Ibai Gómez

Ibai

Ibai with Athletic Bilbao in 2012
Personal information
Full nameIbai Gómez Pérez
Date of birth11 November 1989
Place of birthBilbao, Spain
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionWinger / Forward
Club information
Current team
Athletic Bilbao
Number11
Youth career
2004–2008Santutxu
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2009Santutxu31(7)
2009–2010Sestao36(8)
2010–2012Bilbao Athletic28(14)
2010–Athletic Bilbao95(13)
National team‡
2012–Basque Country2(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 June 2014
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Ibai Gómez Pérez (born 11 November 1989), simply known as Ibai, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao mainly as a left winger.

Football career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Ibai began his career with Santutxu FC in the Basque regional leagues, winning the Balón de Oro for the category in February 2009.[1] After five years with the club he left, but stayed in the region after agreeing on a move to third division's Sestao River Club.

On 4 June 2010, after Sestao's relegation, Ibai moved straight into La Liga, joining Athletic Bilbao for two years[2] with an option for a further one or two.[3] He spent most of his first season with the reserves, in the third level.

On 17 October 2010 Ibai made his top flight debut, coming on as a substitute for Gaizka Toquero in the 67th minute of a home match against Real Zaragoza (2–1 win); after only three minutes, however, he himself had to be substituted, being stretchered off after suffering a knee injury.[4]

Ibai contributed with two goals as Athletic reached the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League final – totalling seven appearances in the competition – scoring against FC Schalke 04 (2–2 home draw, 6–4 on aggregate)[5] and Sporting Clube de Portugal (3–1 home success, 4–3 aggregate win).[6]

Ibai was definitely promoted to the first team for the 2012–13 campaign, being given the number 11 jersey. On 17 November 2012 he scored his first league goal of the campaign, in a 1–5 loss at Real Madrid.[7]

Honours

Club statistics

As of 18 April 2015[8][9]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[10] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sestao River 2009–10 368------368
Total 36800----368
Bilbao Athletic 2010–11 124------124
2011–12 161000----1610
Total 281400----2814
Athletic Bilbao 2010–11 3000000030
2011–12 190307200292
2012–13 354209100465
2013–14 188600000248
2014–15 201306100292
Total 95131402240013119
Career totals 159351402240019539

References

  1. ↑ Ibai Gomez Balón de Oro (Ibai Gomez Golden Ball); Santutxu's official website, 24 February 2009 (Spanish)
  2. ↑ El Athletic Club ha fichado a Ibai Gómez (Athletic Club has signed Ibán Gómez); Athletic's official website, 4 June 2010 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Ibai Gómez: "A por todas" (Ibai Gómez: "All the way"); Mundo Deportivo, 4 June 2010 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Ibai Gómez, de sueño a pesadilla (Ibai Gómez, from dream to nightmare); Canal Athletic, 18 October 2010 (Spanish)
  5. ↑ Athletic stride past Schalke and into semi-finals; UEFA.com, 5 April 2012
  6. ↑ Athletic leave it late as Llorente sets up final date; UEFA.com, 26 April 2012
  7. ↑ Five-star Real trounce Athletic Bilbao; ESPN FC, 17 November 2012
  8. ↑ "Ibai". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ibai". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  10. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

External links