Beñat Etxebarria

Beñat

Beñat with Athletic Bilbao in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Beñat Etxebarria Urkiaga
Date of birth	(1987-02-19) 19 February 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Igorre, Spain
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998	Arratia
1998–2005	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	Basconia	21	(3)
2006–2008	Bilbao Athletic	75	(5)
2006–2009	Athletic Bilbao	1	(0)
2008–2009	→ Conquense (loan)	34	(6)
2009–2010	Betis B	34	(3)
2010–2013	Betis	105	(14)
2013–2020	Athletic Bilbao	181	(6)
2020–2021	Macarthur	22	(1)
Total		473	(38)
International career
2004–2005	Spain U17	5	(0)
2012	Spain	4	(0)
2011–2014	Basque Country	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent the better part of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 242 competitive matches and scoring 11 goals while winning the 2015 Supercopa de España. In La Liga, he also represented Betis.

Beñat earned four caps for the Spain national team.

Athletic Bilbao

Beñat was born in Igorre, Biscay. Coming through Athletic Bilbao's prolific youth ranks at Lezama, he played his first three years with both the third team, CD Basconia, and the reserve side.

On 29 October 2006, he appeared in his first – and only – La Liga game, which consisted of six minutes against CA Osasuna in a 1–1 away draw after replacing another youth product, Francisco Yeste.

Betis

 

In 2008–09, Beñat played with UB Conquense in Segunda División B, after which he was released by Athletic. In the summer he signed with Real Betis, but spent his first season with the reserves also in the third tier.

Beñat made his debut for Betis' main squad on 29 August 2010, playing 20 minutes in the 4–1 home win against Granada CF and being involved in the play that led to Salva Sevilla's goal. Three days later he scored in his first start, a 2–1 home victory over UD Salamanca in the Copa del Rey. In the league campaign he contributed 36 matches (30 starts, 2.521 minutes of action) as the Andalusians returned to the top flight after three years, netting four times.

On 2 May 2012, Beñat scored twice for his fifth and sixth goals of the season, in a 2–1 defeat of Sevilla FC for the local derby. The winner came in the 90th minute.

Beñat scored the game's only goal in a 1–0 home win over Real Madrid on 24 November 2012, with a shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 17th minute. He finished the campaign with 34 games, four goals and seven assists, helping the club finish seventh and qualify to the UEFA Europa League.

Athletic return

Beñat returned to Athletic Bilbao in June 2013, signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of €8 million. On 16 September, he took the first touch at the new San Mamés Stadium against RC Celta de Vigo and scored the 3–2 winner; he was substituted to a standing ovation, and dedicated his performance to his grandparents.

On 14 April 2016, Beñat was the only player to miss in a penalty shootout against compatriots Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Following the appointment of manager José Ángel Ziganda for the 2017–18 season, he began featuring less regularly.

In July 2020, Athletic confirmed that Beñat's contract would not be extended beyond that summer, although the departure was delayed beyond its usual June expiry after the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. His contribution (along with long-serving colleague Mikel San José, also leaving in similar circumstances) was acknowledged at the last home fixture on 16 July 2020 in an empty San Mamés– he was in the matchday squad but did not leave the bench, with his last appearance five months earlier; he had been involved in the side's run to the Spanish Cup final, but the circumstances of the delay and the end of his spell at the club meant he would have no opportunity to take part in the decisive match.

Macarthur

Beñat moved abroad for the first time at the age of 33, joining Australian A-League newcomers Macarthur FC on 13 November 2020. Both he and his compatriot and former Athletic teammate Markel Susaeta retired at the end of the campaign, aged 34.

Beñat played with the Spanish youth teams at under-17 level. He made his debut for the full side on 26 May 2012, playing 45 minutes in a 2–0 friendly win with Serbia in St. Gallen and thus becoming the first Betis player since Juanito to don the national team shirt, nearly four years later.

Club