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Yeray Álvarez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is López.
Yeray Álvarez
Yeray with Athletic Bilbao in 2018
Personal information
Full name Yeray Álvarez López[1]
Date of birth (1995-01-24) 24 January 1995 (age 29)[1]
Place of birth Barakaldo, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 5
Youth career
2005–2007 Barakaldo
2007–2008 Danok Bat
2008–2013 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Basconia 26 (0)
2014–2016 Bilbao Athletic 62 (1)
2016– Athletic Bilbao 192 (2)
International career‡
2017 Spain U21 2 (0)
2020– Basque Country 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:33, 31 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:19, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

Yeray Álvarez López (Spanish pronunciation: [ɟʝeˈɾaj ˈalβaɾeθ]; born 24 January 1995), known simply as Yeray, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

Born in Barakaldo, Biscay, Basque Country, Yeray joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup at Lezama in 2008, aged 13.[2] He played in the 2012–13 NextGen Series with the Juvenil A side, and made his debut as a senior with CD Basconia (the farm team) in the following season, in the Tercera División.[3]

On 26 May 2014, Yeray was promoted to the reserves who competed in the Segunda División B.[4] He contributed with 36 appearances and one goal during the campaign – play-offs included – as they returned to Segunda División after a 19-year absence.[5]

Yeray played his first professional game on 24 August 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jurgi Oteo in a 1–0 home loss against Girona FC.[6] He was a regular starter during that season, but the side were immediately relegated back as dead last.

In the 2016 pre-season, Yeray was promoted to the main squad, and he made his competitive debut on 15 September of that year when he played the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 away defeat to US Sassuolo Calcio in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.[7] His maiden La Liga appearance took place three days later, replacing Eneko Bóveda in a 2–1 home win over Valencia CF.[8]

Yeray subsequently became a regular starter for the Lions, appearing in 17 out of a possible 20 matches in all competitions. Due to the nature of his progression through the youth departments, he held the unusual distinction of having played in a different league every season from 2008 to 2016 without interruption: five youth year levels ending with the División de Honor Juvenil de Fútbol, fourth level with Basconia, divisions two and three with the reserves and top tier with the senior team.[3] However, the run was halted abruptly on 23 December 2016, when the club announced he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and would undergo surgery within the next week;[9] he returned to action on 4 February 2017 after only 46 days, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 loss at FC Barcelona,[10][11] and five days later, he extended his contract until 2022.[12]

On 12 June 2017, tests found further cancerous abnormalities, resulting in Yeray having to undergo chemotherapy treatment.[13] On his return to the club's training centre the following month, he was greeted by the entire playing squad, who had all shaved their heads in a gesture of solidarity.[14]

On 20 December 2017, Yeray captained the Athletic under-23s in a win over Swansea City in the Premier League International Cup (a reserves tournament).[15] 259 days after his last appearance, he made his return with the senior team on 4 February 2018 (exactly one year after his first comeback match, both fixtures by strange coincidence taking place on World Cancer Day),[16] playing the entirety of a 0–2 domestic league defeat away to Girona.[17]

Yeray agreed to a new seven-year deal on 18 July 2019, keeping him at the San Mamés Stadium until 2026 and with a release clause set at €70m.[18][19] He scored his first competitive goal for the first team on 25 January 2021, heading home a cross from Iker Muniain for his team's second in an eventual 5–1 home victory against Getafe CF.[20]

On 31 May 2023, Yeray underwent surgery to address the pubalgia problems that were preventing him from playing regularly.[21] On 6 October, he suffered a muscle injury to his thigh that also required operation and kept him out for four months.[22][23] In March 2024, another muscle ailment prevented him from participating in the final of the Copa del Rey against RCD Mallorca.[24][25]

International career

On 23 March 2017, Yeray made his debut for the Spain under-21 team in a friendly match against Denmark.[26] He was selected in the squad for that year's UEFA European Championships, before withdrawing due to illness prior to the start of the tournament.[27]

Even though he was not part of the squad of 23 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, Yeray was picked by full side manager Julen Lopetegui for a friendly with Switzerland to be held on 3 June.[28] He remained an unused substitute in the 1–1 draw.[29]

Yeray also played for the unofficial Basque Country team, making his debut against Costa Rica in November 2020.[30]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 August 2024[31][32][33]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Copa del Rey Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Basconia 2013–14 Tercera División 26 0 — — — 26 0
Bilbao Athletic 2014–15 Segunda División B 30 1 — — 6[a] 0 36 1
2015–16 Segunda División 32 0 — — — 32 0
Total 62 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 68 1
Athletic Bilbao 2016–17 La Liga 26 0 1 0 8[b] 0 — 35 0
2017–18 8 0 0 0 4[b] 0 — 12 0
2018–19 30 0 2 0 — — 32 0
2019–20 32 0 6[c] 0 — — 38 0
2020–21 23 1 6 0 — 1[d] 0 30 1
2021–22 22 0 3 0 — 2[d] 1 27 1
2022–23 28 1 5 0 — — 33 1
2023–24 19 0 2 0 — — 21 0
2024–25 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
Total 192 2 25 0 12 0 3 1 232 3
Career total 280 3 25 0 12 0 9 1 326 4
  1. ^ Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
  4. ^ a b Appearances in Supercopa de España

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

References

  1. ^ a b c "Yeray". Diario AS. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  2. ^ Ortiz de Lazcano, Javier (24 December 2016). "Yeray, el gran descubrimiento" [Yeray, the great discovery]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Yeray convence a Ernesto Valverde" [Yeray convinces Ernesto Valverde]. Deia (in Spanish). 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Registrations and de-registrations in Bilbao Athletic". Athletic Bilbao. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  5. ^ "El Bilbao Athletic, a Segunda 19 años después y el Cádiz tendrá que esperar" [Bilbao Athletic, into Segunda 19 years later and Cádiz will have to wait] (in Spanish). EFE. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  6. ^ García-Muñoz, Sergio (24 August 2015). "El que la sigue, la consigue" [He who wants it, gets it]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  7. ^ Pérez, Eneko (24 November 2016). "Yeray, el superviviente de Sassuolo" [Yeray, the survivor of Sassuolo]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  8. ^ Egea, Pablo (18 September 2016). "El Valencia, ni con ventaja" [Valencia, not even taking the lead]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  9. ^ Velasco, Juanma (23 December 2016). "Yeray sufre un tumor testicular" [Yeray suffers from testicular tumour]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Yeray vuelve a jugar 46 días después de ser operado de un cáncer de testículos" [Yeray returns to play 46 days after undergoing testicle cancer surgery]. ABC (in Spanish). 4 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Barcelona 3–0 Athletic Bilbao". BBC Sport. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  12. ^ Garcia, Adriana (9 February 2017). "Yeray Alvarez extends Athletic Bilbao contract until 2022". ESPN FC. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Yeray Álvarez: medical update". Athletic Bilbao. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Yeray Alvarez: Athletic Bilbao players shave heads to support defender diagnosed with cancer". BBC Sport. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Report: Swans U23 0 Athletic Bilbao B 2". Swansea City A.F.C. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  16. ^ Beltrán de Otálora, Óscar (4 February 2018). "Yeray: "Del cáncer se sale, lo he demostrado en el campo"" [Yeray: "You can beat cancer, I've shown it on the pitch"]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  17. ^ Bernad Suelves, Marc (4 February 2018). "Stuani castiga al Athletic y el Girona ya aspira a Europa" [Stuani punishes Athletic and Girona already aspire to Europe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Oficial: El Athletic renueva y blinda a Yeray Álvarez" [Official: Athletic renew and shield Yeray Álvarez] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Renewal of Yeray Álvarez". Athletic Bilbao. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  20. ^ Díaz, Juan Carlos (25 January 2021). "El Athletic es ahora un superequipo" [Athletic are now a superteam]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  21. ^ Rodríguez Beltrán, Javier (29 May 2023). "Yeray será operado de la pubalgia este miércoles" [Yeray will undergo pubalgia surgery this Wednesday]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  22. ^ Zaballa, Carlos (20 October 2023). "El infortunio se ceba con Yeray" [Misfortune all over Yeray]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  23. ^ Artetxe, José Luis (18 February 2024). "Yeray: "Llevo muchas operaciones, si tuviese que volver al quirófano me plantearía dejarlo"" [Yeray: "I have had many operations, if I had to go back to the operating room I would consider leaving it"]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  24. ^ Rodríguez Beltrán, Javier (31 March 2024). "Yeray se lesiona en el aductor largo a seis días de la final de Copa" [Yeray injuries adductor magnus six days from the Cup final]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  25. ^ Corral, Iñigo (6 April 2024). "Yeray: "Me reconcome por dentro la idea de pasar de nuevo por el quirófano"" [Yeray: "The thought of going through the operating room again makes me sick inside"]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Amistoso Sub-21, España-Dinamarca: Remontada y récord (3–1)" [Under-21 friendly, Spain-Denmark: Comeback and record (3–1)] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Yeray to undergo chemotherapy after testicular cancer returns". Diario AS. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  28. ^ "España se examina en un amistoso ante Suiza" [Test for Spain in friendly against Switzerland]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Spain 1–1 Switzerland". BBC Sport. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  30. ^ Velasco, Juanma (16 November 2020). "Euskadi gana a Costa Rica en el descuento" [Euskadi beat Costa Rica in stoppage time]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  31. ^ "Yeray Álvarez". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  32. ^ "Yeray". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  33. ^ Yeray Álvarez at FBref.com Edit this at Wikidata
  34. ^ Reinoso del Real, Mario (7 April 2024). "Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, en directo: final de Copa del Rey 2024 | Celebración del Athletic, campeón de Copa" [Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, live: 2024 King's Cup final | Celebrations of Athletic, Cup champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  35. ^ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  36. ^ Lowe, Sid (17 April 2021). "Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  37. ^ Carnerero, Fernando (17 January 2021). "La Supercopa de Williams" [Williams' Supercup]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2021.
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