Jump to content

Iker Muniain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sungminkwon (talk | contribs) at 13:05, 10 March 2013 (stats update). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Iker Muniain
Personal information
Full name Iker Muniain Goñi
Date of birth (1992-12-19) December 19, 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger / Forward
Team information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 19
Youth career
Chantrea
2005–2009 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Bilbao Athletic 19 (3)
2009– Athletic Bilbao 117 (12)
International career‡
2008 Spain U16 2 (1)
2008–2009 Spain U17 20 (2)
2010 Spain U19 5 (0)
2011 Spain U20 1 (0)
2011– Spain U21 14 (2)
2012 Spain U23 3 (0)
2012– Spain 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 March 2013
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 November 2012

Template:Spanish name Iker Muniain Goñi (Basque: [iker muniaiŋ goɲi], Spanish: [ˈiker muˈnjaiŋ ˈgoɲi]; born 19 December 1992 in Pamplona, Navarre) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, mainly as a left winger.

Due to his style of play, he was dubbed "the Spanish Messi" by the media.[1] He has spent most of his career with Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

A product of Basque giants Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks, Muniain made his first team debut on 30 July 2009, in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against BSC Young Boys. He entered the field as a 59th minute substitute for Gaizka Toquero, in an eventual 0–1 home defeat, thus becoming the youngest player ever to wear Athletic's shirt in an official game, at 16 years, 7 months and 11 days old.

One week later, Muniain scored his first goal for the club, in the return match in Switzerland. Athletic won 2–1, and qualified for the playoff rounds. In this match, he again entered the club's record books, as the youngest ever player to score a goal (16 years, 7 months and 18 days) in an official match.[2]

On 30 August 2009, another record, as Muniain appeared (and started) in the 1–0 home win against RCD Espanyol (2009–10's opener), becoming the youngest player to have donned the club's shirt in La Liga; two weeks later, he scored again in European competition, 3–0 at home against FK Austria Wien, after a good team move involving Andoni Iraola and veteran Joseba Etxeberria.[3]

Muniain became the youngest player to score in a first division match, as he netted in a 2–2 draw at Real Valladolid on 4 October 2009, aged only 16 years and 289 days.[4][5] This record was surpassed by Málaga striker, Fabrice Olinga on the 18th August 2012 against Celta de Vigo.

On 1 December 2009, Muniain signed his first professional contract with Athletic, running until June 2015.[6] On the 6th, after nearly one month out due to injury, he returned to action, scoring as a 51st minute substitute to give Athletic the lead, albeit in a 1–2 loss to Valencia CF. He set up both goals in Athletic's next game, a 2–1 away win at Real Zaragoza, and finished his first senior season with 35 official appearances, netting six goals.

Muniain was an undisputed starter for Athletic in 2010–11, featuring as a left winger for the Joaquín Caparrós-led side. On 17 April 2011, he scored a last-minute goal in a 2–1 away win against hometown club CA Osasuna, helping his team come from behind;[7] he was initially booked for taking his hand to his ear during his celebrations – before signing for Athletic at the age of 12, he played for UDC Chantrea in Pamplona, and always considered Osasuna as a rival organisation – which meant a suspension for his fifth yellow card of the season, but it was later lifted; being able to take part in the following matchday, the derby against Real Sociedad, he netted another, in a 2–1 home success.[8]

International career

On 8 February 2011, at the age of only 18, Muniain made his debut with the under-21 team in a match against Denmark, replacing Adrián López. Subsequently, he was selected by manager Luis Milla to the squad that appeared in the 2011 UEFA European Football Championship, appearing in all the games as the national team won its third title in the category and qualified to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

On 24 February 2012, Muniain was called-up to the senior team for the first time, for a friendly with Venezuela. Five days later, he came on for Cesc Fàbregas in the 74th minute of the 5–0 win in Málaga.[9]

Honours

Club

National team

Spain U21
Spain U19
Spain U17

Individual

Statistics

Club

As of 10 March 2013[10]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other [11] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bilbao Athletic 2008–09 13 1 – – – 13 1
2009–10 6 2 – – – 6 2
Total 19 3 – – – 19 3
Athletic Bilbao 2009–10 26 4 0 0 9 2 0 0 35 6
2010–11 35 5 3 0 – – 38 5
2011–12 33 2 9 2 16 5 – 58 9
2012–13 23 1 2 0 8 1 – 33 2
Total 117 12 14 2 33 8 0 0 164 22
Career totals 136 15 14 2 33 8 0 0 183 25

International

National team Season Apps Goals
Spain 2012 1 0
Total 1 0

References

  1. ^ "Manchester United given go-ahead to sign the "New Messi"". Sports Vibe. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  2. ^ Spirit shows through on exciting night; UEFA.com, 6 August 2009
  3. ^ "Muniain to the fore for brilliant Bilbao". ESPN Soccernet. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Athletic Bilbao prodigy Iker Muniain becomes Primera Division's youngest ever goalscorer". Goal.com. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Valladolid and Bilbao share thriller". ESPN Soccernet. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Muniain signs Athletic deal". FIFA.com. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Last-gasp Athletic rattle Rojillos". ESPN Soccernet. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Athletic claim derby spoils". ESPN Soccernet. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  9. ^ Celestiales (Heavenly); Marca, 29 February 2012
  10. ^ Official site statistics
  11. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iker_Muniain&oldid=543212960"