Iker Muniain

Summary

Iker Muniain Goñi (Basque: [iker muniain ɡoɲi], Spanish: [ˈikeɾ muˈnjajŋ ˈɡoɲi];[α] born 19 December 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao, where he is captain, mainly as a left winger but also as forward.

Iker Muniain
Muniain playing for Athletic Bilbao in 2014
Personal information
Full name Iker Muniain Goñi
Date of birth (1992-12-19) 19 December 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
Athletic Bilbao
Number 10
Youth career
2000–2005 Txantrea
2005–2009 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Athletic Bilbao B 19 (3)
2009– Athletic Bilbao 429 (55)
International career
2008 Spain U16 2 (1)
2008–2009 Spain U17 20 (2)
2010 Spain U19 5 (0)
2011 Spain U20 1 (0)
2011–2014 Spain U21 31 (7)
2012 Spain U23 3 (0)
2012–2019 Spain 2 (0)
2010– Basque Country 4 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:50, 16 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:33, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

Due to his style of play and stature, he was dubbed "the Spanish Messi" by the media.[2] He has spent all of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao after debuting in 2009 as their youngest player in a competitive match. He helped the team reach the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2012 as well as four Copa del Rey finals in nine years, though finished on the losing side each time; in 2022 he became the sixth player to make 500 appearances for the club.

Muniain made 59 appearances for Spain at youth level, winning the European Under-21 Championship in 2011 and 2013. He also featured at the 2012 Olympics, in the same year as his senior Spain debut. He was selected again in 2019, gaining a second international cap seven years after the first.

Club career edit

Precocious debut edit

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Muniain was a product of Basque giants Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks after joining at the age of 12.[3][4][5] In January 2009, he made his debut for the reserve team Bilbao Athletic in the Segunda División B, aged 16 years and 16 days, and scored his first goal at that level 19 days later.[6]

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 1–0 home defeat, thus becoming the youngest player in 94 years to wear Athletic's shirt in an official game at 16 years, 7 months and 11 days old,[7] only behind Domingo Acedo who scored on his debut in 1914.[8] One week later, in the return leg in Switzerland, he netted his first goal, in a 2–1 win that qualified for the playoff rounds; he again entered the club's record books as the joint-second-youngest player to find the net (16 years, 7 months and 18 days) in a competitive match – behind Acedo and level with Agustín Gaínza[9]– and the youngest ever in a European match.[10][11]

Another record fell on 30 August 2009, as Muniain started in the 1–0 home victory over RCD Espanyol, 2009–10's opener, becoming the youngest player to have donned the club's shirt in La Liga (overtaking Patxi Ferreira).[12] 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.[13]

On 4 October 2009, Muniain became the youngest player to score in a first division match as he achieved that feat in a 2–2 draw at Real Valladolid, aged 16 years and 289 days[14][15]– that record was surpassed by Málaga CF's Fabrice Olinga in August 2012.[16] On 1 December he signed his first professional contract, running until June 2015.[17] On the 6th, after nearly one month out due to injury, he returned to action, scoring as a 51st-minute substitute to give his team the lead, albeit in a 2–1 loss to Valencia CF. He set up both goals in the next game, a 2–1 win at Real Zaragoza,[18] and finished his first senior season with 35 appearances and six goals across all competitions.

2010s edit

 
Muniain in a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2014

Muniain was an undisputed starter in the 2010–11 campaign, 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 defeat of CA Osasuna in his hometown;[19] he was initially booked for taking his hand to his ear during his celebrations (before signing for Athletic he played for UDC Txantrea in Pamplona, and always considered Osasuna a rival organisation. He did clarify that, just because he had affection for a particular organisation, it did not mean he held any animosity towards any others)[20][21] which meant a suspension for his fifth yellow card of the season,[22] but it was later lifted. Now allowed to take part in the following matchday, the derby against Real Sociedad, he netted another in a 2–1 home victory.[23]

Muniain took part in 58 games overall in 2011–12, scoring on nine occasions as the Lions reached both the Europa League and the Copa del Rey finals.[24] In early 2012, he was linked with a move away from Athletic, although a move never materialised as he did not push for a move with three years still left on his contract.[25] He scored just once in 33 league appearances the following campaign, netting the only goal on 10 March 2013 in a home win over Valencia which eased doubts over a possible relegation battle.[26]

On 1 December 2013, Muniain was again the sole name on the scoresheet at the new San Mamés Stadium, to hand FC Barcelona their first league loss of that season.[27] Eighteen days later, he celebrated his 21st birthday by grabbing a brace in a 4–0 domestic cup home victory against RC Celta de Vigo, which signified his team progressed through to the round of 16 4–1 on aggregate.[28] In that period, media reports suggested that his progression as a footballer in his 20s had slowed after showing such high potential as a young teenager.[29][30]

Knee injuries edit

On 4 April 2015, during a game against Sevilla FC, Muniain suffered the first serious injury of his career, being sidelined for several months with an anterior cruciate ligament ailment to his left knee[31]– this meant he was unable to take any part in the year's Spanish Cup or Supercopa de España finals.[32] After suffering some setbacks in his recovery process[33][34] he returned to action on 20 December, replacing Iñaki Williams for the last minutes of a 2–0 home defeat of Levante UD.[35]

Muniain successfully regained his first-team place in December 2015 and made 86 further appearances between then and 28 September 2017, when he suffered another serious ACL injury (this time to his right knee) in the closing stages of a Europa League fixture at home to FC Zorya Luhansk, potentially ending his season.[36] After an absence of just over six months, he returned to action as a substitute in a domestic league match against Villarreal CF on 9 April 2018, scoring his side's third in a 3–1 away win.[37]

Muniain signed a new deal with Athletic Bilbao in November 2018 to run until summer 2024, as his link was set to expire;[38] unusually, it did not include any buyout clause.[39] He said: "I didn't want a release clause because I do not want to have a price or be for sale. I want to go hand in hand with Athletic to the end... I want to be here for the rest of my career helping the club achieve nice things."[40] Following the departures of Ander Iturraspe and Markel Susaeta in summer 2019 he was appointed as the club captain,[41] and also reached the milestone of ten years with the first team.[42]

2020s edit

On 19 January 2020, Muniain became the 18th player in Athletic's history to play 400 official games, against Celta.[43] In July of that year, his 420th match set the club record for a player from Navarre, surpassing Ismael Urzaiz.[44] On 8 November, he made his 430th appearance to enter its top 10 (equalling Julen Guerrero's total) at the age of 27.[45]

In early 2021, with the team playing a more attacking style under new coach Marcelino García Toral, Muniain recorded eight assists in three competitions between 17 January and 15 February (bettering his total for some entire seasons previously),[46] including two in the Spanish Supercup final as his team won the trophy.[47] During April of that year he took the field in the 2020 (delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2021 Spanish Cup finals, both played in an empty Estadio de la Cartuja – the same venue as the Supercup win – due to the pandemic restrictions. Athletic lost the first match 1–0 to Real Sociedad,[48] with Muniain breaking a footballing superstition before kick-off by touching the trophy (considered to be 'bad luck')[49] but praised for his sportsmanship for staying on the pitch after the final whistle to applaud the winners.[50] A pre-match injury doubt for the second final two weeks later, he stated to the press "Cups and trophies are not won or lost because one touches it or not. They are won on the pitch, and that is the only reality", but this time it was noted he kept his hands well away from the prize;[51] nevertheless his team were defeated 4–0 by Barcelona and he was withdrawn at half-time with the score at 0–0[52] and did not feature again that season, missing the last eight league fixtures.

On 31 October 2021, Muniain scored a late equaliser in the Basque derby via a free kick and was again conspicuous for his sportsmanship in consoling the opposing goalkeeper Álex Remiro, a former Athletic player whose error had contributed to the goal.[53] In February 2022, it was assessed that he had created 60 scoring chances in that league campaign and 72 in all competitions, the most by any player by both counts.[54]

Muniain made his 500th appearance for Athletic on the first matchday of 2022–23 against RCD Mallorca, reaching the milestone at a younger age than the five other players to do so.[55][56] He was honoured in a reception after that match,[57] and was presented with a memento by two of those men – José Ángel Iribar and Susaeta – on the pitch before the next fixture against Valencia six days later.[58][59] After a promising start under returning coach Ernesto Valverde the team again finished eighth and lost narrowly in the cup semi-finals (this time to Osasuna);[60] he featured regularly but became less of a habitual starter, coming off the bench in 11 of his 30 league appearances.[61]

Athletic also began 2023–24 strongly, but Muniain was selected rarely during the first half of the season, with Valverde opting for Oihan Sancet as the starting attacking midfielder and either Álex Berenguer or rookie Unai Gómez as an offensive substitute.[62] On 30 September against Real Sociedad, he reached 542 appearances for the club, surpassing Txetxu Rojo's record for an outfield player and trailing only Iribar.[63]

International career edit

 
Muniain (back) chasing Abdelatif Noussir at the 2012 Olympics

On 8 February 2011, at the age of only 18, Muniain made his debut with the Spain 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 Championship, appearing in all the games as the nation won its third title in the category[64] and qualified to the 2012 Summer Olympics.[65]

On 24 February 2012, Muniain was called up to the senior side 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.[66] Later that year, at the Summer Olympic Games in London, he made two appearances as Spain exited in the group stage without scoring a goal.[67]

Muniain earned 31 caps for the under-21s, which was a national record[68] for three years before being surpassed by Gerard Deulofeu. In 2019, after showing fine form for his club, he was selected in the senior squad for two UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches;[69] he played his second match more than seven years after the first, as well as his competitive debut, as a substitute in a 2–0 victory over Malta on 26 March.[70]

Muniain also featured for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.[71]

Personal life edit

Muniain has two older cousins who are also footballers, were both Athletic youth players and were briefly his teammates at Bilbao Athletic.[72][73] Adrien Goñi, a midfielder, made a handful of first-team appearances before embarking on a career in the Spanish third division.[74][75][76] Winger Julen Goñi eventually moved to Barakaldo CF also in that tier, but departed when they were relegated and did not find another club at that level.[77][74][78]

Muniain's son was born in February 2015, with the player announcing his girlfriend's pregnancy in August 2014 by gesturing while celebrating his goal against S.S.C. Napoli in the play-off of the UEFA Champions League.[79] He is an admirer of Sergio Agüero, and named his pet Labrador Kun after the Argentina international; Muniain's own nickname, Bart Simpson, was given to him by Fernando Amorebieta due to his mischievous personality as well as his diminutive stature and fair hair.[74][29][30]

Having vowed to have the Europa League trophy tattooed on his body if Athletic Bilbao won the 2012 final,[24] which did not happen, Muniain did have the Supercopa de España trophy 'inked' on his leg in 2015 following the team's victory (albeit he took no part in the matches due to injury).[80] Another tattoo on the rear of his neck, XIX,[81] (19 in Roman numerals) refers to his birth date and that of his brother,[82] and was his original Athletic squad number for several seasons although he wore 27 as a promoted youth player in his breakthrough campaign,[3] and in 2016 changed to the traditional playmaker's number 10.[83]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of match played 16 March 2024[1][84][85][86]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Copa del Rey Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bilbao Athletic 2008–09 Segunda División B 13 1 13 1
2009–10 6 2 6 2
Total 19 3 19 3
Athletic Bilbao 2009–10 La Liga 26 4 0 0 9[a] 2 0 0 35 6
2010–11 35 5 3 0 38 5
2011–12 33 2 9 2 16[a] 5 58 9
2012–13 33 1 2 0 8[a] 1 43 2
2013–14 35 7 4 2 39 9
2014–15 25 1 7 0 9[b] 1 41 2
2015–16 20 2 3 0 5[a] 0 0 0 28 2
2016–17 35 7 3 0 8[a] 0 46 7
2017–18 14 4 0 0 6[a] 1 20 5
2018–19 34 7 3 0 37 7
2019–20 31 5 7[c] 1 38 6
2020–21 28 5 5 0 2[d] 0 35 5
2021–22 35 4 4 2 2[d] 0 41 6
2022–23 30 0 6 2 36 2
2023–24 15 1 4 1 19 2
Total 429 55 60 10 61 10 4 0 554 75
Career total 448 58 60 10 61 10 4 0 573 78
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey Final (played in 2021)
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Supercopa de España

International edit

Appearances and goals by national team and year[87]
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2012 1 0
2013 0 0
2014 0 0
2015 0 0
2016 0 0
2017 0 0
2018 0 0
2019 1 0
Total 2 0

Honours edit

Athletic Bilbao

Spain U21

Spain U19

Spain U17

Individual

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ In isolation, Muniain is pronounced [muˈnjajn].
  2. ^ Did not play in the final due to injury, but appeared in seven games earlier in the run.[1]

References edit

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  2. ^ "Manchester United given go-ahead to sign the "New Messi"". Sports Vibe. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
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  4. ^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (9 January 2012). "Burgui & Muni". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 July 2018.
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  7. ^ Romera, Abel (30 July 2009). "El Young Boys toma La Catedral" [Young Boys take The Cathedral]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Iker Muniain, con 16 años, se convierte en el segundo jugador más joven en debutar con el Athletic" [Iker Muniain, 16, becomes the second youngest player to debut with Athletic] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Muniain se cita con la historia" [Muniain has an appointment with history]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
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  11. ^ Malagón, Manuel; Jiménez, Juan Antonio (6 August 2009). "Muniain, el más joven en marcar con el Athletic" [Muniain, the youngest to score for Athletic]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 July 2017.
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  32. ^ "Iker Muniain: "La lesión me ha enseñado a valorar el día a día"" [Iker Muniain: "The injury has taught me to appreciate every day"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 23 October 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
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  42. ^ Herrán, Alfonso (30 July 2019). "Muniain: 10 años del 10 del Athletic" [Muniain: 10 years of Athletic's 10]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  43. ^ "Muniain alcanza su partido 400 con el Athletic con 27 años" [Muniain reaches 400 games with Athletic at age 27]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 19 January 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  44. ^ Río, Endika (12 July 2020). "Muniain entra en el olimpo navarro del Athletic" [Muniain enters the Navarrese Olympus of Athletic]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  45. ^ "Muniain entra en el 'Top' 10 histórico de jugadores con más partidos disputados en el Athletic" [Muniain enters Athletic's all-time Top 10 of players with most appearances] (in Spanish). Cadena COPE. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
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  51. ^ "Muniain la mira, pero no la toca" [Muniain looks, but does not touch] (in Spanish). Noticias 24 Chile. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
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  63. ^ Mallo, Juanma (30 September 2023). "Muniain entra en el club de los elegidos" [Muniain enters into the chosen club]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
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  67. ^ "Spain 0–0 Morocco: La Roja fail to fire again to finish bottom of Olympics Group D". Goal. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  68. ^ "Muniain se despide de la selección sub-21" [Muniain bids farewell to under-21 national team] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  69. ^ "Official: Call-up for the first two EURO Qualifier matches". Royal Spanish Football Federation. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
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  71. ^ "Catalunya 0–1 Euskal Selekzioa" [Catalonia 0–1 Basque XI] (in Spanish). Basque Football Federation. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
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  75. ^ Beltrán, Javi (4 August 2014). "Julen Goñi recala en el Tudelano y Sendoa sigue en Cuenca" [Julen Goñi joins Tudelano and Sendoa remains in Cuenca] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
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External links edit

  • Iker Muniain at Athletic Club
  • Iker Muniain at BDFutbol
  • Iker Muniain at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Iker Muniain – FIFA competition record (archived)