Julen Agirrezabala

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Agirrezabala and the second or maternal family name is Astúlez.

Julen Agirrezabala
Personal information
Full name Julen Agirrezabala Astúlez
Date of birth (2000-12-26) 26 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 13
Youth career
2011–2014 Touring[1]
2014–2018 Antiguoko
2018–2019 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Basconia 19 (0)
2020–2022 Bilbao Athletic 41 (0)
2021– Athletic Bilbao 30 (0)
International career‡
2021–2023 Spain U21 8 (0)
2024– Basque Country[2] 1 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2023 Georgia–Romania Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 April 2024

Julen Agirrezabala Astúlez (born 26 December 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

Born in San Sebastián and raised in nearby Errenteria[1] (both in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), Agirrezabala joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in 2018, from Antiguoko.[3] He made his senior debut with the farm team during the 2019–20 season, in Tercera División.

On his debut with the reserves on 1 November 2020, Agirrezabala started and saved a penalty kick in a 3–2 Segunda División B away win against Club Portugalete.[4] The following 15 March, he renewed his contract until 2025.[5]

In June 2021, Agirrezabala was called up by manager Marcelino to take part in the pre-season with the main squad.[6] He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 16 August, starting in a 0–0 away draw against Elche CF.[7][8] He spent most of that season playing for the reserves, but was selected in the Copa del Rey in preference to Jokin Ezkieta (first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simón stepping aside) and took part in victories over Barcelona and Real Madrid before the run was ended at the semi-final stage by Valencia.[9] Ezkieta moved on ahead of the 2022–23 season and Agirrezabala became the main understudy to Simón in the league.[1] He was again used in the cup as the team advanced to the semi-finals once more, this time eliminated by Osasuna.[10]

Agirrezabala played every minute of Athletic's run in the 2023–24 Copa del Rey, keeping four clean sheets including in both legs of the semi-final against Atlético Madrid; in the final against RCD Mallorca, his solid performance was capped by saving Manu Morlanes's effort in the penalty shootout as the Basques claimed the trophy for the first time in 40 years.[11]

International career

In August 2021, Agirrezabala was called up to the Spain under-21 squad for two UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying matches.[12] On 8 October, he made his full debut in a victory over Slovakia at La Cartuja.[13] On 2 June 2023, he was called up for the Under-21 Championship finals held in Georgia and Romania.[14][15] In that tournament he was a back-up for Arnau Tenas,[16] but played in the third group stage match against Ukraine.

Career statistics

As of match played 11 December 2024
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
Basconia 2019–20 Tercera Federación 19 0 — — — 19 0
Bilbao Athletic 2019–20 Segunda División B 0 0 — — — 0 0
2020–21 Segunda División B 14 0 — — — 14 0
2021–22 Primera Federación 27 0 — — — 27 0
Total 41 0 — — — 41 0
Athletic Bilbao 2021–22 La Liga 4 0 5 0 — 0 0 9 0
2022–23 La Liga 8 0 7 0 — — 15 0
2023–24 La Liga 4 0 8 0 — — 12 0
2024–25 La Liga 14 0 0 0 5[a] 0 — 19 0
Total 30 0 20 0 5 0 — 55 0
Career total 90 0 20 0 5 0 0 0 115 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Spain U21

References

  1. ^ a b c ""Mis padres me inculcaron que, pase lo que pase, hay que seguir siendo humilde"" ["My parents instilled in me that, no matter what happens, you have to remain humble"] (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Djaló conquista San Mamés y Bielsa la lía" [Djaló conquers San Mamés and Bielsa the mess] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  3. ^ "El Athletic ficha a otros dos jugadores del Antiguoko" [Athletic sign another two players from Antiguoko] (in Spanish). El Correo. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Agirrezabala puja fuerte en la portería del Bilbao Athletic" [Agirrezabala comes out strong in the goal of Bilbao Athletic] (in Spanish). El Correo. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Renovación de Julen Agirrezabala hasta 2025" [Renewal of Julen Agirrezabala until 2025] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Five youngsters to do pre-season with senior squad". Athletic Bilbao. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Un punto con sabores bien distintos" [A point with very different flavours] (in Spanish). Marca. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. ^ Julen Agirrezabala: the fourth youngest Athletic goalkeeper in the last 50 years, Athletic Club website, 17 August 2021
  9. ^ Lowe, Sid (4 June 2022). "It's the Sids 2022! The complete review of La Liga's 2021-22 season". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  10. ^ Ibanez goal sends Osasuna into Copa del Rey final after dramatic draw, Reuters, 5 April 2023
  11. ^ a b Reinoso del Real, Mario (7 April 2024). "Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, en directo: final de Copa del Rey 2024 | Celebración del Athletic, campeón de Copa" [Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, live: 2024 King's Cup final | Celebrations of Athletic, Cup champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Agirrezabala, Vencedor, Sancet y Nico Williams, convocados con 'La Rojita'". El Correo (in Spanish). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ Chozas, Sergio Santos (8 October 2021). "Susto y remontada de orgullo". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Agirrezabala, Paredes y Sancet tendrán menos vacaciones". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 2 June 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Julen Agirrezabala: "Veo más fútbol que la Kings League, soy un clásico"". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 21 June 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  16. ^ "España, a cuartos como primera de grupo, pero sufriendo". MARCA (in Spanish). 27 June 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  17. ^ England 1-0 Spain: James Trafford saves last-gasp penalty as England win dramatic UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Ben Southby, TNT Sports, 9 July 2023