Mikel San José
Spanish defensive midfielder and centre-back who spent most of his career at Athletic Bilbao.
Mikel San José Domínguez (born 30 May 1989) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back. After starting out at Liverpool's reserves, San José joined Athletic Bilbao in 2009, initially on loan, and went on to make 397 competitive appearances for the club (winning the 2015 Supercopa de España) before his departure in 2020. He then spent a season back in England with Championship club Birmingham City, and retired in 2022 after one year at Amorebieta in the Segunda División. San José won European Championships with Spain at under-19 and under-21 level. He made his senior international debut in 2014, and was a member of the squad at the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
- Club Affiliation
- Athletic Bilbao (First Team: 2009–2020), Birmingham City (2020–2021), Amorebieta
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
San José was born in Pamplona, Navarre, where by the age of six he was playing football at Txantrea, a nursery club of Athletic Bilbao. At 16, he left home to join Athletic's academy. In August 2007, Liverpool confirmed he had joined on a three-year contract for a fee reported as €400,000. He returned to Athletic Bilbao on a season-long loan in August 2009, making his debut on 17 September 2009 in a 3–0 group stage home win against Austria Wien in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League. He made his La Liga debut on 8 January 2010, playing the last two minutes of the 2–0 away win over Racing Santander. On 19 May 2010, he was signed permanently by Athletic on a five-year contract. He scored the first ever goal for Athletic Bilbao at the new San Mamés Stadium on 16 September 2013. In July 2020, Athletic confirmed his contract would not be extended. He signed a two-year deal with Birmingham City on 21 September 2020, but his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 28 May 2021. On 8 July 2021, he signed a one-year deal with Amorebieta, and announced his retirement on 14 August 2022.
In Their Own Story
On 5 December 2010, in his first Basque derby against Real Sociedad at Anoeta, San José faced a painful moment when he conceded a penalty and scored an own goal in a 2–0 defeat. Yet, resilience defined his career. In the 2012–13 season, he netted six goals across all competitions, including a strike against HJK in the Europa League play-offs. His most memorable European night came on 25 November 2014 when he scored Athletic's only goal in a group match away to Shakhtar Donetsk. The following year, he struck from 46 metres to open a 4–0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of the Supercopa de España. Despite being overshadowed by Aymeric Laporte at times, his leadership shone through. In September 2019, he celebrated ten years with the club, and on 24 November, he hit his 300th La Liga appearance. His final chapter at Bilbao ended in July 2020; though he was in the matchday squad for the last home fixture, he remained on the bench, unable to participate in the cup final his team won.
Reader's Guide
San José was a versatile player who could operate as a defensive midfielder or centre-back. He was periodically charged with penalty-taking by manager Joaquín Caparrós. He was often utilized as a defensive midfielder by coach Marcelo Bielsa. He made his senior international debut on 4 September 2014 in a 0–1 friendly loss to France.
Did You Know?
- San José scored the first ever goal at the new San Mamés Stadium on 16 September 2013.
- He scored the opening goal of a 4–0 win against Barcelona in the first leg of the 2015 Supercopa de España.
- He made his La Liga debut on 8 January 2010, not 8 November 2009 as previously stated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mikel San José?
He is a Spanish former professional footballer born in Pamplona who primarily played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Athletic Bilbao.
When did he join Athletic Bilbao permanently?
Although he initially arrived on loan from Liverpool in 2009, his transfer to the club became permanent in May 2010.
How many appearances did he make for Bilbao?
San José made a total of 397 competitive appearances during his decade-long tenure with the first team from 2009 to 2020.
Did he win any trophies at Athletic Bilbao?
Yes, he secured the 2015 Supercopa de España title while representing the club before departing in July 2020.
Where did his career end after leaving Bilbao?
Following his departure, he spent time at Birmingham City and Amorebieta before retiring in August 2022.
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