Iker Undabarrena Martínez (born 18 May 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. His previous clubs include Bilbao Athletic, Tenerife, Sabadell and Leganés in Spain, and Tondela in Portugal.
Club career
Athletic Bilbao
Born in Gorliz, Biscay, Undabarrena joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2005, aged 10. He made his senior debut with farm team Basconia of the Tercera División, in the 2012–13 season. On 28 November 2012, aged 17, Undabarrena made his official debut with the main squad, coming on as a substitute for Igor Martínez in the 77th minute of a 2–0 away win against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the campaign's UEFA Europa League.[2]
Having moved up to play for the reserves in summer 2013, Undabarrena played a prominent role in the team's promotion to the second tier the following season,[3] starting 28 regular league matches and all six of the successful play-offs run.[4]
Almost three years after his European bow, Undabarrena made his domestic professional debut on 24 August 2015, starting in a 0–1 home loss against Girona.[5] He appeared in almost all of the domestic league matches until 13 February 2016, when he suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a fixture against Real Valladolid, requiring a lengthy rehabilitation.[6] Returning to the team eight months later at the end of October, he went on to take part in the majority of the remaining matches during 2016–17 before being withdrawn from the final few games as a precaution to complete his recovery.[7]
Undabarrena started the first four fixtures of the next campaign, but then suffered another ACL tear during training, this time to his right knee.[8] In the same period, similar injuries were endured by Aitor Seguín, Undabarrena's long-time teammate (he also joined Athletic's academy as a 10-year-old in 2005) which hampered the development of both players and damaged their hopes of moving up to the senior squad;[9] during Undabarrena's lengthy absences, midfielder Mikel Vesga was promoted instead.
Despite making a successful return to the B-team with ten appearances and one goal between March and May (including two in the promotion play-offs), Undabarrena was released by Athletic Bilbao on the expiry of his contract on 1 July 2018, ending a 13-year association with the club.[10]
Tenerife
On 3 July 2018, free agent Undaberrena agreed a deal to join second-tier Tenerife (at the time coached by former Athletic Bilbao player Joseba Etxeberria) on a three-year contract.[11]
Sabadell
On 31 August 2020, Undaberrena moved to fellow league team Sabadell.[12]
Tondela
Undabarrena moved abroad for the first time on 6 August 2021, signing a two-year deal at Portuguese club Tondela under fellow Basque Pako Ayestarán.[13] He made his Primeira Liga debut two days later in a 3–0 opening day win over C.D. Santa Clara, as a late substitute.[14] On 23 October, he was sent off within half an hour of a 3–1 lost to visitors Porto, for a foul on Mehdi Taremi.[15]
Leganés
On 26 August 2022, after suffering relegation, Undabarrena returned to Spain after signing a one-year deal with Leganés in division two.[16] Having played regularly, he signed another contract for the 2023–24 Segunda División campaign which ended with the club being promoted to LaLiga as champions,[17] but he was one of several squad members whose deals were not renewed.[18][19]
Johor Darul Ta'zim
On 11 August 2024, Undabarrena moved to Southeast Asia to joined Malaysian Super League giants Johor Darul Ta'zim.[20]
International career
Undabarrena started representing Spain at under-17 level, appearing in friendlies against Belgium and Montenegro.
Personal life
He is not related to Eneko Undabarrena, also a midfielder who played for several clubs in the region during the same period.[21]
Career statistics
- As of 4 February 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Athletic Bilbao | 2012–13 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1[a] | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| Basconia | 2012–13 | Tercera División | 27 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 27 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
| Bilbao Athletic | 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 21 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 28 | 0 | – | – | – | 6[b] | 0 | 34 | 0 | |||||
| 2015–16 | Segunda División | 23 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 23 | 0 | |||||
| 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 21 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 21 | 2 | |||||
| 2017–18 | 12 | 1 | – | – | – | 2[c] | 0 | 14 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 105 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 113 | 3 | ||
| Tenerife | 2018–19 | Segunda División | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 22 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
| Sabadell | 2020–21 | Segunda División | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 38 | 2 | |||
| Tondela | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Liga Portugal 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1[d] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| Leganés | 2022–23 | Segunda División | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 33 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 65 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 1 | ||
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2024–25 | Malaysia Super League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[e] | 0 | – | 13 | 0 | |
| Career total | 317 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 345 | 7 | ||
- ^ Appearance in 2012–13 UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in 2015 Segunda División B play-offs
- ^ Appearances in 2018 Segunda División B play-offs
- ^ Appearance in 2022 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
- ^ Appearances in 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite
Honours
Tondela
- Taça de Portugal: runner-up 2021–22[22]
Leganés
References
- ^ "Iker Undabarrena" (in Spanish). CD Leganés. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ Athletic post comfortable Kiryat Shmona win; UEFA.com, 28 November 2012
- ^ "Iker Undabarrena: el "cerebro" del Bilbao Athletic" [Iker Undabarrena: the "brain" of Bilbao Athletic] (in Spanish). La Cantera de Lezama. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "El Bilbao Athletic, a Segunda 19 años después y el Cádiz tendrá que esperar" [Bilbao Athletic, into Segunda 19 years later and Cadiz will have to wait] (in Spanish). EFE. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "El que la sigue, la consigue" [The one that follows it, gets it] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "Iker Undabarrena's condition". Athletic Bilbao. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Undabarrena, baja hasta el final de temporada" [Undabarrena, out until the end of the season]. El Desmarque (in Spanish). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Operation to Iker Undabarrena". Athletic Bilbao. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Las rodillas siguen dando guerra a Undabarrena y Seguín" [The knees continue to attack Undabarrena and Seguín]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 September 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "End of contract". Athletic Bilbao. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "El Tenerife firma por tres temporadas a Iker Undabarrena" [Tenerife sign Iker Undabarrena for three seasons]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 3 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Iker Undabarrena refuerza la media del Sabadell" [Iker Undabarrena bolsters the midfield of Sabadell]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Médio espanhol Iker Undabarrena assina pelo CD Tondela até 2023" [Spanish midfielder Iker Undabarrena signs for CD Tondela until 2023]. Jornal do Centro (in Portuguese). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "Tondela vence Santa Clara na estreia na I Liga" [Tondela defeat Santa Clara on opening day of I Liga] (in Portuguese). Bancada. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "FC Porto vence em Tondela com hat-trick de Taremi" [FC Porto win in Tondela with hat-trick from Taremi]. Sol (in Portuguese). 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "El C.D. Leganés refuerza su centro del campo con el fichaje de Iker Undabarrena" [C.D. Leganés bolster their centre of midfield with the signing of Iker Undabarrena] (in Spanish). CD Leganés. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Iker Undabarrena, casi igual de contento por el ascenso del Leganés que por la Copa del Athletic: "Digamos que ha sido un doblete"" [Iker Undabarrena, almost as happy about Leganés' promotion as he was about Athletic's Cup win: "Let's say it was a double"]. El Desmarque (in Spanish). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Miramón, Nyom, Undabarrena y Portillo ya no son jugadores del Lega" [Miramón, Nyom, Undabarrena and Portillo are no longer Lega players]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 July 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Undabarrena se despide tras una larga espera: "Me hubiese encantado jugar en Primera División con el Lega"" [Undabarrena says goodbye after a long wait: “I would have loved to play in the First Division with Lega”]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 10 August 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Undabarrena Joined JDT". SnesPorts.co. 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Undabarrena se afianza en el Leioa" [Undabarrena takes hold at Leioa]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 1 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Taça de Portugal Final: Porto take down Tondela to seal domestic double, PortuGOAL, 22 May 2022
External links
- Iker Undabarrena at Athletic Bilbao
- Iker Undabarrena at BDFutbol
- Iker Undabarrena – UEFA competition record (archive)