Beñat Etxebarria Urkiaga (, ; born 19 February 1987), known mononymously as Beñat, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
He spent the better part of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 242 competitive matches and scoring 11 goals while winning the 2015 Supercopa de España. In La Liga, he also represented Betis.
Beñat earned four caps for the Spain national team.
Club career Athletic Bilbao Beñat was born in Igorre, Biscay. Coming through Athletic Bilbao's prolific youth ranks at Lezama, he played his first three years with both the third team, CD Basconia, and the reserve side.
On 29 October 2006, he appeared in his first – and only – La Liga game, which consisted of six minutes against CA Osasuna in a 1–1 away draw after replacing another youth product, Francisco Yeste.
Betis
In 2008–09, Beñat played with UB Conquense in the Segunda División B, after which he was released by Athletic. In the summer he signed with Real Betis, but spent his first season with the reserves also in the third tier.
Beñat made his debut for Betis' main squad on 29 August 2010, playing 20 minutes in the 4–1 home win against Granada CF and being involved in the play that led to Salva Sevilla's goal. Three days later he scored in his first start, a 2–1 home victory over UD Salamanca in the Copa del Rey. In the league campaign he contributed 36 matches (30 starts, 2.521 minutes of action) as the Andalusians returned to the top flight after three years, netting four times.
On 2 May 2012, Beñat scored twice for his fifth and sixth goals of the season, in a 2–1 defeat of Sevilla FC in the local derby. The winner came in the 90th minute.
Beñat scored the game's only goal in a 1–0 home win over Real Madrid on 24 November 2012, with a shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 17th minute. He finished the campaign with 34 games, four goals and seven assists, helping the club finish seventh and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
Athletic return Beñat returned to Athletic Bilbao in June 2013, signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of €8 million. On 16 September, he took the first touch at the new San Mamés Stadium against RC Celta de Vigo and scored the 3–2 winner; he was substituted to a standing ovation, and dedicated his performance to his grandparents.
On 14 April 2016, Beñat was the only player to miss in a penalty shootout against compatriots Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Following the appointment of manager José Ángel Ziganda for the 2017–18 season, he began featuring less regularly.
In July 2020, Athletic confirmed that Beñat's contract would not be extended beyond that summer, although the departure was delayed beyond its usual June expiry after the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. His contribution (along with long-serving colleague Mikel San José, also leaving in similar circumstances) was acknowledged at the last home fixture on 16 July 2020 in an empty San Mamés– he was in the matchday squad but did not leave the bench, with his last appearance five months earlier; he had been involved in the side's run to the Spanish Cup final, but the circumstances of the delay and the end of his spell at the club meant he would have no opportunity to take part in the decisive match.
Macarthur Beñat moved abroad for the first time at the age of 33, joining Australian A-League newcomers Macarthur FC on 13 November 2020. On 30 December, he scored their first-ever goal in the competition, through a deflected free kick in the 1–0 away defeat of Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
Both Beñat and his compatriot and former Athletic teammate Markel Susaeta retired at the end of the campaign, aged 34.
International career Beñat played for Spain at under-17 level; due to poor school grades, his parents did not allow him to be selected for the 2004 UEFA European Championship. He made his debut for the full side on 26 May 2012, playing 45 minutes in a 2–0 friendly win with Serbia in St. Gallen and thus becoming the first Betis player to don the national team shirt since Juanito nearly four years earlier.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBilbao Athletic2005–06Segunda División B160———1602006–07Segunda División B293———2932007–08Segunda División B302———302Total755———755Athletic Bilbao2006–07La Liga10———10Conquense (loan)2008–09Segunda División B34611——357Betis B2009–10Segunda División B343———343Betis2010–11Segunda División36461——4252011–12La Liga35610——3662012–13La Liga34460——404Total10514131——11815Athletic Bilbao2013–14La Liga23140——2712014–15La Liga2827090—4422015–16La Liga36150122205532016–17La Liga3211061003922017–18La Liga2401080003302018–19La Liga27121––2922019–20La Liga11031––141Total18162323532024111Macarthur2020–21A-League22100—20241Career total452353743534052842
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSpain201240Total40
Honours Betis Segunda División: 2010–11
Athletic Bilbao Supercopa de España: 2015
References
External links