Fernando Amorebieta

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Amorebieta and the second or maternal family name is Mardaras.
Fernando Amorebieta

Amorebieta in action for Fulham in 2014.
Personal information
Full name Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-29) 29 March 1985
Place of birth Cantaura, Venezuela
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Sporting Gijón
Number 5
Youth career
1995–1996 Colegio San Miguel
1996–2003 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Basconia 26 (1)
2004–2005 Bilbao Athletic 35 (1)
2005–2013 Athletic Bilbao 195 (3)
2013–2016 Fulham 44 (2)
2015 → Middlesbrough (loan) 4 (0)
2015–2016 → Middlesbrough (loan) 13 (0)
2016– Sporting Gijón 11 (0)
National team
2004 Spain U19 4 (0)
2007– Basque Country 4 (0)
2011–2015 Venezuela 15 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 November 2016.


Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras (born 29 March 1985) is a professional footballer who plays for Sporting de Gijón as a central defender.

He played most of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 253 official games over the course of eight La Liga seasons and scoring four goals.[2][3]

Internationally, Amorebieta played for Spain as a youth, but later decided to represent Venezuela at the senior level, appearing for the nation at the 2015 Copa América.

Club career

Athletic Bilbao

Born in Cantaura, Anzoátegui, Venezuela, Amorebieta met Athletic Bilbao's eligibility standards, having been raised in the Basque Country, and through his parents, both of whom hailed from the region.[4] He made his first-team debut in 2005–06, becoming an undisputed first-choice in the subsequent La Liga seasons.

Amorebieta played in a total of 47 official matches in 2009–10, helping Athletic reach the round-of-32 in the campaign's UEFA Europa League as well as an eighth-place finish in the league; he collected 18 yellow cards in the process, being sent off twice.[5]

Amorebieta began 2012–13 nursing a pubalgia ailment,[6] and was later involved in a dispute over the extension of his contract.[7][8]

Fulham

On 15 April 2013, Amorebieta agreed to sign a four-year deal with Fulham on a free transfer effective as of 1 July, after the expiration of his link with Athletic Bilbao.[9] The Premier League club officially announced his signing on 22 May,[10] and he made his debut on 14 September, coming on as a substitute for Kieran Richardson in a 1–1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at Craven Cottage.[11]

Amorebieta was sent off on 22 March 2014, for conceding a penalty with a foul on David Silva in an eventual 0–5 defeat at Manchester City.[12] He scored his first goal in English football on 26 April, netting his team's second in an eventual 2–2 home draw with Hull City;[13] he made 26 appearances overall in his debut season, which ended with relegation.[14]

On 6 March 2015, after returning from three months out injured,[14] Amorebieta was sent off in Fulham's 1–5 home defeat by Bournemouth for bringing down Callum Wilson.[15] On the 25th, he was loaned to fellow Championship side Middlesbrough until the end of the campaign, with left-back James Husband moving in the opposite direction.[14] He scored his first goal for the club on 8 May, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute for Lee Tomlin and netting a last-minute winner for a 2–1 away win over Brentford in the play-off semi-finals;[16] he was unused in the final at Wembley Stadium, a 0–2 defeat to Norwich City.[17]

On 28 August 2015, Amorebieta returned to the Riverside Stadium for the entirety of the season, with Husband again being lent to Fulham for a month as part of the deal.[18] On 1 February of the following year, however, he was recalled.[19]

Sporting Gijón

On 22 July 2016, Amorebieta returned to Spain and its top division after agreeing to a three-year contract at Sporting de Gijón.[20] He made his debut on 21 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 home win against former club Athletic.[21]

International career

Spain

Amorebieta was part of the Spanish under-19 squad that won the UEFA European Championship in 2004.[22] In August 2008, he was called up by new senior team manager Vicente del Bosque for a friendly against Denmark,[23] but did not leave the bench.

Venezuela

As early as 2006, Amorebieta expressed his interest in playing for the Venezuela national team.[24] However, according to FIFA rules at the time, he should have switched his affiliation prior to the age of 21, having previously played for Spain's youth sides.[25] FIFA removed the rule in 2009,[26] and talks between the player and the Venezuelan Football Federation resumed.

Finally, on 2 September 2011, Amorebieta made his senior debut in a friendly with Argentina, a 0–1 loss.[27] On 11 October, against the same opponent but for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, he scored in a 1–0 home win, which signified Venezuela's first-ever win against the Albiceleste in the tournament.[28]

Amorebieta was included in Venezuela's squad for the 2015 Copa América, where he was sent off in the team's 0–1 loss to Peru in the group stage for a stamp on Paolo Guerrero.[29] He retired from international football that November.[30]

Basque Country

Amorebieta also appeared in four matches for the Basque Country national team (a non-FIFA affiliate), debuting against Venezuela in San Cristóbal, Táchira on 20 June 2007.[22] The friendly match, a 4–3 Basque win, was the grand opening for the 43,000 all-seated Pueblo Nuevo Stadium, after two years of construction for the 2007 Copa América.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 October 2011 José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Argentina 1–0 1–0 2014 World Cup qualification

Club statistics

As of 5 November 2014[31][32][33]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[34] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Baskonia 2003–04 261–––261
Total 261–––261
Bilbao Athletic 2004–05 241–––241
2005–06 110–––111
Total 351–––351
Athletic Bilbao 2005–06 15020–20190
2006–07 27010––280
2007–08 34061––401
2008–09 29070––360
2009–10 3402011000470
2010–11 17000––170
2011–12 28380140–503
2012–13 1102040–170
Total 1953281290202544
Fulham 2013–14 23130–00261
2014–15 6110–0071
Total 292400000332
Career totals 2857321290203478

Honours

Club

Athletic Bilbao

Country

Spain U19

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Amorebieta cumplió su partido 200 con el Athletic" [Amorebieta played 200th match with Athletic] (in Spanish). La Vinotinto. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "El Fulham confirma el fichaje del defensa Fernando Amorebieta por cuatro temporadas" [Fulham confirms signing of defender Fernando Amorebieta for four seasons] (in Spanish). 20 Minutos. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "¿Por qué en el Athletic de Bilbao solo juegan vascos?" [Why only Basque play for Athletic de Bilbao?] (in Spanish). BBC. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Amorebieta se vuelve 'loco' con los grandes" [Amorebieta goes 'crazy' with big clubs] (in Spanish). Marca. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Fútbol.– Amorebieta (Athletic), cuatros semanas de baja tras ser operado con éxito de sus molestias de pubalgia" [Football.– Amorebieta (Athletic), four weeks out after successful pubalgia surgery] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Amorebieta: lo tomas o lo dejas" [Amorebieta: take it or leave it] (in Spanish). Deia. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Urrutia: 'Ya no hay oferta por Amorebieta'" [Urrutia: 'We no longer have an offer for Amorebieta'] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Kay, Alex (15 April 2013). "Former Arsenal target Amorebieta agrees to sign for Fulham on free transfer". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Amorebieta arrives". Fulham F.C. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Fulham 1–1 West Brom". BBC Sport. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "Premier League: Manchester City thrash Fulham 5–0 as Yaya Toure nets hat-trick". Sky Sports. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Fulham 2–2 Hull". BBC Sport. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 "Middlesbrough sign Amorebieta as Husband joins Fulham". BBC Sport. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Fulham 1–5 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Stevens, Rob (8 May 2015). "Brentford 1–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  17. ↑ Shepka, Phil (25 May 2015). "Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Fernando Amorebieta: Fulham defender joins Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "Fernando Amorebieta leaves Boro and returns to Fulham". Middlesbrough F.C. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  20. ↑ "Amorebieta es ya jugador del Sporting" [Amorebieta is already a Sporting player] (in Spanish). Sporting Gijón. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "El Sporting despacha a un Athletic atolondrado" [Sporting gets rid of dazed Athletic] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Amorebieta". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  23. ↑ "Amorebieta e Iraola, sorpresas en la lista de Del Bosque" [Amorebieta and Iraola, surprises in Del Bosque's list] (in Spanish). Marca. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Fernando Amorebieta dispuesto a jugar ya con Venezuela" [Fernando Amorebieta willing to play for Venezuela immediately] (in Spanish). Marca. 19 December 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  25. ↑ "Fernando Amorebieta no podrá jugar con la selección de Venezuela como quería" [Fernando Amorebieta will not be able to play with Venezuela national team as he intended] (in Spanish). Marca. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  26. ↑ "Age limit on players switching nations is removed". ESPN Soccernet. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  27. ↑ "Amorebieta debuta con Venezuela" [Amorebieta makes Venezuela debut] (in Spanish). Marca. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  28. ↑ "Venezuela hizo historia a costa de una desorientada y cansada Argentina" [Venezuela makes history at the expense of dizzy and tired Argentina] (in Spanish). La Capital. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  29. ↑ "Claudio Pizarro goal pushes Peru past 10-man Venezuela". ESPN FC. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  30. ↑ "Venezuela: Salomon Rondon and squad in quit threat to board". BBC Sport. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  31. ↑ Athletic Bilbao profile
  32. ↑ Fernando Amorebieta at ESPN FC
  33. ↑ "F. Amorebieta". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  34. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Intertoto Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

External links

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