Unai Nuñez Explained

Unai Nuñez
Full Name:Unai Nuñez Gestoso
Birth Date:30 January 1997
Birth Place:Sestao, Spain
Height:1.86 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Celta
(on loan from Athletic Bilbao)
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:2007–2015
Youthclubs1:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:Basconia
Caps1:28
Goals1:1
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:Bilbao Athletic
Caps2:33
Goals2:3
Years3:2017–
Clubs3:Athletic Bilbao
Caps3:116
Goals3:3
Years4:2022–2024
Clubs4:Celta Vigo (loan)
Caps4:76
Goals4:1
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Celta Vigo
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2017–2019
Nationalteam1:Spain U21
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019–
Nationalteam2:Spain
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2020–
Nationalteam3:Basque Country
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:1
Club-Update:10 July 2024
Nationalteam-Update:19:34, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

Unai Nuñez Gestoso (in Basque unai nuɲes̻/; pronounced as /es/; born 30 January 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Celta, on loan from Athletic Bilbao. He has one cap for the Spain national team.

Club career

Born in Sestao, Biscay, Basque Country and raised in neighbouring Portugalete, Nuñez joined Athletic Bilbao's Lezama academy in 2007, aged ten.[1] He made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the 2015–16 season, in Tercera División.

On 7 June 2016, Nuñez was promoted to the reserves, freshly relegated to Segunda División B.[2] He immediately became a starter for the side, appearing in 33 matches and scoring three goals during the campaign.

On 2 June 2017, Nuñez was called up to the main squad for the pre-season by new first team manager José Ángel Ziganda.[3] He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 20 August, starting in a 0–0 home draw against Getafe CF.[4] On 30 October 2017, after already becoming a regular starter, Nuñez renewed his contract until 2023, with a €30 million buyout clause.[5] The following 31 March he scored his first goal in the main category, netting the opener in a 1–1 home draw against RC Celta de Vigo.[6]

After making 36 appearances in 2017–18, Nuñez played far less (14 matches) during the 2018–19 season, initially finding himself behind rookie Peru Nolaskoain as well as Iñigo Martínez and Yeray Álvarez in the queue for selection in the position.[1]

In November 2020 he signed an extended contract running to 2025, with no buyout clause.[7] During that period he played frequently due to injuries suffered by teammates and when a system with three central defenders was used, but he again found himself to the bench when all were fit and the preferred formation reverted to a central pair; there was even more competition for a place after Daniel Vivian also joined the squad.[8]

On 16 July 2022, Nuñez was loaned to fellow top tier side Celta de Vigo for the season.[9] He featured regularly and impressively for Celta, who took up the option to extend the deal for a second season.[10]

International career

On 25 August 2017, Nuñez received his first call-up to the Spain under-21 squad.[11] He was called up to the full side by manager Robert Moreno on 30 August 2019, for two UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Romania and the Faroe Islands.[12] He made his debut in the second fixture in Gijon on 8 September, coming on as a late substitute for Sergio Ramos with Spain 2–0 ahead; the final result was 4–0.[13] Good club form for Celta Vigo took him back into consideration for selection in March 2023[10] (this was shortly before to Robin Le Normand obtained Spanish nationality and became established in the national side).

He has also played for the unofficial Basque Country team, making his debut against Costa Rica in November 2020 and scoring the winning goal with a header in the closing minutes.[14]

Personal life

Nuñez's father, Abel, was also a footballer and a defender who mainly represented Barakaldo CF during his career,[15] [16] having migrated from Galicia to the Basque region when young.[17] His elder brother Asier played in the same position for local Club Portugalete and JD Somorrostro.[18] [19]

Career statistics

Club

[20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basconia2015–16Tercera División281281
Bilbao Athletic2016–17Segunda División B333333
Athletic Bilbao2017–18La Liga3310030361
2018–1912020140
2019–2020060260
2020–212514120312
2021–2290000090
Total99212130201163
Celta (loan)2022–23La Liga36030390
Career total196615130202167

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

2021[21]

runner-up 2019–20,[22] 2020–21[23]

Spain U21

2019[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Unai Núñez: "Demostré que estoy a la altura de Iñigo y Yeray". Unai Núñez: "I showed that I'm at the high level of Iñigo and Yeray". Diario AS. es. 15 March 2019. 20 May 2019 .
  2. Web site: Simón, Núñez, Andoni López, Urzelai y Guruzeta ascenderán al Bilbao Athletic. Simón, Núñez, Andoni López, Urzelai and Guruzeta will ascend to Bilbao Athletic. La Cantera de Lezama. es. 7 June 2016. 18 July 2017.
  3. Web site: Preseason with the premier team. Athletic Bilbao. 2 June 2017. 18 July 2017.
  4. Web site: Premio a la resistencia del Geta. Prize for Geta's resistance. Diario AS. es. 20 August 2017. 20 August 2017.
  5. Web site: Renovación de Unai Núñez. Renewal of Unai Núñez. Athletic Club. es. 30 October 2017. 12 January 2018.
  6. Web site: Celta Vigo snatch a draw in Bilbao in stoppage time. Marca. 31 March 2018. 2 April 2018.
  7. https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2020/11/17/nunez-renews-contract-until-2025 Nuñez renews contract until 2025
  8. Web site: La visión de Andoni Goikoetxea del reverso Vivian-Unai Núñez. Andoni Goikoetxea's vision of the reverse Vivian-Unai Núñez. El Desmarque. 14 September 2021. es. 4 December 2023 .
  9. Web site: Loan deal agreed with RC Celta for Unai Nuñez. Athletic Bilbao. 16 July 2022. 19 July 2022.
  10. Web site: Unai Núñez llama a la puerta de la selección. Unai Núñez knocks on the door of the national team. Marca. 3 March 2023. es. 4 December 2023 .
  11. Web site: ¿Sabes quiénes son los debutantes de la Selección Sub-21?. Do you know who the debutants of the U21 Team are? . SEfutbol.com. es. 25 August 2017. 25 August 2017.
  12. Web site: OFFICIAL Call for qualifying matches against Romania and Faroe Islands. Royal Spanish Football Federation . 30 August 2019.
  13. Web site: Spain 4–0 Faroe Islands. Sky Sports. 8 September 2019.
  14. https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2020/11/16/5fb2e67922601db7178b45c9.html Euskadi gana a Costa Rica en el descuento
  15. Web site: Núñez: "Pediré a los compañeros que me firmen la camiseta y la enmarcaré". Núñez: "I will ask my teammates to sign my shirt and I will frame it". Marca. es. 20 August 2017. 20 August 2017.
  16. Web site: Abel Núñez profile . BDfutbol. 21 August 2017.
  17. Web site: Unai Núñez, central por herencia familiar . Unai Núñez, central defender due to family inheritance . El Mundo. es. 30 August 2019. 4 December 2023.
  18. Web site: El gen Unai Núñez . The Unai Núñez gene . Deia. es. 23 June 2017. 20 August 2017.
  19. Web site: Asier Núñez profile . La Preferente. es. 21 August 2017.
  20. Web site: Unai Núñez. Soccerway. 10 April 2018.
  21. Web site: Acta del Partido celebrado el 17 de enero de 2021, en Sevilla . Minutes of the Match held on 17 January 2021, in Seville . Royal Spanish Football Federation . 24 January 2021 . es.
  22. Web site: Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory. Sid. Lowe. The Guardian. 3 April 2021. 19 April 2021.
  23. Web site: Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey. Sid. Lowe. The Guardian. 17 April 2021. 19 April 2021.
  24. Web site: Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21. 30 June 2019. 1 July 2019.