Unai Simón
Overview
Unai Simón Mendibil (born June 11, 1997) is a Spanish footballer from the Basque Country who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga and the Spain national football team. He is considered the epitome of a modern goalkeeper, combining excellent reflexes, stable defensive organization, and strong footwork, and has established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in European football in the 2020s. Notably, he led Spain to victory at UEFA Euro 2024 and was honored as the tournament's best player.
Main Content
Early Life and Youth Career
Unai Simón was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, in the Basque Country of Spain. Showing talent for football from a young age, he began playing at the youth academy of local club CD Aurrerá de Vitoria. In 2011, at age 14, he joined Lezama, the youth academy of Athletic Bilbao, and began his serious development. At Lezama, he honed his fundamentals through systematic training, significantly improving his positioning and reflexes as a goalkeeper.
Club Career
Unai Simón made his debut for Athletic Bilbao's B team, CD Basconia, in the 2014–15 season, and later played for the reserve team, Bilbao Athletic, from 2016 to 2018. In the 2018–19 season, he joined the first team and began competing for the starting spot, becoming the undisputed starting goalkeeper from the 2019–20 season onward. Although his debut season was somewhat unstable, he showed steady growth and emerged as a key player for the team.
In the 2020–21 season, he contributed to Athletic Bilbao's run to the Copa del Rey final; although the team finished as runners-up, his performances were impressive. In the 2021–22 season, he won his first major trophy, the Supercopa de España. In the 2023–24 season, he played a decisive role in Athletic Bilbao's Copa del Rey victory, ending the club's 40-year drought in the competition. His saves in the final were crucial to the team's win.
International Career
Unai Simón progressed through Spain's youth national teams and was first called up to the senior team in November 2020. He made his debut in March 2021 during UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying and was subsequently selected as the starting goalkeeper. At Euro 2020, he helped Spain reach the semifinals, notably making two saves in the penalty shootout against Switzerland in the quarterfinals to lead the team to the last four.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he showed solid form in the group stage, but the team was eliminated in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout loss to Morocco, leaving a sense of disappointment. However, he once again proved his worth by leading Spain to victory in the 2023 UEFA Nations League.
His brightest moment came at UEFA Euro 2024. Throughout the tournament, he led Spain's clean-sheet streak with outstanding saves and stable game management, culminating in a victory over England in the final. Named the tournament's best player, he became regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in European football history.
Playing Style
Unai Simón is a typical modern goalkeeper, boasting excellent reflexes and a wide defensive range. His greatest strengths are his outstanding one-on-one shot-stopping ability and aerial ball handling. He also possesses strong footwork, playing a crucial role in build-up play, and his passing from the back greatly aids the team's attacking transitions. With a calm demeanor, he shows unshakable mental strength in crisis situations and has the leadership to effectively organize the defensive line.
Latest Developments
In the 2024–25 season, Unai Simón continues to perform consistently for Athletic Bilbao. As of October 2024, he has started eight consecutive league matches, leading the team's push for a top-table finish. Early in the 2024–25 season, he recorded five consecutive clean sheets, showcasing his status as the league's best goalkeeper. Following the Euro 2024 victory, his market value is estimated at €40 million (approximately 600 billion KRW), attracting interest from major European clubs, but he has strongly expressed his loyalty to Athletic Bilbao and stated his intention to stay. In January 2025, he extended his contract with Athletic Bilbao until 2029, committing to a long-term future. As a core player for the Spain national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, his performances in the upcoming tournament are highly anticipated.
Related Topics
- [[Athletic Bilbao]]
- [[Spain national football team]]
- [[UEFA Euro 2024]]