y Regino (San Fernando) para el filial" [Betis signs Beñat (Athletic) and Regino (San Fernando) for reserves] (in Spanish). Join Futbol. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  4. "Betis holds on to Cup" [Betis holds on to Cup] (in Spanish). Marca. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  5. Sevilla let Euro hopes slip; ESPN Soccernet, 2 May 2012
  6. Betis stun Real Madrid; ESPN Soccernet, 24 November 2012
  7. "Signing of Beñat Etxebarria". Athletic Bilbao. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. "Athletic Bilbao's intoxicating spirit remains despite move next door". The Guardian. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. "Shoot-out agony for Athletic as Sevilla dream on". UEFA.com. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  10. "Adrián está listo para la Eurocopa" [Adrián is ready for Euro] (in Spanish). Marca. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  11. "Beñat toma el testigo de Juanito en La Roja" [Beñat takes over for Juanito in La Roja] (in Spanish). Marca. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Beñat: Beñat Etxebarría Urkiaga". BDFutbol. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  13. "Beñat". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

External links

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