Ibai Gómez

Ibai

Ibai with Athletic Bilbao in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Ibai Gómez Pérez
Date of birth	11 November 1989
Place of birth	Bilbao, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Winger / Forward
Club information
Current team	Athletic Bilbao
Number	11
Youth career
2004–2008	Santutxu
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2008–2009	Santutxu	31	(7)
2009–2010	Sestao	36	(8)
2010–2012	Bilbao Athletic	28	(14)
2010–	Athletic Bilbao	101	(13)
National team^‡
2012–	Basque Country	2	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 October 2015. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 June 2014

Ibai Gómez Pérez (born 11 November 1989), known simply as Ibai, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao mainly as a left winger.

Football career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Ibai began his career with Santutxu FC in the Basque regional leagues, winning the Golden Ball for the category in February 2009.^[1] After five years with the club he left, but stayed in the region after agreeing on a move to third division's Sestao River Club.

On 4 June 2010, after Sestao's relegation, Ibai moved straight into La Liga, joining Athletic Bilbao for two years^[2] with an option for a further one or two.^[3] He spent most of his first season with the reserves, in the third level.

On 17 October 2010 Ibai made his top flight debut, coming on as a substitute for Gaizka Toquero in the 67th minute of a home match against Real Zaragoza (2–1 win); after only three minutes, however, he himself had to be replaced, being stretchered off after suffering a knee injury.^[4]

Ibai contributed with two goals as Athletic reached the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League final – totalling seven appearances in the competition – scoring against FC Schalke 04 (2–2 home draw, 6–4 on aggregate)^[5] and Sporting Clube de Portugal (3–1 home success, 4–3 aggregate win).^[6] He was definitely promoted to the first team for 2012–13, being given the number 11 jersey. On 17 November 2012 he scored his first league goal of the campaign, in a 1–5 loss at Real Madrid.^[7]

In 2013–14, Ibai scored eight goals from only 18 appearances, helping the Lions finish fourth and qualify to the UEFA Champions League.^[8] He also dealt with some injury problems during that season,^[9] and missed the vast majority of 2015–16 due to a tendinitis ailment to his right knee.^[10]

Style of play

Ibai is known for his crossing ability and powerful shot. He also likes to dribble, and is known as a set piece specialist.^[11]

Club statistics

As of 30 May 2015^[12][13]

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Other[14]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sestao River	2009–10	36	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	36	8
	Total	36	8	0	0	-	-	-	-	36	8
Bilbao Athletic	2010–11	12	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	4
	2011–12	16	10	0	0	-	-	-	-	16	10
	Total	28	14	0	0	-	-	-	-	28	14
Athletic Bilbao	2010–11	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2011–12	19	0	3	0	7	2	0	0	29	2
	2012–13	35	4	2	0	9	1	0	0	46	5
	2013–14	18	8	6	0	0	0	0	0	24	8
	2014–15	21	1	4	0	6	1	0	0	31	2
	Total	96	13	15	0	22	4	0	0	133	19
Career totals		160	35	14	0	22	4	0	0	197	39

Honours

• UEFA Europa League: Runner-up 2011–12
• Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2011–12

References

1. Ibai Gomez Balón de Oro (Ibai Gomez Golden Ball); Santutxu's official website, 24 February 2009 (Spanish)
2. El Athletic Club ha fichado a Ibai Gómez (Athletic Club have signed Ibán Gómez); Athletic's official website, 4 June 2010 (Spanish)
3. Ibai Gómez: "A por todas" (Ibai Gómez: "All the way"); Mundo Deportivo, 4 June 2010 (Spanish)
4. Ibai Gómez, de sueño a pesadilla (Ibai Gómez, from dream to nightmare); Canal Athletic, 18 October 2010 (Spanish)
5. Athletic stride past Schalke and into semi-finals; UEFA.com, 5 April 2012
6. Athletic leave it late as Llorente sets up final date; UEFA.com, 26 April 2012
7. Five-star Real trounce Athletic Bilbao; ESPN FC, 17 November 2012
8. Ibai Gómez jugará en Villarreal su partido 100 en Primera División (Ibai Gómez will play game 100 in the First Division in Villarreal); Mundo Deportivo, 18 September 2015 (Spanish)
9. La lesión de Ibai Gómez se complica (Ibai Gómez's injury gets trickier); Marca, 30 March 2014 (Spanish)
10. Ibai Gómez sufre una tendinitis en su rodilla derecha (Ibai Gómez suffers tendinitis in his right knee); El Correo, 4 November 2015 (Spanish)
11. "Ibai Gómez". Who Scored. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
12. "Ibai". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
13. "Ibai". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
14. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

External links

• Athletic Bilbao profile
• Ibai Gómez profile at BDFutbol
• Biography at La pizarra de Luis (Spanish)