Unai Bilbao Explained

Unai Bilbao
Fullname:Unai Bilbao Arteta
Birth Date:4 February 1994
Birth Place:Bilbao, Spain
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Tijuana
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:2007–2010
Youthclubs1:Indautxu
Youthyears2:2010–2011
Youthclubs2:Barakaldo
Youthyears3:2011–2013
Youthclubs3:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:2011
Clubs1:Barakaldo
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2014
Clubs2:Basconia
Caps2:32
Goals2:2
Years3:2014–2018
Clubs3:Bilbao Athletic
Caps3:95
Goals3:9
Years4:2018–2024
Clubs4:Atlético San Luis
Caps4:114
Goals4:13
Years5:2020–2021
Clubs5:Necaxa (loan)
Caps5:35
Goals5:3
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Tijuana
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Pcupdate:06:48, 18 March 2022 (UTC)

Unai Bilbao Arteta (born 4 February 1994) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga MX club Tijuana.

Club career

Early Career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Bilbao made his debut as a senior with Barakaldo CF in 2011, in Segunda División B. In June of that year he joined Athletic Bilbao, returning to the youth setup, but also appearing with the farm team in Tercera División.[1]

On 26 May 2014, Bilbao was promoted to the reserves in the third level.[2] He contributed with 29 appearances and two goals during the season, as the B-side returned to Segunda División after a 19-year absence.[3]

Bilbao made his professional debut on 24 August 2015, starting and being sent off in a 0–1 home loss against Girona FC.[4]

In May 2018, Athletic Bilbao confirmed that Bilbao would leave the club when his contract expired in July;[5] despite having been captain of the reserves and accumulated the most playing minutes among the squad in the preceding season, he was too old to continue with that team and there was no place in the senior squad, with contemporaries Yeray Álvarez and Unai Núñez already promoted ahead of him.[6]

Atlético San Luis

In June 2018, Bilbao agreed to join Atlético San Luis of Mexico's second tier Ascenso MX. In December of the same year, he helped the team to claim the 2018–19 Apertura title, beating Dorados de Sinaloa (coached by Diego Maradona) in the Liguilla final.[7] [8]

Loan to Necaxa

On 1 July 2020, Bilbao joined Necaxa on a season-long loan. He made his debut on July 24, against Tigres UANL in the first season game.

Tijuana

On 18 June 2024, Bilbao joined Mexican club Tijuana.

Honours

Atlético San Luis

Apertura 2018–19[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Urrutia defiende que la base del primer equipo sea vizcaína. Urrutia defends that the foundation of the first team must be vizcaína. Gara. es. 22 June 2011. 24 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Registrations and de-registrations in Bilbao Athletic. Athletic's official website. 26 May 2014. 24 August 2015.
  3. News: El Bilbao Athletic, a Segunda 19 años después y el Cádiz tendrá que esperar. Bilbao Athletic, into Segunda 19 years later and Cadiz will have to wait. EFE. 28 June 2015. 6 February 2018. es.
  4. Web site: El que la sigue, la consigue. The one that follows it, gets it. Marca. es. 24 August 2015. 24 August 2015.
  5. Web site: Departures at Bilbao Athletic. Athletic Bilbao. 29 May 2018. 2 July 2018.
  6. Web site: Unai Bilbao: "Me atrae el fútbol mexicano". Unai Bilbao: "I'm attracted to Mexican football". Diario AS. es. 5 June 2018. 29 January 2019.
  7. Web site: Unai Bilbao se proclama campeón en México y Maradona la lía. Unai Bilbao proclaimed champion in Mexico over the leader Maradona. Mundo Deportivo. es. 3 December 2018. 29 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Palabra de Unai Bilbao. Word of Unai Bilbao. Diario AS. es. 6 December 2018. 29 January 2019.