Alright folks, today I kinda stumbled into this footballer’s name, Julen Agirrezabala, popping up everywhere. Never really heard of him before, so I figured, why not dig a bit? See what the fuss is about.
First Impressions & Getting Curious
Right, started simple. Typed his full name into the search bar – Julen Agirrezabala. Sounds Basque, right away thought maybe Athletic Club Bilbao player? That club’s famous for sticking with Basque players. Just a guess.
First results? Mostly news snippets. Saw stuff like “replacement for Unai Simón,” “next big goalie,” flashes of him making saves. Okay, so he’s a goalkeeper then. Cool. Young guy, apparently.
The Deeper Dive
Real quick Google search showed me pages listing player stats. Clicked on a couple of the big football databases people use. Wanted specifics:
- Where’s he playing? Yep, nailed it. Athletic Club Bilbao. First team.
- His Job? Keeper. Number 13 on his back.
- How old? Born December 26, 2000. Do the math – that makes him 23 as of now. Young for a top-flight keeper breaking through.
- How big is he? Stats listed him as 1.89 meters tall. Solid frame for a goalie.
- Where’s he from? Born in Zornotza, Spain – that’s Biscay, Basque Country. Fits the Athletic profile perfectly.
Started scrolling through his career timeline. Came up through Athletic’s youth system, Lezama – makes total sense. Found this crucial point: summer 2022. Seems that’s when he officially became Unai Simón’s backup after their other keeper left.
Okay, but how much has he actually played? Kept hunting through the stats sections on these sites. Looked for appearances.
- 2023/24 Season: Saw some numbers. Played a chunk of games – couple in Copa del Rey, few in La Liga, especially when Unai was away or needed a rest. Highlight was definitely that Copa del Rey semi-final save against Atletico Madrid. Stuff went viral.
Putting It All Together
So, after piecing it together from a bunch of tabs and cross-checking a few sites:
Julen Agirrezabala is essentially Athletic Club Bilbao’s promising #2 goalkeeper right now. He’s 23, tall at 1.89m, homegrown Basque talent. Didn’t become the official backup till summer 2022. Seems to be trusted for cup games and stepping in occasionally in the league. Got people talking thanks to some big saves.
Is he a guaranteed starter? Nah, Unai Simón is still the main man. But he’s clearly seen as the next in line, the potential future #1 keeper at a big club. That’s where the “rising star” label fits. Looks composed, got the size, making his mark when he gets the chance.
Okay, that’s the gist of it! Just followed my nose from first seeing the name to figuring out who he is and why folks are buzzing. Pretty straightforward once you know where to look!