Unai Simón reaches 200 appearances with Athletic Club
Unai Simón reaches 200 appearances with Athletic Club
The 26-year-old is now the goalkeeper with seventh most appearances in Athletic Club history
With his latest appearance against RC Celta on Sunday afternoon, goalkeeper Unai Simón now has 200 official Athletic Club matches under his belt.
The shotstopper made his debut seven years ago on 20 August 2018, in a LaLiga clash against CD Leganés at San Mames. Last season's Zamora Trophy winner (the award given to the LaLiga keeper with least goals conceded per match) recently returned from a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for the beginning of the season and now is starting to re-establish himself in the starting XI.
In addition to his 2024/25 Zamora Trophy and 68 career clean sheets so far, the 26-year-old from Vitoria-Gasteiz has already won a Copa and a Super Copa with his boyhood club.
Simón arrived to Athletic from his hometown of Murgia, Alava at under-15 level. He recently signed a new long-term contract, which contains no release clause, with the Lions until 2029.
He said: "I want to be the best goalkeeper in the world, but also be part of this club. I know that's very amibitious. We know how difficult it is to win trophies here, but once you do it, as we did in the Copa, it's something unique and wonderful, not only for us players but also for our fans. And I think it means a lot more doing that here rather than at other clubs."
What's more, his performances for Athletic have seen him hit great heights at international level too, with Simón becoming the Spanish national team's undisputed no.1, helping him pick up winners medal in the UEFA Nations League and last summer's European Championship.
On an individual level, Unai came second to Emiliano Martinez in the running for the 2024 Yashin Trophy, Ballon dÓr's award for the best goalkeeper in the world, while he was third at the FIFA The Best awards, sharing a podium with 'Dibu' and Ederson.
With his whole career still ahead of him, Unai Simón is already seventh in the rankings of Athletic goalkeepers with most appearances in the club's history.
- Jose Angel Iribar: 614
- Carmelo Cedrún: 404
- Gorka Iraizoz: 392
- Raimundo Pérez Lezama: 263
- Andoni Zubizarreta: 239
- Gregorio Blasco: 203
- Unai Simón: 200
- Juan José Valencia: 195
- Dani Aranzubia: 189
- José Vicente Fernández Biurrun: 173
Breakdown, by competition, of Unai Simón's official Athletic Club appearances:
- 182 in LaLiga
- 12 in the Copa del Rey
- Five in the Supercopa
- One in the Europa League