Fernando Amorebieta Explained

Fernando Amorebieta
Fullname:Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras[1]
Birth Date:29 March 1985[2]
Birth Place:Cantaura, Venezuela
Height:1.92 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:1995–1996
Youthclubs1:Colegio San Miguel
Youthyears2:1996–2003
Youthclubs2:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:2003–2004
Caps1:26
Goals1:1
Years2:2004–2005
Caps2:35
Goals2:1
Years3:2005–2013
Caps3:195
Goals3:3
Years4:2013–2016
Caps4:44
Goals4:2
Years5:2015
Clubs5:→ Middlesbrough (loan)
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:2015–2016
Clubs6:→ Middlesbrough (loan)
Caps6:13
Goals6:0
Years7:2016–2017
Caps7:27
Goals7:0
Years8:2017–2018
Caps8:11
Goals8:0
Years9:2019–2020
Caps9:11
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:366
Totalgoals:7
Nationalyears1:2004
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2007–2011
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2011–2015
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalgoals3:1

Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras (born 29 March 1985) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

He spent most of his career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 254 competitive matches over eight La Liga seasons and scoring four goals.[3] [4] He also competed professionally in England (with Fulham and Middlesbrough), Argentina and Paraguay.

Internationally, Amorebieta played for Spain (where he spent most of his early life) at youth level, but later decided to represent his country of birth Venezuela as a senior, appearing for the nation at the 2015 Copa América.

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Born in Cantaura, Anzoátegui, Venezuela, Amorebieta joined Athletic Bilbao in 1996, aged 11; he met the club's eligibility standards having been raised in the Basque town of Iurreta and through his parents, both of whom hailed from the region.[5] After progressing through the ranks – alongside Fernando Llorente[6] – including CD Basconia (the farm team) and Bilbao Athletic (the reserves), he made his first-team debut in 2005–06, becoming first choice in the subsequent La Liga seasons.

Amorebieta played a total of 47 official matches in 2009–10, helping Athletic to reach the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League as well as an eighth-place finish in the league; he collected 18 yellow cards in the process, being sent off twice.[7]

Amorebieta began the 2012–13 campaign nursing a pubalgia ailment,[8] and was later involved in a dispute over the extension of his contract.[9] [10]

Fulham

On 15 April 2013, Amorebieta signed a four-year deal with Fulham on a free transfer effective as of 1 July.[11] The Premier League club officially announced him on 22 May,[12] and he made his debut on 14 September, coming on as a substitute for Kieran Richardson in a 1–1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at Craven Cottage.[13]

Amorebieta was sent off on 22 March 2014 for conceding a penalty with a foul on David Silva in an eventual 5–0 defeat at Manchester City.[14] He scored his first goal in English football on 26 April, netting his team's second in an eventual 2–2 home draw with Hull City.[15] He made 26 competitive appearances in his debut season, which ended with relegation.[16]

On 6 March 2015, after returning from three months out injured,[16] Amorebieta was sent off in Fulham's 5–1 home loss by AFC Bournemouth for bringing down Callum Wilson.[17] On the 25th, he was loaned to fellow Championship side Middlesbrough until the end of the campaign, with left-back James Husband moving in the opposite direction.[16] He scored his first goal for the latter on 8 May, replacing Lee Tomlin after 73 minutes and netting a last-minute winner for a 2–1 away win over Brentford in the play-off semi-finals;[18] he was unused in the final at Wembley Stadium, a 2–0 defeat to Norwich City.[19]

On 28 August 2015, Amorebieta returned to the Riverside Stadium for the entirety of the season, with Husband again being lent to Fulham for a month as part of the deal.[20] On 1 February of the following year, however, he was recalled.[21]

Sporting Gijón

Amorebieta returned to Spain and its top division on 22 July 2016, after agreeing to a three-year contract at Sporting de Gijón.[22] He made his debut on 21 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 home victory against former club Athletic.[23]

Later years

On 10 July 2017, following Sporting's relegation, Amorebieta moved to Argentina and joined Club Atlético Independiente.[24] In January 2019, the free agent agreed to a two-year deal at Cerro Porteño of the Paraguayan Primera División.[25]

International career

Spain

Amorebieta was part of the Spain under-19 team that won the UEFA European Championship in 2004.[26] In August 2008, he was called up by new senior team manager Vicente del Bosque for a friendly against Denmark,[27] but did not leave the bench.

Venezuela

As early as 2006, Amorebieta expressed his interest in playing for the Venezuela national team.[28] However, according to FIFA rules at the time, he should have switched his affiliation prior to the age of 21, having previously played for Spain's youth sides;[29] FIFA removed the rule in 2009,[30] and talks between the player and the Venezuelan Football Federation resumed.

Finally, on 2 September 2011, Amorebieta made his senior debut in a friendly with Argentina, a 1–0 loss in Kolkata.[31] On 11 October, against the same opponent but for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, he scored in a 1–0 home win, which signified Venezuela's first-ever win against the Albiceleste in the tournament.[32]

Amorebieta was included in the squad for the 2015 Copa América, where he was sent off in the team's 1–0 defeat to Peru in the group stage for a stamp on Paolo Guerrero.[33] He retired from international football that November.[34]

Basque Country

Amorebieta also appeared in four matches for the Basque Country national team (a non-FIFA affiliate), debuting against Venezuela in San Cristóbal, Táchira on 20 June 2007. The friendly match, a 4–3 Basque victory, was the grand opening for the 43,000 all-seated Pueblo Nuevo Stadium, after two years of construction for the 2007 Copa América.[35]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basconia2003–04Tercera División261–––261
Bilbao Athletic2004–05Segunda División B241–––241
2005–06Segunda División B110–––110
Total351–––35!1
Athletic Bilbao2005–06La Liga150202000190
2006–07La Liga27010––280
2007–08La Liga34061––401
2008–09La Liga29070––360
2009–10La Liga3402011000470
2010–11La Liga17000––170
2011–12La Liga28380140–503
2012–13La Liga1102040–170
Total1953281310002544
Fulham2013–14Premier League23130–00261
2014–15Championship7110–0081
2015–16Championship14000–00140
Total442400000482
Middlesbrough (loan)2014–15Championship4000–1151
2015–16Championship13030–00160
Total170300011211
Sporting Gijón2016–17La Liga27000–270
Independiente2017–18Argentine Primera División1100011000220
Cerro Porteño2019Paraguayan Primera División80007000150
2020Paraguayan Primera División3000300060
Total1100010000210
Career total3667351520114549

International goals

Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Amorebieta goal.

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Independiente

2017[36]

Spain U19

2004[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14. Premier League. 16 August 2013. 17 August 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130925003258/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/aug/premier-league-squad-numbers-seasons-2013-14.html. 25 September 2013.
  2. Web site: Fernando Amorebieta. Eurosport. 3 September 2021.
  3. Web site: Amorebieta cumplió su partido 200 con el Athletic. Amorebieta played 200th match with Athletic. La Vinotinto. es. 3 November 2011. 24 May 2013. 27 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130527014606/http://www.lavinotinto.com/03-11-2011/amorebieta-cumplio-su-partido-200-con-el-athletic/. live.
  4. News: El Fulham confirma el fichaje del defensa Fernando Amorebieta por cuatro temporadas. Fulham confirm signing of defender Fernando Amorebieta for four seasons. 20 minutos. es. 22 May 2013. 24 May 2013.
  5. Web site: ¿Por qué en el Athletic de Bilbao solo juegan vascos?. Why do Athletic Bilbao play with Basques only?. BBC Mundo. Fain Binda. Raúl. es. 9 May 2012. 8 July 2012. 2 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150602041857/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/noticias/2012/05/120508_athletic_bilbao_fain_binda_cch.shtml. live.
  6. News: Amistoso entre Llorente y Amorebieta. Friendly between Llorente and Amorebieta. El Correo. Gómez Peña. J.. es. 1 March 2012. 24 July 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20191003103758/https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2012-03-01/amistoso-entre-llorente-amorebieta-20120301.html. 3 October 2019.
  7. News: Amorebieta se vuelve 'loco' con los grandes. Amorebieta goes 'crazy' with big clubs. Marca. Martínez. Endika. es. 12 November 2011. 24 May 2013. 18 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130518180340/http://www.marca.com/2011/11/12/futbol/equipos/athletic/1321095019.html. live.
  8. Web site: Fútbol.– Amorebieta (Athletic), cuatros semanas de baja tras ser operado con éxito de sus molestias de pubalgia. Football.– Amorebieta (Athletic), four weeks out after successful pubalgia surgery. Europa Press. es. 20 July 2012. 9 May 2013. 23 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120723045027/http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-amorebieta-athletic-cuatros-semanas-baja-ser-operado-exito-molestias-pubalgia-20120720143901.html. live.
  9. News: Amorebieta: lo tomas o lo dejas. Amorebieta: take it or leave it. Deia. Artetxe. José Luis. es. 19 December 2012. 9 May 2013. dead. https://archive.today/20130629002403/http://www.deia.com/2012/12/19/athletic/amorebieta-lo-tomas-o-lo-dejas. 29 June 2013.
  10. News: Urrutia: 'Ya no hay oferta por Amorebieta'. Urrutia: 'We no longer have an offer for Amorebieta'. El Mundo. Rodríguez Viñas. Sergio. es. 30 January 2013. 9 May 2013. 23 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130523135614/http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/01/30/paisvasco/1359547206.html. live.
  11. Web site: Scouting Fernando Amorebieta: Fulham's reported new signing. Bleacher Report. Tighe. Sam. 15 April 2013. 25 September 2020. 19 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130419080629/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1604895-scouting-fernando-amorebieta-fulhams-reported-new-signing. live.
  12. Web site: Amorebieta arrives. Fulham F.C.. 22 May 2013. 22 May 2013. 7 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130607174848/http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/22/amorebieta-signs. live.
  13. Web site: Fulham 1–1 West Brom. BBC Sport. Abraham. Tim. 14 September 2013. 14 September 2013. 15 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130915012753/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23999576. live.
  14. Web site: Premier League: Manchester City thrash Fulham 5–0 as Yaya Toure nets hat-trick. Sky Sports. 22 March 2014. 11 May 2015. 13 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141013101711/http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/287591/report. live.
  15. Web site: Fulham 2–2 Hull City. BBC Sport. Oliver. Pete. 26 April 2014. 26 April 2014. 26 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140426114204/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27084885. live.
  16. Web site: Middlesbrough sign Amorebieta as Husband joins Fulham. BBC Sport. 25 March 2015. 27 March 2015. 26 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150326144209/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32050673. live.
  17. Web site: Fulham 1–5 AFC Bournemouth. BBC Sport. 6 March 2015. 27 March 2015. 16 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150316010114/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31654572. live.
  18. Web site: Brentford 1–2 Middlesbrough. BBC Sport. Stevens. Rob. 8 May 2015. 8 May 2015. 10 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150510002307/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32566915. live.
  19. Web site: Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich. BBC Sport. Shepka. Phil. 25 May 2015. 25 May 2015. 31 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150731222655/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32776552. live.
  20. Web site: Fernando Amorebieta: Fulham defender joins Middlesbrough. BBC Sport. 28 August 2015. 28 August 2015. 31 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150831091534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34090682. live.
  21. Web site: Fernando Amorebieta leaves Boro and returns to Fulham. Middlesbrough F.C.. 1 February 2016. 3 February 2016. 2 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202201431/http://www.mfc.co.uk/news/article/2016/middlesbrough-fernando-amorebieta-2933325.aspx. live.
  22. Web site: Amorebieta es ya jugador del Sporting. Amorebieta is already a Sporting player. Sporting Gijón. es. 22 July 2016. 23 July 2016. 24 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160724010919/http://www.realsporting.com/webrsg/index.php/template/actualidad/6957-amorebieta-es-ya-sportinguista. dead.
  23. News: El Sporting despacha a un Athletic atolondrado. Sporting get rid of dazed Athletic. Diario AS. Cuenca. Nika. es. 21 August 2016. 22 August 2016. 22 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822101028/http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2016/08/21/primera/1471777203_869286.html. live.
  24. News: Amorebieta ya es jugador del Independiente de Avellaneda. Amorebieta is already an Independiente de Avellaneda player. El Comercio. es. 10 July 2017. 10 July 2017. 13 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170713075111/http://sporting.elcomercio.es/amorebieta-jugador-independiente-20170710113236-nt.html. dead.
  25. Web site: Amorebieta ficha por el Cerro Porteño paraguayo. Amorebieta signs for Paraguay's Cerro Porteño. El Desmarque. es. 12 January 2019. 21 January 2019. 22 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190122043913/https://eldesmarque.com/bizkaia/athletic-club/192469-amorebieta-ficha-por-el-cerro-porteno-paraguayo. live.
  26. Web site: FOTOS CON HISTORIA: 2004, cuando la Sub-19 abrió el camino a la Absoluta. HISTORIC PHOTOS: 2004, when the Under-19s paved the way for the A-team. Royal Spanish Football Federation. es. 25 November 2014. 3 September 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210207085754/https://www.sefutbol.com/fotos-historia-2004-cuando-sub-19-abrio-camino-absoluta. 7 February 2021.
  27. News: Amorebieta e Iraola, sorpresas en la lista de Del Bosque. Amorebieta and Iraola, surprises in Del Bosque's list. Marca. es. 14 August 2011. 2 September 2011. 31 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531074111/http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/seleccion/es/desarrollo/1155600.html. live.
  28. News: Fernando Amorebieta dispuesto a jugar ya con Venezuela. Fernando Amorebieta willing to play for Venezuela immediately. Marca. es. 19 December 2006. 2 September 2011. 31 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531074120/http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/athletic/es/desarrollo/720825.html. live.
  29. News: Fernando Amorebieta no podrá jugar con la selección de Venezuela como quería. Fernando Amorebieta will not be able to play with Venezuela national team as he intended. Marca. es. 19 January 2007. 2 September 2011. 31 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120531074142/http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/athletic/es/desarrollo/730290.html. live.
  30. Web site: Age limit on players switching nations is removed. ESPN Soccernet. 4 June 2009. 2 September 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023084250/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=652502&cc=5739. 23 October 2012.
  31. News: Amorebieta debuta con Venezuela. Amorebieta makes Venezuela debut. Marca. es. 2 September 2011. 2 September 2011. 26 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120926153944/http://www.marca.com/2011/09/02/futbol/equipos/athletic/1314981017.html. live.
  32. News: Venezuela hizo historia a costa de una desorientada y cansada Argentina. Venezuela made history at the expense of dizzy and tired Argentina. La Capital. es. 11 October 2011. 12 October 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20121229230341/http://www.lacapital.com.ar/ovacion/Gol-de-Amorebieta-y-Argentina-pierde-1-a-0-con-Venezuela--en-16-del-segundo-tiempo-20111011-0028.html. 29 December 2012.
  33. Web site: Claudio Pizarro goal pushes Peru past 10-man Venezuela. ESPN FC. 18 June 2015. 19 June 2015. 19 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150619052544/http://www.espnfc.com/copa-america/match/409845/peru-venezuela/report. live.
  34. Web site: Venezuela: Salomon Rondon and squad in quit threat to board. BBC Sport. 1 December 2015. 1 December 2015. 1 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151201222944/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34975551. live.
  35. News: Euskadi venció a Venezuela con goles de Gabilondo, Aduriz y Etxeberria. Basque Country beat Venezuela with goals from Gabilondo, Aduriz and Etxeberria. El Diario Vasco. es. 21 June 2007. 6 March 2018. 7 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180307024749/http://www.diariovasco.com/20070621/deportes/mas_futbol/euskadi-vencio-venezuela-goles_200706211011.html. live.
  36. News: Independiente é campeão em cima do Flamengo e cala o Maracanã. Independiente top Flamengo to become champions and silence the Maracanã. Gazeta Esportiva. pt. 13 December 2017. 12 December 2018. 15 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224920/https://www.gazetaesportiva.com/times/flamengo/independiente-e-campeao-em-cima-do-flamengo-e-cala-o-maracana/. live.

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