Martín Zubimendi

Spanish footballer (born 1999)

Martín Zubimendi
Zubimendi playing for Real Sociedad in 2023
Personal information
Full name Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez[1]
Date of birth (1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Real Sociedad
Number 4
Youth career
2006–2011 Antiguoko
2011–2016 Real Sociedad
2011–2013 → Antiguoko (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Real Sociedad C 26 (1)
2017–2020 Real Sociedad B 50 (4)
2019– Real Sociedad 142 (7)
International career‡
2016 Spain U17 1 (0)
2017 Spain U19 1 (0)
2020–2021 Spain U21 7 (0)
2021 Spain U23 6 (0)
2021– Spain 5 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA Nations League
Winner 2023 Netherlands
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 March 2024 (UTC)

Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez (born 2 February 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Real Sociedad and the Spain national team.

Club career

Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Zubimendi joined Real Sociedad's youth setup in 2011, aged 12.[3] He had also played for Antiguoko in the Donosti Cup between 2006 and 2013.[4] He made his senior debut with Real Sociedad C on 27 August 2016, playing the last seven minutes in a 0–0 Tercera División home draw against SCD Durango.[citation needed]

On 25 July 2018, Zubimendi renewed his contract until 2022, and was definitely promoted to the reserves in Segunda División B.[5] The following 28 April, he made his first team – and La Liga – debut, coming on as a late substitute for Rubén Pardo in a 2–1 home win over Getafe CF.[6] On 24 July 2020, he renewed his contract with the Txuri-urdin until 2025, being definitively promoted to the main squad.[7]

On 24 February 2022, Zubimendi scored his first goal in European competitions in a 3–1 home defeat against RB Leipzig during the Europa League knockout round play-offs.[8] A month later, on 13 March, he scored his first La Liga goal in a 1–0 victory over Deportivo Alavés.[9] In October, he extended his contract with the club until 2027.[10] On 20 September 2023, he made his Champions League debut in a 1–1 draw against Inter Milan.[11]

International career

Zubimendi represented the Spain under-19s in a friendly 2–1 loss to the Portugal under-19s on 15 November 2017.[12]

Due to the isolation of some national team players following the positive COVID-19 test of Sergio Busquets, Spain's under-21 squad were called up for the international friendly against Lithuania on 8 June 2021.[13] Zubimendi made his senior debut in the match.[14]

Style of play

Zubimendi's versatile style of play draws comparisons to renowned players, notably Sergio Busquets. He showcases composure and control, guiding plays and adjusting the game's tempo. His role involves initiating plays from deep positions, displaying precise decision-making. Zubimendi's aptitude for receiving passes and creating space is reminiscent of Busquets, reflecting a deep understanding of the game and the art of crafting opportunities. Additionally, his technical abilities, including dribbling and deep runs, align with top midfielders, while his ball retention in tight spaces mirrors qualities seen in players like Xabi Alonso and David Silva.[15][16][17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 31 March 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Sociedad B 2016–17 Segunda División B 3 0 — — — 3 0
2017–18 Segunda División B 2 0 — — — 2 0
2018–19 Segunda División B 20 1 — — — 20 1
2019–20 Segunda División B 25 3 — — — 25 3
Total 50 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 4
Real Sociedad 2018–19 La Liga 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2019–20 La Liga 9 0 1[a] 0 — — 10 0
2020–21 La Liga 31 0 2 0 7[b] 0 1[c] 0 41 0
2021–22 La Liga 36 2 4 0 7[b] 1 — 47 3
2022–23 La Liga 36 1 3 0 4[b] 0 — 43 1
2023–24 La Liga 29 4 6 0 8[d] 0 — 43 4
Total 142 7 16 0 26 1 1 0 185 7
Career total 192 11 16 0 26 1 1 0 235 12
  1. ^ Appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 22 March 2024[19]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2021 1 0
2023 3 0
2024 1 0
Total 5 0

Honours

Real Sociedad

Spain U23

Spain

References

  1. ^ "Squad List: Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Spain (ESP)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 July 2021. p. 16. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Martín Zubimendi". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Zubimendi llega para quedarse" [Zubimendi arrives to stay] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Ten players who will play in the upcoming Cup finals at La Cartuja have in common having participated in the Donosti Cup!". Donosti Cup. 7 April 2021.
  5. ^ "La Real renueva a Martín Zubimendi hasta 2022" [Real renew Martín Zubimendi until 2022] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  6. ^ "La Real respira y complica la Champions al Getafe" [Real breathe and complicate Getafe's Champions place] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Until 2025". Real Sociedad. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Un sueño que se esfuma" (in Spanish). Marca. 24 February 2022.
  9. ^ "La Real record another victory". Real Sociedad. 13 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Real Sociedad confirm Martin Zubimendi extension until 2027". Football España. 15 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi: So proud to play Champions League in my hometown". Tribal Football. 20 September 2023.
  12. ^ Ripoll, Cristina (15 November 2017). "España Sub-19 ofrece una buena imagen ante Portugal" [Spain under-19 offer a good image against Portugal] (in Spanish). Fútbol Juvenil. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Oficial | Lista de convocados para el encuentro ante Lituania" [Official | Squad list for the match against Lithuania]. Royal Spanish Football Federation (in Spanish). 6 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Spain youngsters impress in Lithuania rout". MARCA. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  15. ^ Lowe, Sid (8 September 2022). "Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi: 'Xabi Alonso is an idol, a role model'". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Kemp, Jamie (14 October 2022). "Martín Zubimendi: The Real Sociedad Midfielder Finding Stardom in Simplicity". The Analyst.
  17. ^ Harris, Thom (13 June 2023). "Martin Zubimendi is the Gen-Z Sergio Busquets at the heart of Real Sociedad's midfield". The Athletic.
  18. ^ Martín Zubimendi at BDFutbol
  19. ^ "Martín Zubimendi". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Athletic Club 0-1 Real Sociedad: result, summary, goal". AS.com. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  21. ^ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  22. ^ Smith, Emma (18 June 2023). "Spain win Nations League final on penalties". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2023.

External links

  • Real Sociedad profile (in Spanish)
  • Martín Zubimendi at BDFutbol
  • Martín Zubimendi at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
  • Martín Zubimendi at Soccerway
  • v
  • t
  • e
Real Sociedad – current squad
  • v
  • t
  • e
Spain men's football squad – 2020 Summer Olympics – Silver medalists
Spain