Unai Simón
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Unai Simón Mendibil[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 11 June 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Athletic Bilbao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2011 | Aurrerá Vitoria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011–2014 | Athletic Bilbao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2016 | Basconia | 36 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2018 | Athletic Bilbao B | 58 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018– | Athletic Bilbao | 102 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Spain U16 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Spain U18 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015–2016 | Spain U19 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2019 | Spain U21 | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Spain U23 | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020– | Spain | 20 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 March 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2021 |
Unai Simón Mendibil (born 11 June 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao and the Spain national team.
Club career[]
Simón was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, and raised in the nearby village of Murgia;[2] he joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2011, from CD Aurrerá de Vitoria.[3] He made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the 2014–15 season, in the Tercera División.[4]
On 8 June 2016, Simón was promoted to the reserves, recently relegated to Segunda División B.[5] He immediately became a starter for the side, contributing with 29 appearances during the campaign.[4]
On 2 June 2017, Simón was called up to the main squad for the pre-season by new first team manager José Ángel Ziganda,[6] but continued to appear exclusively for the Bs. On 13 July 2018, he signed a contract extension until 2023,[7] and was loaned to Segunda División side Elche CF two weeks later.[8]
On 15 August 2018, after Kepa Arrizabalaga's departure from the club and Iago Herrerín's injury, Simón was recalled by Athletic.[9] He initially appeared to be behind the older Álex Remiro in the queue for selection,[10] but made his professional – and La Liga – debut five days later, starting in a 2–1 home win against CD Leganés.[11][12] In just his third league appearance for Athletic Bilbao, Simón played in a 1–1 draw with Real Madrid where he made several key saves and was named player of the match.[13] However, when Herrerín regained full fitness in October 2018 he was made the starting goalkeeper, with Simón's only appearances over the subsequent four months coming in the Copa del Rey.[4]
For the 2019–20 season, Simón was given the #1 squad number and began the campaign as first choice, keeping a clean sheet in an opening day win over FC Barcelona.[14] He continued his strong form throughout the season, missing two fixtures with illness and completing 33 matches in the league, conceding 29 goals[15] to finish third in the Zamora Trophy rankings.[16] On the 37th, penultimate, matchday, he was sent off during the first half against CD Leganés for a 'last man' challenge outside the penalty area, with the resultant suspension ending his season a game early; with ten men, Athletic Bilbao lost 2–0 to end their slim hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.[17]
In August 2020, he signed a new contract with the club running to the summer of 2025, with no buyout clause.[18]
International career[]
Simón was selected for Spain at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was a member of the squad that won the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, albeit as the backup goalkeeper to Antonio Sivera during the tournament.[19] In the same year he was in the Basque Country under-18 team that won the .[2]
On 1 September 2017, Simón debuted with the under-21 team against Italy.[20] He was selected for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, playing the first game of the group stage as Spain once more finished as champions (Sivera was again first-choice).[21][22]
Simón received his first call up to the senior side on 20 August 2020, for the initial two matches of the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League.[23] Despite having made an error which led to a goal at club level a few days earlier, he was selected for his full debut on 11 November 2020, playing the entirety of a friendly against the Netherlands.[24]
On 24 May 2021, Simón was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[25] He started all of the team's matches, and caused an own goal in the 5–3 last-16 win over Croatia when he was unable to control a long backwards pass by Pedri.[26] Luis Enrique praised his mentality for having recovered from that mistake.[27] He then managed to save two penalties as Spain won the shootout against Switzerland in the quarter-finals after a 1–1 draw,[2] for which he was also awarded the Star of the Match.[28] The semi-final against Italy ended with the same score, and Simón saved the first attempt in the shootout by Manuel Locatelli, but the Italians prevailed.[29]
Simón was also called up for the Spanish Olympic team for the delayed 2020 tournament in Japan.[30] With Simón as the starting goalkeeper they reached the final, but lost to Brazil.[31]
Career statistics[]
Club[]
- As of match played 13 March 2022[32]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Basconia | 2014–15[33] | Tercera División | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
2015–16[33] | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||||
Total | 36 | 0 | — | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||||
Athletic Bilbao B | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
2015–16 | Segunda División | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
2016–17 | Segunda División B | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 0 | ||||
2017–18 | 29 | 0 | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||||
Total | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 0 | ||
Athletic Bilbao | 2016–17 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2017–18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
2018–19 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
2019–20 | 34 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | ||||
2020–21 | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |||
2021–22 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 26 | 0 | |||
Total | 102 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 118 | 0 | ||
Career total | 196 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 214 | 0 |
- ^ Appearance(s) in Segunda División B play-offs
- ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey Final (played in 2021)
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in Supercopa de España
International[]
- As of match played 14 November 2021[34]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Spain | 2020 | 3 | 0 |
2021 | 17 | 0 | |
Total | 20 | 0 |
Honours[]
Athletic Bilbao
- Supercopa de España: 2020–21[35]
- Copa del Rey runner-up: 2019–20,[36] 2020–21[37]
Spain U19
Spain U21
Spain U23
- Summer Olympic silver medal: 2020[31]
Spain
- UEFA Nations League runner-up: 2020–21[38]
References[]
- ^ "Squad List: Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Spain (ESP)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 July 2021. p. 16. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "El pueblo de Mikel Landa ya es el pueblo de Unai Simón" [Mikel Landa's village is now Unai Simón's village] (in Spanish). El País. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Entrevista a Unai Simon" [Interview to Unai Simon]. La Cantera de Lezama (in Spanish). 11 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Unai Simón". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Leaving Basconia". Athletic Bilbao. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Preseason with the premier team". Athletic Bilbao. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Renewal of Unai Simón". Athletic Bilbao. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Unai Simón on-loan to Elche CF". Athletic Bilbao. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Recovery of Unai Simón". Athletic Bilbao. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Ortiz de Lazcano, Javier (8 August 2018). "La salida de Kepa facilita la continuidad de Remiro" [Kepa's departure makes it easier for Remiro to continue]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Zubieta, Jon (21 August 2018). "Simón debuta con un paradón providencial" [Simón debuts with a providential save] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ García, Óscar (21 August 2018). "Muniain gives Berizzo his first win as Athletic Club coach". Marca. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ Ruthven, Graham (15 September 2018). "Isco goal salvages point for Real Madrid away to Athletic Bilbao". Eurosport. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ^ "Athletic Bilbao 1–0 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ "Matches Unai Simón (filters: 2019-20 season, La Liga, Athletic Club)". BDFutbol. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ Zamora de LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020, Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020
- ^ "Leganés wins against Athletic at San Mamés and is still alive (0-2)". CD Leganés. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ Unai Simón renews contract until 2025, Athletic Club website, 20 August 2020
- ^ a b Villapun, Jon (22 July 2015). "El portero del Basconia Unai Simón gana el Europeo sub'19 con España" [Basconia goalkeeper Unai Simón wins the U19 European Championship with Spain]. Bidebieta (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Selección de España: España da un repaso a Italia" [Spanish national team: Spain reviews Italy]. Marca.com (in Spanish). 1 September 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "La Quinta de Oro" [The Golden Fifth]. Marca.com (in Spanish). 30 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21". 30 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "OFICIAL | Lista de convocados de la Selección española para los partidos de la UEFA Nations League ante Alemania y Ucrania" [OFFICIAL | List of called-up players by the Spain national team for the UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine] (in Spanish). SEFutbol. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Luis Enrique echa un capote a Simón" [Luis Enrique throws a cape on Simón] (in Spanish). El Correo. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Braidwood, Jamie (24 May 2021). "Euro 2020 news LIVE: Sergio Ramos left out of Spain squad plus latest before England announcement". The Independent. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ del Río, José (28 June 2021). "Unai Simon's horrific mistake for Croatia's opener". Marca. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Unai Simon and Pedri team up for shocking Spain own goal - but keeper gains 'redemption'". BBC Sport. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Switzerland 1-1 Spain (pens: 1-3): La Roja pip Swiss on penalties to reach semi-finals". UEFA. 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Italy hold nerve to beat Spain on penalties and reach final". The Hindu. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Pedri, Garcia & Torres among Spain's Euro 2020 players named in Tokyo Olympics squad". Goal. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Brazil retain Olympic football gold with Malcom extra-time winner". Sky Sports. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Unai Simón at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Unai Simón". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Unai Simón". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Acta del Partido celebrado el 17 de enero de 2021, en Sevilla" [Minutes of the Match held on 17 January 2021, in Seville] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (17 April 2021). "Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "France beat Spain to win Nations League". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links[]
- Unai Simón at Athletic Bilbao
- Unai Simón at BDFutbol
- Unai Simón at Soccerway
- 1997 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Vitoria-Gasteiz
- Spanish footballers
- Spain youth international footballers
- Spain under-21 international footballers
- Spain international footballers
- Olympic footballers of Spain
- Association football goalkeepers
- La Liga players
- Segunda División B players
- Tercera División players
- CD Basconia footballers
- Bilbao Athletic footballers
- Athletic Bilbao footballers
- Elche CF players
- UEFA Euro 2020 players
- Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- CD Aurrerá de Vitoria footballers
- Olympic medalists in football
- Olympic silver medalists for Spain
- Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics