Fernando Amorebieta

Athletic Bilbao

Born in Cantaura, Pedro María Freites Municipality, Anzoátegui, Venezuela, Amorebieta joined Athletic Bilbao in 1996, aged 11; he met the club's eligibility standards having been raised in the Basque town of Iurreta and through his parents, both of whom hailed from the region. After progressing through the ranks – alongside Fernando Llorente– including CD Basconia (the farm team) and Bilbao Athletic (the reserves), he made his first-team debut in 2005–06, becoming first choice in the subsequent La Liga seasons. Amorebieta played a total of 47 official matches in 2009–10, helping Athletic to reach the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League as well as an eighth-place finish in the league; he collected 18 yellow cards in the process, being sent off twice. Amorebieta began the 2012–13 campaign nursing a pubalgia ailment, and was later involved in a dispute over the extension of his contract.

Fulham

On 15 April 2013, Amorebieta signed a four-year deal with Fulham on a free transfer effective as of 1 July. The Premier League club officially announced him on 22 May, and he made his debut on 14 September, coming on as a substitute for Kieran Richardson in a 1–1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at Craven Cottage. Amorebieta was sent off on 22 March 2014 for conceding a penalty with a foul on David Silva in an eventual 5–0 defeat at Manchester City. He scored his first goal in English football on 26 April, his team's second in an eventual 2–2 home…

Spain

Amorebieta was part of the Spain under-19 team that won the UEFA European Championship in 2004. In August 2008, he was called up by new senior team manager Vicente del Bosque for a friendly against Denmark, but did not leave the bench.

Venezuela

As early as 2006, Amorebieta expressed his interest in playing for the Venezuela national team. However, according to FIFA rules at the time, he should have switched his affiliation prior to the age of 21, having previously played for Spain's youth sides; FIFA removed the rule in 2009, and talks between the player and the Venezuelan Football Federation resumed. Finally, on 2 September 2011, Amorebieta made his senior debut in a friendly with Argentina, a 1–0 loss in Kolkata. On 11 October, against the same opponent but for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, he scored in a 1–0 home win, which signified Venezuela's first-ever win against the Albiceleste in the tournament. Amorebieta was included in the squad for the 2015 Copa América, where he was sent off in the team's 1–0 defeat to Peru in the group stage for a stamp on Paolo Guerrero. He retired from international football that November.

Basque Country

Amorebieta also appeared in four matches for the Basque Country national team (a non-FIFA affiliate), debuting against Venezuela in San Cristóbal, Táchira on 20 June 2007. The friendly match, a 4–3 Basque victory, was the grand opening for the 43,000 all-seated Pueblo Nuevo Stadium, after…

Club

International goals

Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Amorebieta goal.

Athletic Bilbao

Copa del Rey runner-up: 2008–09, 2011–12 Supercopa de España runner-up: 2009 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2011–12 Independiente

Copa Sudamericana: 2017 Spain U19

UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2004