Raúl Fernández-Cavada Mateos
Encyclopedia
Raúl Fernández-Cavada Mateos (born 13 March 1988 in Bilbao
, Biscay
), simply Raúl, is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao
as a goalkeeper.
's prolific youth system, Lezama
, at the age of only 10. He made his senior debuts with the reserve side
in the third division
, then went on to spend two seasons on loan in the same category, first with UB Conquense
then Granada CF
: with the Andalusia
ns, he was the most utilized player in his position as the club returned
to the second level
after an absence of more than two decades.
Raúl was definitely promoted to Athletic's first team for 2010–11
, following the retirement of veteran Armando
. On 23 April 2011, as longtime starter Gorka Iraizoz
was suspended following his fifth booking of the season, he made his La Liga
debut, performing well in a 2–1 home win against Basque
neighbours Real Sociedad
.
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, 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 Raúl, 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 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic 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...
as a goalkeeper.
Football career
Rául joined 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...
's prolific youth system, 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:*...
, at the age of only 10. He made his senior debuts with the reserve side
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
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...
, then went on to spend two seasons on loan in the same category, first 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....
then 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....
: with the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns, he was the most utilized player in his position as the club returned
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
to the second level
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
after an absence of more than two decades.
Raúl was definitely promoted to Athletic's first team for 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, following the retirement of veteran Armando
Armando Riveiro
Armando Riveiro de Aguilar Malda, simply Armando , is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
. On 23 April 2011, as longtime starter Gorka Iraizoz
Gorka Iraizoz
Gorka Iraizoz Moreno is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish first division, as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Iraizoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre...
was suspended following his fifth booking of the season, he made his 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...
debut, performing well in a 2–1 home win against Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
neighbours Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
.