Unai Simón
Simón with Spain U18 in 2015
Personal information
Full name Unai Simón Mendibil[1]
Date of birth (1997-06-11) 11 June 1997
Place of birth Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2][3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 1
Youth career
2010–2011 Aurrerá Vitoria
2011–2014 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Basconia 36 (0)
2016–2018 Athletic Bilbao B 58 (0)
2018– Athletic Bilbao 163 (0)
International career‡
2013 Spain U16 1 (0)
2015 Spain U18 3 (0)
2015–2016 Spain U19 4 (0)
2017–2019 Spain U21 10 (0)
2021 Spain U23 7 (0)
2020– Spain 38 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
Men's Football
UEFA Nations League
Winner2023 Netherlands
Runner-up2021 Italy
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place2020 TokyoTeam
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Winner2019 Italy
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner2015 Greece
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 January 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2023

Unai Simón Mendibil (born 11 June 1997) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao and the Spain national team.

Early life

Simón's father, a member of the Guardia Civil from the Province of Zamora, was assigned to a security posting in the Basque Country where he met Unai's mother, a member of the Ertzaintza (the local police force);[4] their son was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, and raised in the nearby village of Murgia.[5] He joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2011 from CD Aurrerá de Vitoria,[6] lodging with a family in the Bilbao area.[4]

Club career

Simón made his debut as a senior with CD Basconia, Athletic's farm team, in the 2014–15 season, in the Tercera División.[7] On 8 June 2016, he was promoted to the reserves, recently relegated to Segunda División B.[8] He immediately became a starter for the side, contributing with 29 appearances during the campaign.[7]

On 2 June 2017, he was called up to the main squad for the pre-season by new first team manager José Ángel Ziganda,[9] but continued to appear exclusively for the B-team. On 13 July 2018, he signed a contract extension until 2023,[10] and was loaned to Segunda División side Elche CF two weeks later.[11]

On 15 August 2018, after Kepa Arrizabalaga's departure from the club and Iago Herrerín's injury, Simón was recalled by Athletic before he had played a match for Elche.[12] He initially appeared to be behind the older Álex Remiro in the queue for selection,[13] but made his professional – and La Liga – debut five days later, starting in a 2–1 home win against CD Leganés.[14][15] In just his third appearance in the top division, Simón played in a 1–1 draw with Real Madrid where he made several key saves and was named player of the match.[16] However, when Herrerín regained full fitness in October 2018 he was made the starting goalkeeper, with Simón's only appearances over the subsequent four months coming in the Copa del Rey.[7]

For the 2019–20 season, Simón was given the #1 squad number and began the campaign as first choice, keeping a clean sheet in an opening day win over FC Barcelona.[17] He continued his strong form throughout the season, missing two fixtures with illness and completing 33 matches in the league, conceding 29 goals[18] to finish third in the Zamora Trophy rankings.[19] On the 37th, penultimate, matchday, he was sent off during the first half against Leganés for a 'last man' challenge outside the penalty area, with the resultant suspension ending his season a game early; with ten men, Athletic Bilbao lost 2–0 to end their slim hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.[20]

In August 2020, he signed a new contract with the club running to the summer of 2025, with no buyout clause.[21]

International career

Simón was selected for Spain at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was a member of the squad that won the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, albeit as the backup goalkeeper to Antonio Sivera during the tournament.[22] In the same year he was in the Basque Country under-18 team that won the Spanish regional championship.[5]

On 1 September 2017, Simón debuted with the under-21 team against Italy.[23] He was selected for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, playing the first game of the group stage as Spain once more finished as champions (Sivera was again first-choice).[24][25]

Simón received his first call up to the senior side on 20 August 2020, for the initial two matches of the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League.[26] Despite having made an error which led to a goal at club level a few days earlier, he was selected for his full debut on 11 November 2020, playing the entirety of a friendly against the Netherlands.[27]

On 24 May 2021, Simón was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[28] He started all of the team's matches, and caused an own goal in the 5–3 last-16 win over Croatia when he was unable to control a long backwards pass by Pedri.[29] Luis Enrique praised his mentality for having recovered from that mistake.[30] He then managed to save two penalties as Spain won the shootout against Switzerland in the quarter-finals after a 1–1 draw,[5] for which he was also awarded the Star of the Match.[31] The semi-final against Italy ended with the same score, and Simón saved the first attempt in the shootout by Manuel Locatelli, but the Italians prevailed.[32] Simón was also called up for the Spanish Olympic team for the delayed 2020 tournament in Japan.[33] With Simón as the starting goalkeeper they reached the final, but lost to Brazil.[34]

He was the starter at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in which Spain progressed from their group with a win, a draw and a defeat, then lost 3–0 on penalties to Morocco in the Round of 16 after a goalless draw – Simón saved from Badr Benoun, but three team-mates all failed with their efforts.[35] They had better fortune in the 2023 UEFA Nations League final six months later, where another 0–0, against Croatia, was followed by a 5–4 win in the shootout to claim the title, Simón blocking attempts from Lovro Majer and Bruno Petković.[4][36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 January 2024[37]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Copa del Rey Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basconia 2014–15[38] Tercera División 140———140
2015–16[38] 220———220
Total 360———360
Bilbao Athletic 2014–15 Segunda División B 00———00
2015–16 Segunda División 00———00
2016–17 Segunda División B 290———290
2017–18 290——2[lower-alpha 1]0310
Total 580000020600
Athletic Bilbao 2016–17 La Liga 0000——00
2017–18 00000 0—00
2018–19 7040——110
2019–20 3404[lower-alpha 2]0——380
2020–21 37040—2[lower-alpha 3]0430
2021–22 34000—2[lower-alpha 3]0360
2022–23 31000——310
2023–24 20000——200
Total 163012000401790
Career total 257012000602750
  1. ↑ Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
  2. ↑ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
  3. 1 2 Appearances in Supercopa de España

International

As of match played 19 November 2023[39]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 202030
2021170
2022110
202370
Total380

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Spain U19

Spain U21

Spain U23

Spain

Individual

  • UEFA La Liga Revelation Team of the Year: 2019–20[45]

References

  1. ↑ "Squad List: Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Spain (ESP)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 July 2021. p. 16. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Unai Simón". soccerway. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Unai Simón". fbref. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Galiacho, Juan Luis (18 June 2023). "Unai Simón: El portero vasco hijo de un Guardia Civil y una ertzaina lleva a la Selección española al triunfo" [Unai Simón: The Basque goalkeeper, son of a Civil Guard and an Ertzaina, leads the Spanish National Team to victory]. elcierredigital.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "El pueblo de Mikel Landa ya es el pueblo de Unai Simón" [Mikel Landa's village is now Unai Simón's village] (in Spanish). El País. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Entrevista a Unai Simon" [Interview to Unai Simon]. La Cantera de Lezama (in Spanish). 11 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Unai Simón". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Leaving Basconia". Athletic Bilbao. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Preseason with the premier team". Athletic Bilbao. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Renewal of Unai Simón". Athletic Bilbao. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Unai Simón on-loan to Elche CF". Athletic Bilbao. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Recovery of Unai Simón". Athletic Bilbao. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Ortiz de Lazcano, Javier (8 August 2018). "La salida de Kepa facilita la continuidad de Remiro" [Kepa's departure makes it easier for Remiro to continue]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  14. ↑ Zubieta, Jon (21 August 2018). "Simón debuta con un paradón providencial" [Simón debuts with a providential save] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  15. ↑ García, Óscar (21 August 2018). "Muniain gives Berizzo his first win as Athletic Club coach". Marca. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  16. ↑ Ruthven, Graham (15 September 2018). "Isco goal salvages point for Real Madrid away to Athletic Bilbao". Eurosport. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "Athletic Bilbao 1–0 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  18. ↑ "Matches Unai Simón (filters: 2019-20 season, La Liga, Athletic Club)". BDFutbol. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  19. ↑ Zamora de LaLiga Santander 2019 - 2020, Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020
  20. ↑ "Leganés wins against Athletic at San Mamés and is still alive (0-2)". CD Leganés. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Unai Simón renews contract until 2025, Athletic Club website, 20 August 2020
  22. 1 2 Villapun, Jon (22 July 2015). "El portero del Basconia Unai Simón gana el Europeo sub'19 con España" [Basconia goalkeeper Unai Simón wins the U19 European Championship with Spain]. Bidebieta (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  23. ↑ "Selección de España: España da un repaso a Italia" [Spanish national team: Spain reviews Italy]. Marca.com (in Spanish). 1 September 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  24. ↑ "La Quinta de Oro" [The Golden Fifth]. Marca.com (in Spanish). 30 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21". BBC Sport. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  26. ↑ "OFICIAL | Lista de convocados de la Selección española para los partidos de la UEFA Nations League ante Alemania y Ucrania" [OFFICIAL | List of called-up players by the Spain national team for the UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine] (in Spanish). SEFutbol. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  27. ↑ "Luis Enrique echa un capote a Simón" [Luis Enrique throws a cape on Simón] (in Spanish). El Correo. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  28. ↑ Braidwood, Jamie (24 May 2021). "Euro 2020 news LIVE: Sergio Ramos left out of Spain squad plus latest before England announcement". The Independent. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  29. ↑ del Río, José (28 June 2021). "Unai Simon's horrific mistake for Croatia's opener". Marca. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  30. ↑ "Unai Simon and Pedri team up for shocking Spain own goal - but keeper gains 'redemption'". BBC Sport. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  31. ↑ "Switzerland 1-1 Spain (pens: 1-3): La Roja pip Swiss on penalties to reach semi-finals". UEFA. 2 July 2021.
  32. ↑ "Italy hold nerve to beat Spain on penalties and reach final". The Hindu. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  33. ↑ "Pedri, Garcia & Torres among Spain's Euro 2020 players named in Tokyo Olympics squad". Goal. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  34. 1 2 "Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Brazil retain Olympic football gold with Malcom extra-time winner". Sky Sports. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  35. ↑ Hafez, Shamoon (6 December 2022). "World Cup 2022: Morocco 0–0 Spain (3–0 pens) Achraf Hakimi chips winning penalty to reach quarters". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  36. ↑ "Croatia 0 Spain 0 (4–5 on pens): As it happened". Guardian. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  37. ↑ Unai Simón at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  38. 1 2 "Unai Simón". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  39. ↑ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Unai Simón". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  40. ↑ "Acta del Partido celebrado el 17 de enero de 2021, en Sevilla" [Minutes of the Match held on 17 January 2021, in Seville] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  41. ↑ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  42. ↑ Lowe, Sid (17 April 2021). "Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  43. ↑ Smith, Emma (18 June 2023). "Spain win Nations League final on penalties". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  44. ↑ "France beat Spain to win Nations League". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  45. ↑ "Equipo Revelación de La Liga 2019/20". UEFA. 21 July 2020.
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