| Sabin Merino | |
| Fullname: | Sabin Merino Zuloaga |
| Birth Date: | 4 January 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Urduliz, Spain |
| Height: | 1.87m |
| Position: | Winger |
| Currentclub: | Zaragoza |
| Youthyears1: | 2001–2002 |
| Youthclubs1: | Danok Bat |
| Youthyears2: | 2002–2005 |
| Youthclubs2: | Athletic Bilbao |
| Youthyears3: | 2005–2008 |
| Youthclubs3: | Danok Bat |
| Youthyears4: | 2008–2009 |
| Youthclubs4: | Javanon |
| Youthyears5: | 2009–2011 |
| Youthclubs5: | Danok Bat |
| Years1: | 2011–2013 |
| Caps1: | 70 |
| Goals1: | 27 |
| Years2: | 2012–2015 |
| Caps2: | 81 |
| Goals2: | 21 |
| Years3: | 2015–2019 |
| Caps3: | 48 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs4: | → Leganés (loan) |
| Caps4: | 12 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2019–2020 |
| Caps5: | 2 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2020 |
| Caps6: | 18 |
| Goals6: | 5 |
| Years7: | 2020–2022 |
| Caps7: | 50 |
| Goals7: | 11 |
| Years8: | 2022– |
| Caps8: | 16 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs9: | → Atlético San Luis (loan) |
| Caps9: | 23 |
| Goals9: | 2 |
| Years10: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs10: | → Racing Ferrol (loan) |
| Caps10: | 36 |
| Goals10: | 5 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2016 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 8 June 2024 |
Sabin Merino Zuloaga (in Basque s̺aβin meɾino/; pronounced as /es/; born 4 January 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays mainly as a left winger for Real Zaragoza.
Born in Urduliz, Biscay, Basque Country, Merino graduated from Danok Bat CF's youth academy after spells at Athletic Bilbao's Lezama and American team Javanon FC.[1] In the summer of 2011 he returned to the Lions, and made his debut as a senior with the farm team in Tercera División.[2]
On 21 June 2013, Merino was promoted to the reserves in the Segunda División B.[3] On 29 June 2015, after scoring a career-best 18 goals during the season as they returned to Segunda División after a 19-year absence,[4] he was promoted to the main squad in La Liga.[5]
Merino made his official debut with the first team on 6 August 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for Javier Eraso in a 0–0 away draw against Inter Baku PIK in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[6] After the departure of Guillermo he was finally granted a place in the roster, being assigned #25.[7]
Merino started in the 4–0 home rout of FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España on 14 August 2015 as a left winger, providing the assist for Aritz Aduriz's second goal.[8] He scored his first professional goal on 20 August, the first in a 3–2 Europa League playoff round loss at MŠK Žilina.[9]
Merino scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight on 23 September 2015, in a 1–2 home defeat against Real Madrid.[10]
On 31 August 2018, Merino was loaned to CD Leganés in the same league for one year.[11] The following May, after Athletic released him, he automatically joined the Madrid club on a permanent one-year deal.[12]
Merino signed for Deportivo de La Coruña of Segunda División on 14 January 2020, after agreeing to a two-and-a-half-year contract.[13] He scored four times in his first four matches with the club, surpassing previous holder Bebeto who held the distinction since 1992;[14] this feat earned him January's Segunda División Player of the Month award.[15]
On 17 August 2020, after Dépors relegation, Merino returned to Leganés.[16] On 31 January 2022, he left as a free agent.[17]
On 31 January 2022, Merino joined fellow second-tier side Real Zaragoza on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[18] In July, he was loaned to Atlético San Luis of the Liga MX.[19]
On 25 July 2023, Merino went on loan to Racing de Ferrol for the upcoming season.[20]
Merino was never capped by Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.[21]
Athletic Bilbao
Individual
January 2020[15]