Markel Susaeta

Markel Susaeta Laskurain (, ; born 14 December 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right winger.

He spent almost the entirety of his career with Athletic Bilbao after making his debut with the first team in 2007, appearing in 507 competitive matches and scoring 56 goals for the club. He also played in Japan with Gamba Osaka, and in Australia with Melbourne City and Macarthur.

Susaeta won one full cap for Spain in 2012.

Club career Athletic Bilbao Born in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, Susaeta came through the ranks of Athletic Bilbao, spending one season with the farm team and another with the B side. At the start of 2007–08 he was also registered for the reserves, but was given his first-team debut on 2 September 2007 and managed to score in a 3–1 loss at FC Barcelona. He finished with 29 La Liga appearances, netting on four occasions.

In the following years, Susaeta established himself firmly in the first team, although still not an undisputed starter for the Basques. On 31 January 2009, he scored four minutes from time to give his team a 3–2 home win against Málaga CF, in an eventual narrow escape from relegation. He added six games in that campaign's Copa del Rey, and they reached the final against Barcelona.

Susaeta netted a career-best 13 official goals in 2011–12, including five in the season's UEFA Europa League as Athletic went all the way to the final. The Lions also reached the decisive match in the domestic cup, once again against Barcelona.

Susaeta came on as a substitute in the 2015 Spanish Cup final, once more lost to Barcelona. He took the field in both legs of the following edition of the Supercopa de España, in which his team finally overcame the same opponent.

In September 2016, Susaeta broke the club record for appearances in European competition, passing the total of 55 set in the 1970s by goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar. In January 2019, he played in his 500th competitive match for Athletic, becoming only the fifth player in their history to reach that milestone (but still some way short of the overall record held by Iribar).

It was announced that Susaeta would leave at the end of the 2018–19 season when his contract ended; the player later commented that it had been his intention to play at San Mamés for his entire career and expressed disappointment at the circumstances. The club's final home match involved tributes to him, as well as fellow long-serving squad members Ander Iturraspe and Mikel Rico who were also departing in similar circumstances.

Later career On 9 September 2019, Susaeta joined J1 League club Gamba Osaka. The following 15 January, having made just seven appearances in Japan, he signed for Australia's Melbourne City FC for the rest of the A-League season; he left in mid-July, the delay in his release being due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Susaeta continued in the Australian top division in November 2020, teaming up with former Athletic teammate Beñat Etxebarria at Macarthur FC. Both retired at the end of the campaign, aged 34.

International career On 9 November 2012, following a series of good displays, Susaeta was called up to the Spain national team for the first time, being selected by manager Vicente del Bosque for a friendly against Panama on the 14th and scoring the final goal in the 5–1 win in Panama City. He also featured for the unofficial Basque Country regional side.

Personal life Susaeta's cousin, Néstor, was also a footballer and a winger. He unsuccessfully emerged through Basque neighbours Real Sociedad's youth system, and had a brief spell with Athletic's reserves.

Career statistics Club

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Susaeta goal. + List of international goals scored by Markel SusaetaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 14 November 2012 Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama 5–0 5–1 Friendly

Honours Athletic Bilbao Supercopa de España: 2015; runner-up: 2009 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2011–12 Copa del Rey runner-up: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15