Iñigo Lekue

Iñigo Lekue Martínez (Basque: [iɲiɣo lekue maɾtines̻]; Spanish: [ˈiɲiɣo ˈlekwe maɾˈtineθ]; born 4 May 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao mainly as a right back.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Lekue and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.
Iñigo Lekue
Personal information
Full name Iñigo Lekue Martínez
Date of birth (1993-05-04) 4 May 1993
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s) Right back
Club 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 66 (1)
2015– Athletic Bilbao 91 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 March 2020

Club career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Lekue graduated from Danok Bat CF's youth system.[1] In the 2012 summer he moved to Athletic Bilbao, and made his debut as a senior with the farm team in Tercera División.[2]

On 21 June 2013, Lekue was promoted to the reserves in Segunda División B.[3] On 29 June 2015, after being an ever-present figure during the side's promotion to Segunda División after a 19-year absence,[4] he was promoted to the main squad in La Liga.[5]

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 routing of FC Barcelona for the Supercopa de España.[6][7] Fifteen days later he made his first league appearance, being taken off at half time in a 0–2 loss at neighbouring SD Eibar.[8]

Lekue scored his first senior goal on 21 December 2015, equalising for the reserves in a 1–1 home draw against CD Lugo.[9] 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.[10] On 8 June 2016, he agreed to a contract extension until 2019.[11]

International career

On 22 May 2016, Lekue was called up to the Spanish national team by manager Vicente del Bosque, after Jonny withdrew due to "personal reasons".[12]

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

References
  1. "El lateral Lekue es uno de los 'cachorros' de moda" [Full back Lekue is one of the fashionable 'pups']. Deia (in Spanish). 23 June 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. "Lekue llama a la puerta de Ernesto" [Lekue knocks on Ernesto's door]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 22 June 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. "Bilbao Athletic pre-season". Athletic Bilbao. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. "El Bilbao Athletic, a Segunda 19 años después y el Cádiz tendrá que esperar" [Bilbao Athletic, into Segunda 19 years later and Cádiz will have to wait] (in Spanish). EFE. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. "Dismissals in Bilbao Athletic". Athletic Bilbao. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  6. "Athletic Bilbao 4–0 Barcelona: Aduriz hits hat-trick in Supercopa shocker". Goal. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  7. "Aduriz echa al Barça a los leones" [Aduriz throws Barça to the lions]. Marca (in Spanish). 14 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. "El liderato lleva el nombre del Eibar" [The leadership carries Eibar's name]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 August 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  9. "Bilbao Athletic y Lugo no cumplen sus objetivos" [Bilbao Athletic and Lugo fail to complete their objectives]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  10. "Villarreal tighten grip on top four; Athletic Bilbao held by lowly Granada". ESPN FC. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  11. "Iñigo Lekue's renewal". Athletic Bilbao. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  12. "Lekue sustituye a Jonny en el grupo de promesas citado por Del Bosque" [Lekue replaces Jonny in the group of prospects called by Del Bosque]. Marca (in Spanish). 22 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
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