Xabier Etxeita
Spanish footballer (born 1987)

Xabier Etxeita
Etxeita with Athletic Bilbao in 2018
Personal information
Full name Xabier Etxeita Gorritxategi[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-31) 31 October 1987 (age 38)[2]
Place of birth Amorebieta, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position Centre-back
Youth career
Amorebieta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Amorebieta
2006–2009 Bilbao Athletic 66 (7)
2008–2010 Athletic Bilbao 17 (1)
2010 → Cartagena (loan) 14 (1)
2010–2013 Elche 97 (5)
2013–2019 Athletic Bilbao 72 (3)
2018–2019 → Huesca (loan) 31 (4)
2019–2021 Getafe 28 (0)
2021–2022 Eibar 17 (1)
2022–2024 Amorebieta 53 (0)
Total 395 (22)
International career
2015 Spain 1 (0)
2014–2016 Basque Country 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Xabier Etxeita Gorritxategi (Basque: [ʃaβier etʃeita]; Spanish: [ʃaˈβjeɾ eˈtʃejta]; born 31 October 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Over ten seasons, he totalled 148 La Liga games and eight goals for Athletic Bilbao, Huesca and Getafe. He added 154 appearances in the Segunda División with four clubs, winning the 2015 Supercopa de España with Athletic.

Etxeita played once with Spain, in 2015.

Club career

Born in Amorebieta-Etxano, Biscay, Etxeita finished his development in Athletic Bilbao's prolific youth academy at Lezama, after playing with his hometown club SD Amorebieta as a forward.[3] His first three games with the first team of the former, all in 2008–09's La Liga, were not without incidents: in his first, a 2–0 home win against neighbours CA Osasuna on 16 November 2008, he subbed in for the injured Ustaritz,[4][5] being sent off in the following against CD Numancia (same venue and result).[6] On 21 December, he replaced Ander Murillo who also retired before half-time due to injury, in a 1–0 away victory over Real Betis.[7] In a season where he was also registered with the B side,[8] he scored his first goal for the main squad on 23 May 2009, equalising an eventual 1–4 home loss to Atlético Madrid.[9]

In the last days of the 2010 January transfer window, Etxeita moved on a five-month loan to FC Cartagena of Segunda División.[10] On 15 July, he left Athletic and signed with another club at that level, Elche CF,[11] quickly establishing himself in the starting XI.[12]

On 4 June 2013, after contributing 40 games and four goals[13][14][15][16] as the Valencian Community team returned to the top flight after more than 20 years,[17] Etxeita returned to Athletic Bilbao on a free transfer.[18] He only made his official debut on 7 April of the following year,[19] featuring the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win over Levante UD.[20]

Etxeita scored his second competitive goal for Athletic on 25 October 2014, the only in a league fixture at UD Almería.[21] His third came on 4 March of the following year, as he helped to a 2–0 defeat of RCD Espanyol in Barcelona to make his team reach the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time in three years;[22] he played the entire decisive match, a 3–1 loss to FC Barcelona,[23] and also started both legs of the subsequent edition of the Supercopa de España against the same opponent, which was won 5–1 on aggregate and brought a first trophy for the player.[24][25]

On 24 July 2018, Exteita was loaned to fellow top-division side SD Huesca for one year.[26] In August 2019, the free agent left the San Mamés Stadium with 140 appearances in all competitions[27] and joined Getafe CF of the same tier on a two-year contract.[28]

On 15 July 2021, Exteita signed a one-year deal with SD Eibar, recently relegated to the second division.[29] Having been released at the end of the season, he returned to his first club Amorebieta in September 2022.[30] In his debut campaign, he helped it to reach the professional leagues for the second time in its 98-year history.[31]

Etxeita retired at the end of 2023–24 aged 36, after his team's relegation.[32][33]

International career

Etxeita received his first call-up to the senior Spain national team in October 2015.[34][35] He earned his only cap on the 12th, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win in Ukraine – the last round, the nation had already secured the first position in its group – for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.[36][37]

Etxeita also featured for the unofficial Basque Country regional side.[38]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 April 2021[39][40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bilbao Athletic 2006–07 Segunda División B 29 4 — — — 29 4
2007–08 Segunda División B 28 1 — — — 28 1
2008–09 Segunda División B 9 2 — — — 9 2
Total 66 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 7
Athletic Bilbao 2008–09 La Liga 14 1 2 0 — — 16 1
2009–10 La Liga 3 0 1 0 1[a] 0 — 5 0
Total 17 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 21 1
Cartagena (loan) 2009–10 Segunda División 14 1 0 0 — — 14 1
Elche 2010–11 Segunda División 21 0 1 0 — 0 0 22 0
2011–12 Segunda División 36 1 1 0 — — 37 1
2012–13 Segunda División 40 4 1 0 — — 41 4
Total 97 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 100 5
Athletic Bilbao 2013–14 La Liga 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
2014–15 La Liga 24 2 6 1 4[b] 0 — 34 3
2015–16 La Liga 30 0 4 1 11[a] 0 2[c] 0 47 1
2016–17 La Liga 10 0 4 1 2[a] 0 — 16 1
2017–18 La Liga 5 1 2 0 12[a] 1 — 19 2
Total 72 3 16 3 29 1 2 0 119 7
Total Athletic Bilbao 89 4 19 3 30 1 2 0 140 8
Huesca (loan) 2018–19 La Liga 31 4 1 0 — — 32 4
Getafe 2019–20 La Liga 17 0 2 0 3[a] 0 — 22 0
2020–21 La Liga 11 0 1 0 — — 12 0
Total 28 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 34 0
Career total 325 21 26 3 33 1 2 0 386 25
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in Supercopa de España

Honours

Elche

Athletic Bilbao

Amorebieta

References

  1. ^ "Etxeita" (in Spanish). Aupa Athletic. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Etxeita". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  3. ^ Markinez, Iñigo (14 May 2025). "Xabi Etxeita, único futbolista que ha defendido las camisetas de Athletic y Getafe en Primera división" [Xabi Etxeita, only footballer to have donned the jerseys of Athletic and Getafe in First division] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Athletic 2 – Osasuna 0". Athletic Bilbao. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  5. ^ "El debut de Etxeita en el Athletic" [Etxeita's debut at Athletic]. El Correo (in Spanish). 19 November 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Athletic 2 – Numancia 0". Athletic Bilbao. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Betis 0 – Athletic 1". Athletic Bilbao. 21 December 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Etxeita e Iraizoz en sala de prensa" [Etxeita and Iraizoz in press room] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Forlán se corona en San Mamés" [Forlán is crowned at San Mamés]. El País (in Spanish). 23 May 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  10. ^ "El Cartegena [sic] cierra la cesión de Etxeita" [Cartagena close Etxeita loan]. Marca (in Spanish). 26 January 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  11. ^ "El Elche anuncia el fichaje del central del Athletic Xabi Etxeita" [Elche announce signing of Athletic stopper Xabi Etxeita]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 15 July 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  12. ^ Txakartegi, K. (12 May 2015). "Xabi Etxeita rescata su pasado con su vuelta a Elche" [Xabi Etxeita rescues his past as he returns to Elche]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  13. ^ "3–1: El Elche completa pleno de triunfos ante un rival que no inquietó" [3–1: Elche go three for three against unassuming rivals]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 September 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  14. ^ "El Elche ratifica su liderato tras ganar al Almería (1–0)" [Elche confirm first place after beating Almería (1–0)]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 16 December 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  15. ^ "La estrategia del líder destroza al Sabadell" [Leaders' strategy rips Sabadell apart]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 January 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  16. ^ "El líder se estrella en la mano de Máyor" [Leaders crash against Máyor's hand]. Marca (in Spanish). 20 January 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  17. ^ a b Marín, David (26 May 2013). "El Elche, campeón de Segunda" [Elche, Segunda champions]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  18. ^ "El Elche confirma que Etxeita regresa al Athletic" [Elche confirm Etxeita returns to Athletic]. Deia (in Spanish). 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  19. ^ Velasco, Juanma (6 April 2014). "Etxeita sale a escena ocho meses después" [Etxeita jumps the stage eight months later]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Bilbao strengthen grip on top four". ESPN FC. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  21. ^ López, Jesús Fernando (25 October 2014). "Etxeita da aire al Athletic" [Etxeita lets Athletic breathe]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  22. ^ Melero, Delfín (4 March 2015). "Como manda la tradición" [Will of tradition]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  23. ^ Lowe, Sid (30 May 2015). "Lionel Messi double gives Barcelona Cup final win over Athletic Bilbao". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Athletic Bilbao 4–0 Barcelona: Aduriz hits hat-trick in Supercopa shocker". Goal. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Barcelona lose Spanish Super Cup to Athletic Bilbao". BBC Sport. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  26. ^ "El defensa Etxeita llega cedido al Huesca" [Defender Etxeita arrives on loan at Huesca]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  27. ^ Cotorro, Ander (28 May 2019). "El Athletic anuncia a Etxeita su descarte" [Athletic announce Etxeita that he will be released]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  28. ^ De la Rosa, José Antonio (13 August 2019). "Etxeita ficha por dos temporadas con el Getafe" [Etxeita signs for two seasons with Getafe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Etxeita se convierte en nuevo jugador del Eibar" [Etxeita becomes the new player of Eibar] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  30. ^ Romero, Fernando (8 September 2022). "Xabi Etxeita, refuerzo de primer nivel para el Amorebieta" [Xabi Etxeita, top-level reinforcement for Amorebieta]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  31. ^ Velasco, Juanma (3 June 2023). "El Amorebieta vuelve para quedarse" [Amorebieta are back to stay]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  32. ^ "Xabi Etxeita anuncia su retirada a final de temporada" [Xabi Etxeita announces his retirement at the end of the season]. Infobae (in Spanish). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  33. ^ Guerreiro, Daniel (3 June 2024). "El sueño del Amorebieta vuelve a durar un solo año" [Amorebieta's dream lasts a single year again]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  34. ^ "Del Bosque reinforces Spain after injury setbacks". Goal. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  35. ^ Moñino, Ladislao Javier (6 October 2015). "La baja de Sergio Ramos agudiza el problema de los centrales" [Sergio Ramos absence worsens stopper problem]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  36. ^ Buha, Bohdan (12 October 2015). "Spain win in Kyiv to deny Ukraine". UEFA. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Mario Gaspar y Etxeita amplían a 59 los debutantes con Del Bosque" [Mario Gaspar and Etxeita extend debutants with Del Bosque to 59]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 12 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  38. ^ "Catalunya 0–1 Euskal Selekzioa" [Catalonia 0–1 Basque XI] (in Spanish). Basque Football Federation. 26 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  39. ^ Xabier Etxeita at BDFutbol
  40. ^ Xabier Etxeita at Soccerway
  41. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 14 de agosto de 2015, en Bilbao" [Minutes of the match held on 14 August 2015, in Bilbao] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
    "Acta del partido celebrado el 17 de agosto de 2015, en Barcelona" [Minutes of the match held on 17 August 2015, in Barcelona] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  42. ^ Martín, Iván (11 June 2023). "La SD Amorebieta celebra su particular 'Champions'" [SD Amorebieta celebrate its unique Champions League title] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  • Xabier Etxeita at Athletic Club
  • Xabier Etxeita at BDFutbol
  • Xabier Etxeita at National-Football-Teams.com
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