Iñigo Lekue
Spanish footballer (born 1993) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iñigo Lekue Martínez (Basque: [iɲiɣo lekue maɾtines̻]; Spanish: [ˈiɲiɣo ˈlekwe maɾˈtineθ]; born 4 May 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right or left-back for Athletic Bilbao.
.jpg) Lekue in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Iñigo Lekue Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1993[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bilbao, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Full-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Athletic Bilbao | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2012 | Danok Bat | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | Basconia | 34 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Bilbao Athletic | 60 | (1) |
| 2015– | Athletic Bilbao | 196 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:15, 16 March 2025 (UTC) | |||
Developed at Athletic Bilbao, he made over 250 appearances, winning the Supercopa de España twice and also the 2023–24 Copa del Rey.
Club career
Summarize
Perspective
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Born in Bilbao, Basque Country, Lekue graduated from Danok Bat CF's youth system.[2] In summer 2012 he moved to Athletic Bilbao, and made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the Tercera División.[3]
On 21 June 2013, Lekue was promoted to the reserves in the Segunda División B.[4] On 29 June 2015, after being an ever-present figure during the side's promotion to Segunda División after a 19-year absence,[5] he was promoted to the main squad in La Liga.[6]
Lekue made his official debut with the first team on 15 August 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow youth graduate Sabin Merino in a 4–0 home rout of FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España.[7][8] He made his first league appearance 15 days later, being taken off at half-time in a 2–0 loss at neighbouring SD Eibar.[9]
Lekue scored his first senior goal on 21 December 2015, equalising for the reserves in a 1–1 home draw against CD Lugo.[10] The following 3 April he scored for the first time in the top flight, opening a 1–1 draw with Granada CF at the San Mamés Stadium.[11] On 8 June 2016, he agreed to a contract extension until 2019.[12]
On 24 November 2016, Lekue netted his first European goal to win a UEFA Europa League group match 3–2 at home to US Sassuolo Calcio.[13] In January 2018, he extended his contract to 2023.[14] He missed most of the 2018–19 season with back issues,[15] returning as a late substitute on 16 March in a 2–0 home win over Atlético Madrid.[16]
Lekue played rarely under Gaizka Garitano, and looked for a new club in the January 2021 transfer window, but was reinstated by new manager Marcelino and won another Super Cup that month, again against Barcelona.[17] That April, he was involved in two Copa del Rey finals in one month, losing both to Real Sociedad and Barcelona respectively; he played the latter 4–0 defeat as a half-time substitute.[18]
In 2022–23, due to injuries to Yuri Berchiche and Mikel Balenziaga, Lekue played frequently. In April, during his own recovery, he prolonged his contract to 2025.[19]
International career
On 22 May 2016, Lekue was called up to the Spain national team by manager Vicente del Bosque, after Jonny withdrew due to "personal reasons".[20]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Basconia | 2012–13 | Tercera División | 34 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||
| Bilbao Athletic | 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 26 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15 | 31 | 0 | — | — | 6[a] | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | Segunda División | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 60 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 66 | 1 | ||
| Athletic Bilbao | 2015–16 | La Liga | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| 2016–17 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 1 | — | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2017–18 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12[b] | 0 | — | 46 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | ||||
| 2024–25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Total | 196 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 257 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 290 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 357 | 5 | ||
- Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in Supercopa de España
- Appearance in Supercopa de España
Honours
Athletic Bilbao
- Copa del Rey: 2023–24;[25] runner-up: 2019–20,[26] 2020–21[27]
- Supercopa de España: 2015,[28] 2021[29]
Individual
References
External links
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