Lander Olaetxea

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Olaetxea and the second or maternal family name is Ibaibarriaga.

Lander Olaetxea Ibaibarriaga (born 12 April 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Sporting de Gijón.

Lander Olaetxea

Personal information
Full name	Lander Olaetxea Ibaibarriaga
Date of birth	(1993-04-12) 12 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Abadiño, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Sporting Gijón
Youth career
2008–2012	Cultural Durango
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2015	Cultural Durango	66	(8)
2012–2013	→ Iurretako (loan)
2015–2017	Bilbao Athletic	42	(2)
2017–2018	Gernika	33	(7)
2018–2021	Logroñés	85	(9)
2021–2022	Amorebieta	35	(2)
2022–2024	Albacete	76	(5)
2024–	Sporting Gijón	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024

Club career

Born in Abadiño, Biscay, Basque Country, Olaetxea was a SCD Durango youth graduate. He made his debuts as a senior while on loan at Iurretako KT in the 2012–13 campaign, in the regional leagues.

Olaetxea renewed with Durango on 5 July 2013, after his loan expired,^[1] and subsequently became a first team regular in Tercera División. On 19 May 2015 he signed a contract with Athletic Bilbao, being assigned to the reserves in Segunda División.^[2]

On 9 November 2015 Olaetxea made his professional debut, coming on as a late substitute for Asier Villalibre in a 2–0 home win against UE Llagostera.^[3] He left the Lions in 2017, with the B-side now in the third division, and continued to appear in the category in the following years, representing Gernika Club and UD Logroñés;^[4] he helped the latter achieve a first-ever promotion to the second division in 2020, contributing with six goals.

Olaetxea scored his first professional goal on 11 April 2021, netting the game's only in an away success over CD Mirandés. On 8 July, after suffering relegation, he moved to SD Amorebieta.^[5]

On 25 July 2022, after suffering another drop, Olaetxea signed a one-year deal with Albacete Balompié.^[6] On 10 July 2024, he agreed to a one-year contract with fellow second division side Sporting de Gijón.^[7]

References

1. "La Cultural opta por renovar a la mitad de su plantilla para ajustar el presupuesto" [Cultural opts to renew a half of its squad to adjust the budget] (in Spanish). El Correo. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
2. "Lander Olaetxea será uno de los refuerzos del Bilbao Athletic para la próxima temporada" [Lander Olaetxea will be one of the additions of Bilbao Athletic for the following season] (in Spanish). La Cantera de Lezama. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
3. "El Bilbao Athletic coge aire" [Bilbao Athletic takes air] (in Spanish). Marca. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
4. "Lander Olaetxea se incorpora a la Unión Deportiva Logroñés" [Lander Olaetxea joins Unión Deportiva Logroñés] (in Spanish). UD Logroñés. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
5. "Lander Olaetxea, nuevo jugador del Amorebieta" [Lander Olaetxea, new player of Amorebieta] (in Spanish). Grada 3. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
6. "Lander Olaetxea hace click" [Lander Olaetxea clicks] (in Spanish). Albacete Balompié. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
7. "El Sporting incorpora a Lander Olaetxea" [Sporting sign Lander Olaetxea] (in Spanish). Sporting Gijón. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.

External links

• Lander Olaetxea at Athletic Bilbao
• Lander Olaetxea at BDFutbol
• Lander Olaetxea at Soccerway