Iñigo Lekue

Iñigo Lekue
Lekue in 2017
Personal information
Full name Iñigo Lekue Martínez[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-04) 4 May 1993[2]
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position Full-back
Youth career
2008–2012 Danok Bat
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Basconia 34 (0)
2013–2015 Bilbao Athletic 60 (1)
2015–2026 Athletic Bilbao 212 (3)
Total 306 (4)
International career
2025 Basque Country 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Iñigo Lekue Martínez (Basque: [iɲiɣo lekue maɾtines̻]; Spanish: [ˈiɲiɣo ˈlekwe maɾˈtineθ]; born 4 May 1993) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right or left-back.

Developed at Athletic Bilbao, he represented that club for 11 seasons, making 282 appearances while winning the Supercopa de España twice and also the 2023–24 Copa del Rey.[3]

Club career

Lekue with Athletic Bilbao in 2018

Born in Bilbao, Basque Country, Lekue graduated from Danok Bat CF's youth system.[4] In summer 2012 he moved to Athletic Bilbao, and made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the Tercera División.[5]

On 21 June 2013, Lekue was promoted to the reserves in the Segunda División B.[6] On 29 June 2015, after being an ever-present figure during the side's promotion to Segunda División after a 19-year absence,[7] he was promoted to the main squad in La Liga.[8]

Lekue made his official debut with the first team on 15 August 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow youth graduate Sabin Merino in a 4–0 home rout of FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España.[9][10] He made his first league appearance 15 days later, being taken off at half-time in a 2–0 loss at neighbouring SD Eibar.[11]

Lekue scored his first senior goal on 21 December 2015, equalising for the reserves in a 1–1 home draw against CD Lugo.[12] The following 3 April he scored for the first time in the top flight, opening a 1–1 draw with Granada CF at the San Mamés Stadium.[13] On 8 June 2016, he agreed to a contract extension until 2019.[14]

On 24 November 2016, Lekue netted his first European goal to win a UEFA Europa League group match 3–2 at home to US Sassuolo Calcio.[15] In January 2018, he extended his contract to 2023.[16] He missed most of the 2018–19 season with back issues,[17] returning as a late substitute on 16 March in a 2–0 home win over Atlético Madrid.[18]

Lekue played rarely under Gaizka Garitano, and looked for a new club in the January 2021 transfer window, but was reinstated by new manager Marcelino García Toral and won another Super Cup that month, again against Barcelona.[19] That April, he was involved in two Copa del Rey finals in one month, losing both to Real Sociedad and Barcelona respectively; he took part in the latter 4–0 defeat as a half-time substitute.[20]

In 2022–23, due to injuries to Yuri Berchiche and Mikel Balenziaga, Lekue featured frequently. In April, during his own recovery, he prolonged his contract to 2025.[21]

Lekue made his 250th appearance for Athletic on 1 December 2024, in the 2–1 away victory against Rayo Vallecano.[22][23] His 200th in the top division came the following 18 May, again as a starter, in the 1–0 win at Valencia CF.[24][25]

On 11 May 2026, the 33-year-old Lekue announced his retirement at the end of the season.[26] He played his last match 12 days later, a 4–2 loss away to Real Madrid.[27][28][29]

International career

On 22 May 2016, Lekue was called up to the Spain national team by manager Vicente del Bosque, after Jonny withdrew due to "personal reasons".[30] He received his maiden callup to the Basque Country regional side for a friendly against Palestine on 15 November 2025;[31][32] the 32-year-old then took part in the 3–0 win in Bilbao.[33]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[34][35][36][37]
Club Season League Copa del Rey Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basconia 2012–13 Tercera División 340———340
Bilbao Athletic 2013–14 Segunda División B 260———260
2014–15 310——6[a]0370
2015–16 Segunda División 31———31
Total 601000060661
Athletic Bilbao 2015–16 La Liga 201508[b]01[c]0341
2016–17 252105[b]1—313
2017–18 3202012[b]0—460
2018–19 4000——40
2019–20 14040——180
2020–21 18040—2[c]0240
2021–22 25040—00290
2022–23 20030——230
2023–24 27060——330
2024–25 160004[b]01[c]0210
2025–26 110403[d]01[c]0190
Total 2123330321502824
Career total 30643303211103825
  1. ↑ Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in Supercopa de España
  4. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Athletic Bilbao Profile". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Lekue". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  3. ↑ Martín, Asís (23 May 2026). "Valverde explica por qué hacía falta que jugase Vivian de lateral en la despedida de Iñigo Lekue" [Valverde explains why it was necessary for Vivian to play as a full-back in Iñigo Lekue's farewell] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Ruiz, Pako (23 June 2015). "El lateral Lekue es uno de los 'cachorros' de moda" [Full-back Lekue is one of the fashionable 'pups']. Deia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Zubieta, Jon (22 June 2015). "Lekue llama a la puerta de Ernesto" [Lekue knocks on Ernesto's door]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Bilbao Athletic pre-season". Athletic Bilbao. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "Dismissals in Bilbao Athletic". Athletic Bilbao. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Athletic Bilbao 4–0 Barcelona: Aduriz hits hat-trick in Supercopa shocker". Goal. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  10. ↑ Estepa, Javier (14 August 2015). "Aduriz echa al Barça a los leones" [Aduriz throws Barça to the lions]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  11. ↑ Martínez, Jonathan (30 August 2015). "El liderato lleva el nombre del Eibar" [The leadership carries Eibar's name]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Bilbao Athletic y Lugo no cumplen sus objetivos" [Bilbao Athletic and Lugo fail to complete their objectives]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Villarreal tighten grip on top four; Athletic Bilbao held by lowly Granada". ESPN FC. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Iñigo Lekue's renewal". Athletic Bilbao. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  15. ↑ Campanale, Susy (24 November 2016). "EL: Il Sassuolo esce a Bilbao" [EL: Sassuolo go out in Bilbao] (in Italian). Football Italia. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Velasco, Juanma (16 January 2018). "Lekue renueva hasta 2023" [Lekue renews until 2023]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  17. ↑ Suso, Ramón (26 December 2018). "Lekue empieza otra vez de cero" [Lekue starts from square one again]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  18. ↑ Velasco, Juanma (20 March 2019). "Lekue: "Quiero que lo que aporte sea de calidad"" [Lekue: "I want what I contribute to be of quality"]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  19. ↑ Velasco, Juanma (26 January 2021). "Marcelino sube al tren a Lekue, que ya tenía un pie fuera en este mercado de invierno" [Marcelino gets on board with Lekue, who already had one foot outside in this winter transfer window]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  20. ↑ Agiriano, Jon (17 April 2021). "El sueño se convierte en pesadilla" [The dream becomes a nightmare]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Mallo, Juanma (23 April 2023). "Lekue renueva hasta 2025" [Lekue renews until 2025]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Iñigo Lekue, tercer jugador de la actual plantilla que suma 250 partidos con el Athletic" [Iñigo Lekue, third player of the current squad to reach 250 games with Athletic]. Infobae (in Spanish). 1 December 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  23. ↑ Ugalde, Iñaki (2 December 2024). "Sancet parte al Rayo y mete al Athletic en zona Champions" [Sancet breaks Rayo and puts Athletic in the Champions League zone]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  24. ↑ Martín, Iván (12 May 2025). "Iñigo Lekue cumplirá en Getafe 200 partidos en Primera División y con su futuro en el Athletic por decidir" [Iñigo Lekue will reach 200 games in the Primera División in Getafe and with an unclear future at Athletic] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  25. ↑ Torres, David (18 May 2025). "Valencia CF 0 – Athletic Club 1: Álex Berenguer acerca al cielo al Athletic y deja sin Europa al Valencia" [Valencia CF 0 – Athletic Club 1: Álex Berenguer brings Athletic closer to heaven and leaves Valencia without Europe] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "Lekue se retira como One Club Man" [Lekue retires as One Club Man] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 11 May 2026. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "The season ends with defeat at the Bernabéu". Athletic Bilbao. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Torrescusa, Iker (24 May 2026). "El adiós de un One Club Man, Iñigo Lekue: "Al echar la vista atrás siento un orgullo tremendo"" [The farewell of a One Club Man, Iñigo Lekue: "I feel tremendously proud looking back"]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  29. ↑ Río, Endika (25 May 2026). "Lekue cuelga las botas sintiendo "un orgullo tremendo"" [Lekue hangs up his boots feeling "tremendously proud"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "Lekue sustituye a Jonny en el grupo de promesas citado por Del Bosque" [Lekue replaces Jonny in the group of prospects called by Del Bosque]. Marca (in Spanish). 22 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "Jagoba Arrasatek deialdia iragarri du" [Jagoba Arrasate announces call-up] (in Basque). Basque Football Federation. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  32. ↑ Escabias, Aitor (13 November 2025). "Nuevas caras en la Euskal Selekzioa" [New faces at the Euskal Selekzioa]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  33. ↑ Fernández, Kevin (15 November 2025). "La Euskal Selekzioa supera a Palestina en una jornada histórica en San Mamés (3–0)" [Basque Country XI best Palestine in historic fixture at San Mamés (3–0)] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  34. ↑ Iñigo Lekue at Athletic Bilbao
  35. ↑ Iñigo Lekue – UEFA competition record (archive)
  36. ↑ Iñigo Lekue at Soccerway
  37. ↑ Iñigo Lekue at FBref.com
  38. ↑ 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.
  39. ↑ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  40. ↑ Lowe, Sid (17 April 2021). "Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  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 24 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 24 January 2021.
  42. ↑ "Acta del partido celebrado el 17 de enero de 2021, en Sevilla" [Minutes of the match held on 17 January 2021, in Seville] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  43. ↑ "Nico Williams and Iñigo Lekue win LALIGA EA SPORTS Move of the Month for December". La Liga. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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