Basque soccer players on Spain’s Euro 2024 Team
Spain has fielded a powerhouse soccer team filled with Basque players at Euro 2024. Here’s a rundown of who they are.
Aymeric Laporte – Al Nasir, Saudi Arabia
Aymeric Laporte, #14, currently plays center-back for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, which he joined in 2023. Laporte, who was born in Agen, France, is playing for the Spanish national team. When he was only 17, he was recruited by Athletic Bilbao. By arrangement with the club, he spent a season with Aviron Bayonnais in France as he was too young to move outside France at the time. He has stated that he is of Basque descent through his great grandparents. He played for Athletic Bilbao from 2012 to 2018, when he was recruited by Manchester City, to play as a defender. Spanish national team coach Luis Enrique asked him to become a Spanish citizen due to his many years with Athletic, and FIFA approved the switch. Laporte said he made the decision after the French team did not call on him to join its national team.
Mikel Merino – Real Sociedad, Donostia
Mikel Merino, #6, is from Iruñea-Pamplona. He started his soccer career playing on Iruñea’s team Osasuna. Then he moved to Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, and now Real Sociedad in Donostia.
Merino’s father, Ángel Miguel, was also a footballer. His career was mostly associated with Osasuna, as both a player and manager. Friday, July 5, Merino kicked a goal for a win in the Euro semi-finals in Stuttgart, Germany that mirrored a win his father enjoyed in the very same stadium 33 years earlier.
Mikel Oyarzabal – Real Sociedad, Donostia
Mikel Oyarzabal, #21, is the current captain of the Real Sociedad (Donostia) soccer team. He is playing for the Spanish national team in the 2024 UEFA Euro cup
Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao
Unai Simon, #23, goalkeeper for Athletic Bilbao, is the starting goalkeeper for the Spanish national team. He grew up in the town of Murgia, outside of Gasteiz-Vitoria in Alaba. He started in Athletic Bilbao’s youth team, The goalie is from Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Alaba. He has worked his way up from the third division to being starting goalie for Athletic’s first division. He was starting goalkeeper for Spain in the UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and continues in that role in the Euro 2024.
Daniel Vivian – Athletic Bilbao
Daniel Vivian, #5, was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz in the province of Alaba. Born in 1999, Vivian barely turned 25 July 5. He has been with Athletic Bilbao his whole career, starting with their youth teams. This is his first time playing for the national team. He plays center-back.
Nico Williams – Athletic Bilbao
Nico Williams, #17, is playing for the national team for the first time. The winger was born in Iruñea-Pamplona, but his parents are from the African country of Ghana. He played for youth clubs in Iruñea until he joined Athletic Bilbao in 2013. He is brother to Inaki Williams, who also plays with Athletic Bilbao. Nico’s brother, Inaki, also plays for Athletic Bilbao, but on the international level, he chose to switch his nationality and play for Ghana for the 2022 World Cup.
Martin Zubimendi – Real Sociedad, Donostia
Born in Donosti, Martin Zubimendi, #18, has been with Real Sociedad since the age of 12. He plays for the local team as a defensive midfielder.
