Aritz Aduriz

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Aduriz's path to Athletic Bilbao's first team was not immediate. After learning football on the sand at La Concha beach and sharing youth teams with Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta, and Andoni Iraola at Antiguoko, he joined the Lezama system at age 19 from amateurs Aurrerá de Vitoria. Following two seasons in the reserves and a brief debut against Barcelona on 14 September 2002, he spent time away with Burgos and Real Valladolid before returning to Bilbao in December 2005. His second spell began on 27 June 2012 after three years at Valencia, where he had moved for €4 million in July 2010. Upon his return, he became the starter following Fernando Llorente's departure to Juventus in summer 2013. Aduriz thrived under Ernesto Valverde, scoring a hat-trick against Granada on 28 February 2014 and reaching 100 goals for the club on 5 November 2015 with an assist and goal against Partizan.

In Their Own Story

On 3 November 2016, Aritz Aduriz etched his name into European history. In a Europa League group stage home fixture against Genk, he scored every single one of Athletic Bilbao's five goals in a 5–3 victory. This feat included three penalties and made him the first player to accomplish such a scoring spree in the competition. Earlier that year, on 24 January 2016, he had netted a bicycle kick to help his team overturn a deficit against Eibar. His impact extended beyond individual brilliance; on 8 February 2015, he scored against Barcelona to complete his century of La Liga goals. In the Supercopa de España final against Barcelona in August 2015, he scored a hat-trick in the first leg and equalized in the return match, securing the trophy—the first of his career. Even at 37, he showed remarkable sportsmanship in January 2018, signaling to the referee that no foul should be awarded during a derby against Eibar after falling while chasing a loose ball.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Aduriz's statistical milestones, key dates include his debut for Spain on 8 October 2010 against Lithuania and his Euro 2016 appearance where he replaced Álvaro Morata. His return to Athletic in 2012 marked a turning point; he scored a brace against HJK Helsinki on 23 August 2012 and netted twice against Valencia at Mestalla on 20 October 2012. In the 2015–16 season, he won La Liga Player of the Month for March after scoring three goals, including one to eliminate his former club Valencia from Europe. He finished that Europa League campaign as the top scorer with ten goals. His final seasons were marked by injury and unique technique; in 2018–19, he scored two penalties, one a Panenka-style effort against Girona past Gorka Iraizoz. On 16 August 2019, at age 38, he scored the only goal of the season opener against Barcelona via a bicycle kick in stoppage time, equalling Lionel Messi's record of scoring in 15 consecutive league seasons. He retired on 20 May 2020.

Did You Know?

• Aduriz was the first player to ever score at the Colchester Community Stadium in a friendly against Colchester United on 4 August 2008.
• He scored all five of his team's goals (including three penalties) in a single Europa League match against Genk on 3 November 2016.
• In January 2018, he demonstrated sportsmanship by telling the referee and fans not to award him a penalty after falling during a derby against Eibar.
• He became the club's oldest goalscorer in November 2017, surpassing Agustín Gaínza.
• Aduriz scored a bicycle kick in the last minute of his team's first league fixture on 16 August 2019 to secure a 1–0 win against Barcelona.