Jonás Ramalho Explained

Jonás Ramalho
Fullname:Jonás Ramalho Chimeno[1]
Birth Date:10 June 1993
Birth Place:Barakaldo, Spain
Height:1.81 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Al-Ahli
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:2001–2003
Youthclubs1:Leioa
Youthyears2:2003–2010
Youthclubs2:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:2009–2016
Caps1:68
Goals1:2
Years2:2010
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2011–2013
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2013–2015
Clubs4:Girona (loan)
Caps4:61
Goals4:2
Years5:2016–2019
Caps5:79
Goals5:3
Years6:2019–2021
Caps6:28
Goals6:0
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Osasuna (loan)
Caps7:5
Goals7:0
Years8:2021–2022
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:2022–2023
Caps9:27
Goals9:0
Years10:2023
Caps10:4
Goals10:0
Years11:2023–
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2009–2010
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2011
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2011–2012
Nationalcaps4:11
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2020
Nationalcaps5:1
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:15:54, 17 October 2023 (UTC)

Jonás Ramalho Chimeno (born 10 June 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Bahraini club Al-Ahli.

In 2011, he was the first mixed-race player to appear for Athletic Bilbao – who only field Basque players – in an official competition.[2] During his career, he represented mainly that club and Girona.

Born in Spain, Ramalho made his debut for Angola in 2020.

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Ramalho was born in Barakaldo, Biscay, to a Basque mother and an Angolan father.[3] A product of Athletic Bilbao's famed youth system at Lezama, he first appeared with the main squad at only 14, featuring as a substitute in a friendly match against SD Amorebieta to become its youngest player of all time.[4] As a senior, he had only played once for the reserves when he received his first call-up for the first team, being named in the 18-man list for a UEFA Europa League match at home to SV Werder Bremen, filling in for regular Andoni Iraola as the side was already qualified;[3] however, he did not leave the bench in the 0–3 group stage home loss on 16 December 2009.[5]

Ramalho made his La Liga debut on 20 November 2011 at the age of 18 years and five months, sent on by coach Marcelo Bielsa to play the last five minutes in place of Fernando Llorente a 2–1 away win against Sevilla FC.[6] On 2 August of the following year he made his first appearance in European competition, starting in a 3–1 home victory over NK Slaven Belupo in that season's UEFA Europa League.[7]

Girona

In 2013, Ramalho was loaned to Girona FC, playing regularly in two Segunda División seasons. In May 2015, shortly after suffering a serious knee injury away to Deportivo Alavés, he signed a new contract to keep him at Athletic for the upcoming campaign.[8]

On 7 June 2016, after suffering relegation with the B side, Ramalho was released by Athletic Bilbao.[9] He returned to Girona late in the month, now in a permanent deal.[10]

Ramalho left the Catalan club after its relegation in 2019, but returned to on 20 August of that year after agreeing to a three-year contract.[11]

Osasuna

Ramalho returned to the top division on 1 February 2021, loaned to CA Osasuna until 30 June with a buying option.[12] He signed a permanent one-year contract with the club on 5 July.[13]

Málaga

On 15 July 2022, Ramalho agreed to a two-year deal with second division side Málaga CF.[14] In June 2023, having been relegated, he left after activating an exit clause on his contract.[15]

Later career

On 19 July 2023, Ramalho joined Saudi First Division League club Ohod Club.[16] Two months later, he switched to the Bahraini Premier League with Al-Ahli Club (Manama).[17]

International career

Ramalho was part of the Spanish under-19 squads which won the European Championship in 2011 and 2012. With the team already qualified for the knockout stages as group winners, he was fielded by coach Ginés Meléndez for the final group game in the former competition in Chiajna, scoring an own goal which opened a 3–0 victory for Turkey.[18]

Ramalho was called up by Angola manager Srđan Vasiljević in a preliminary squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations,[19] but was one of three players cut before the final tournament in Egypt.[20] He was again selected in September 2020,[21] winning his first cap the following month in the 3–0 defeat of Mozambique held in Rio Maior.[22]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bilbao Athletic2009–10Segunda División B5050
2010–11Segunda División B6060
2011–12Segunda División B312312
2012–13Segunda División B7040110
2015–16Segunda División190190
Total682000040720
Athletic Bilbao2011–12La Liga20000020
2012–13La Liga601040110
Total80104000130
Girona (loan)2013–14Segunda División25030280
2014–15Segunda División36220382
Girona2016–17Segunda División31210322
2017–18La Liga26020280
2018–19La Liga22150271
2019–20Segunda División1713030231
2020–21Segunda División11040150
Total168620000301916
Osasuna (loan)2020–21La Liga500050
Osasuna2021–22La Liga000000
Total5000000050
Career total249721040702817

International

Honours

Spain U19

2011,[24] 2012[25]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ramalho. Diario AS. 30 August 2022.
  2. Web site: Jonas Ramalho helping to dispel longstanding Athletic Bilbao myth. Sports Illustrated. Sid. Lowe. 23 November 2011. 19 December 2019.
  3. Web site: Colour barrier finally broken at Athletic Bilbao. BBC Sport. Phil. Minshull. 16 December 2009. 16 December 2009.
  4. News: Athletic Bilbao field first black player. https://web.archive.org/web/20091213191115/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/patricknathanson/3992681/Athletic_Bilbao_field_first_black_player/. dead. 13 December 2009. The Daily Telegraph. Patrick. Nathanson. 29 February 2008. 30 May 2015.
  5. Web site: Athletic stumble against slick Bremen. UEFA. Paul. Bryan. 16 December 2009. 13 January 2021.
  6. News: Ramalho es el primer jugador de raza negra del Athletic. Ramalho is Athletic's first black player. Marca. Rafa. Beato. Spanish. 20 November 2011. 30 May 2015.
  7. Web site: Athletic encarrilló la eliminatoria ante el Slaven Koprivnica. Athletic all but wrapped up tie against Slaven Koprivnica. ESPN. Spanish. 2 August 2012. 30 May 2015.
  8. News: Ramalho renueva con el Athletic después de su grave lesión de rodilla. Ramalho renews with Athletic after his serious knee injury. El Correo. Spanish. 23 May 2015. 30 May 2015.
  9. Web site: Leaving Bilbao Athletic. Athletic Bilbao. 7 June 2016. 25 September 2020.
  10. Web site: Ramalho torna al Girona. Ramalho returns to Girona. Girona FC. Catalan. 24 June 2016. 4 July 2016.
  11. Web site: Tercera etapa de Ramalho al Girona FC. Third spell of Ramalho at Girona. Girona FC. Catalan. 20 August 2019. 25 August 2019.
  12. News: Jonas Ramalho, cedido a Osasuna. Jonas Ramalho, loaned to Osasuna. Marca. Joel. Sebastián. Gonzalo. Velasco. Spanish. 1 February 2021. 2 February 2021.
  13. Web site: Jonás Ramalho continuará en Osasuna. Jonás Ramalho will continue at Osasuna. CA Osasuna. Spanish. 5 July 2021. 1 August 2021.
  14. Web site: Ramalho brings versatility and experience to boost the defence. Málaga CF. 15 July 2022. 27 July 2022.
  15. Web site: Concluye la vinculación de 18 jugadores con ficha profesional. Link of 18 players with professional registration ends. Málaga CF. Spanish. 30 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  16. News: Jonás Ramalho se va al Ohod de Arabia Saudí. Jonás Ramalho goes to Saudi Arabia's Ohod. Diario AS. Carlos. Cariño. Spanish. 18 July 2023. 20 July 2023.
  17. Web site: WELCOME RAMALHO. Instagram. 16 September 2023. 16 November 2023.
  18. News: Fútbol/Sub-19.– Crónica del Turquía-España, 3–0. Football/Under-19.– Turkey 3–0 Spain, match report. El Economista. Spanish. 26 July 2011. 30 May 2015.
  19. Web site: CAN2019: Três novidades entre os 26 jogadores convocados. ACN2019: Three new faces among the 26 chosen players. Angola Press News Agency. Portuguese. 20 May 2019. 21 May 2019.
  20. Web site: Afcon: Lazio defender Bastos Quissanga tops Angola's 23-man squad. Goal. Samuel. Babatunde. 13 June 2019. 14 September 2019.
  21. Web site: Convocatória Seleção da Honras data FIFA de 5 a 13 de outubro de 2020. Senior squad for FIFA dates 5 to 13 October 2020. Angolan Football Federation. Portuguese. 22 September 2020. 25 September 2020.
  22. Web site: BOLA – Angola beat Mozambique (3–0) in Rio Maior (CAF). Time 24. 13 October 2020. 14 October 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201201211547/https://www.time24.news/2020/10/bola-angola-beat-mozambique-3-0-in-rio-maior-caf.html. 1 December 2020.
  23. Web site: Jonás Ramalho – Matches. Soccerway. 9 September 2021.
  24. Web site: Crónica del República Checa-España, 2–3. Czech Republic-Spain match report, 2–3. Europa Press. Spanish. 1 August 2011. 1 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140911024050/http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/eurocopa/noticia-futbol-sub-19-cronica-republica-checa-espana-20110801220340.html. 11 September 2014.
  25. News: La sub´19, campeona de Europa. The under-19s, European champions. La Nueva España. Spanish. 15 July 2012. 1 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922140150/https://www.lne.es/deportes/2012/07/15/sub19-campeona-europa/1271022.html. 22 September 2020.