Jesús Unanua

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Unanua and the second or maternal family name is Becerril.
Jesús Unanua
Personal information
Full name Jesús Unanua Becerril
Date of birth (1969-06-23) 23 June 1969 (age 52)
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Villarreal CF (Goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 Osasuna B 54 (0)
1990–1996 Osasuna 47 (0)
1992–1993 → Albacete (loan) 13 (0)
1996–1999 Leganés 76 (0)
1999–2003 Villarreal 3 (0)
2003–2004 Xerez 38 (0)
2004–2006 Elche 55 (0)
2006–2009 Alicante 98 (0)
Total 384 (0)
National team
1986 Spain U18 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Jesús Unanua Becerril (born 23 June 1969) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played 204 Segunda División matches over ten seasons, in representation of six teams. In La Liga he was almost exclusively a backup, appearing in the competition with Osasuna, Albacete and Villarreal.[1]

Football career[]

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Unanua began his professional career with hometown's CA Osasuna, playing 13 La Liga games in the 1989–90 season. However, he never managed to become first-choice during his early years, and, after a loan spell at Albacete Balompié (also as backup), he returned to his first club, being once again barred, now by youngster Javier López Vallejo, another club youth graduate.

After three seasons at second division team CD Leganés,[2] Unanua moved to Villarreal CF, achieving top flight promotion in his first year although he played in no matches, being once again cast aside by Vallejo whom signed at the same time – both players lost importance in the 2002–03 campaign, after the arrival of FC Barcelona's Pepe Reina.[3]

Unanua played the most he had in years in 2003–04, as he helped Xerez CD to a ninth place. He continued his career also in the second level, with Elche CF.

In 2006, Unanua dropped down to division three but stayed in the Valencian Community, joining Alicante CF. In his first year he helped to a return to the second tier after 52 years, and won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the season in the competition with only 19 goals conceded in 35 games.[4][5]

On 17 June 2009, shortly after having been relegated to the bench by manager José Carlos Granero,[6] Unanua announced his retirement from professional football.[7] He played his last match on the 20th between already relegated teams Alicante and Sevilla Atlético (3–3), three days shy of his 40th birthday.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Unanua: "He realizado 15 mudanzas y mi familia nunca me ha abandonado" (Unanua: "I've moved 15 times and my family has never abandoned me"); Diario de Navarra, 18 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Un gol sublime de Ziganda acaba con las ilusiones del Leganés (Wondergoal by Ziganda kills Leganés' hopes); El País, 2 November 1998 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Reguero se confirma como tercer portero (Reguero confirmed as third goalkeeper); El Periódico Mediterráneo, 27 June 2003 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Unanua, el portero menos goleado de la categoría (Unanua, least-beaten goalkeeper in the category); Las Provincias, 4 March 2008 (in Spanish)
  5. ^ El ascenso en sus manos (Promotion in his hands); La Verdad, 12 June 2008 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Alicante: Unanua se muestra «molesto» tras verse relegado a la suplencia ante el Éibar (Alicante: Unanua displays «unrest» after being relegated to the bench against Éibar); Diario Información, 5 March 2009 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Unanua decide retirarse después de veintiún años de carrera profesional (Unanua decides to retire after a 21-year professional career); Marca, 17 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Alicante y Sevilla Atlético empatan en una jornada de despedidas (Alicante and Sevilla Atlético draw in round of goodbyes); Marca, 20 June 2009 (in Spanish)

External links[]

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