Beñat Etxebarria
Encyclopedia
Beñat Etxebarria Urkiaga (born 19 February 1987 in Igorre
, Biscay
), simply Beñat, is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Real Betis
as a defensive midfielder.
, Lezama
, Beñat played his first three years with both the third team, CD Baskonia
, and the reserve side
. On 29 October 2006, he played his first - and only - La Liga
game, which consisted of six minutes against CA Osasuna
in a 1–1 away draw, after replacing another youth product, Francisco Yeste
.
In the 2008–09 season, Beñat played with UB Conquense
in the third division
, after which he was released by Athletic. In the summer, he signed with Real Betis
, but spent his first season with the reserves
, also in level three.
On 29 August 2010, Beñat made his debut for Betis' main squad, playing the second half of the 4–1 home win against Granada CF
, and assisting
on a Salva Sevilla
goal. Three days later, he scored in his first start, a 2–1 home triumph against UD Salamanca
for the season
's Copa del Rey
.
Igorre
Igorre is a municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
, Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
), simply Beñat, is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
as a defensive midfielder.
Club career
Coming through the prolific youth ranks at Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, Lezama
Lezama
Lezama is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It is home to the training headquarters of the football team Athletic Bilbao, and is accessible by bus - BizkaiBus - from Bilbao.-External links:*...
, Beñat played his first three years with both the third team, CD Baskonia
CD Baskonia
Club Deportivo Baskonia is a Spanish football club based in Basauri, Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de López Cortázar, with a 8,500-seat capacity.-History:Founded in 1913 as CD Basconia,...
, and the reserve side
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
. On 29 October 2006, he played his first - and only - La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
game, which consisted of six minutes against CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in a 1–1 away draw, after replacing another youth product, Francisco Yeste
Francisco Yeste
Francisco "Fran" Javier Yeste Navarro is a Spanish footballer who plays for Olympiacos F.C. in Greece.Usually an attacking midfielder , he played 11 years of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao , appearing in 353 official games and scoring 59 goals.-Athletic Bilbao:Born in...
.
In the 2008–09 season, Beñat played with UB Conquense
UB Conquense
Unión Balompédica Conquense is a Spanish football team based in Cuenca, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded in 1946, it currently plays in 2ªB - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio La Fuensanta, with a 3,500 total capacity....
in the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, after which he was released by Athletic. In the summer, he signed with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, but spent his first season with the reserves
Real Betis B
Real Betis B is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1963, it is the reserve team of Real Betis, and currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva, with a capacity for 4,000 spectators.Unlike the...
, also in level three.
On 29 August 2010, Beñat made his debut for Betis' main squad, playing the second half of the 4–1 home win against Granada CF
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
, and assisting
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
on a Salva Sevilla
Salva Sevilla
Salvador "Salva" Sevilla López is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Betis as a central midfielder.-External links:* ** *...
goal. Three days later, he scored in his first start, a 2–1 home triumph against UD Salamanca
UD Salamanca
Unión Deportiva Salamanca, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 16 March 1923, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2....
for the season
2010–11 Copa del Rey
The 2010–11 Copa del Rey was the 107th staging of the Copa del Rey. The competition began on August 21, 2010 and ended on April 20, 2011 with the final, held at the Estadio Mestalla in Valencia, in which Real Madrid lifted the trophy for the eighteenth time in their history with a 1–0 victory over...
's Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
.