Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras (born 29 March 1985) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
He spent most of his career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 254 competitive matches over eight La Liga seasons and scoring four goals.[3][4] He also competed professionally in England (with Fulham and Middlesbrough), Argentina and Paraguay.
Internationally, Amorebieta played for Spain (where he spent most of his early life) at youth level, but later decided to represent his country of birth Venezuela as a senior, appearing for the nation at the 2015 Copa América.
Amorebieta played a total of 47 official matches in 2009–10, helping Athletic to reach the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League as well as an eighth-place finish in the league; he collected 18 yellow cards in the process, being sent off twice.[8]
Amorebieta began the 2012–13 campaign nursing a pubalgia ailment,[9] and was later involved in a dispute over the extension of his contract.[10][11]
Amorebieta was sent off on 22 March 2014 for conceding a penalty with a foul on David Silva in an eventual 5–0 defeat at Manchester City.[15] He scored his first goal in English football on 26 April, his team's second in an eventual 2–2 home draw with Hull City.[16] He made 26 competitive appearances in his debut season, which ended with relegation.[17]
On 28 August 2015, Amorebieta returned to the Riverside Stadium for the entirety of the season, with Husband again being lent to Fulham for a month as part of the deal.[21] On 1 February of the following year, however, he was recalled.[22]
Sporting Gijón
Amorebieta returned to Spain and its top division on 22 July 2016, after agreeing to a three-year contract at Sporting de Gijón.[23] He made his debut on 21 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 home victory against former club Athletic.[24]
As early as 2006, Amorebieta expressed his interest in playing for the Venezuela national team.[33] However, according to FIFA rules at the time, he should have switched his affiliation prior to the age of 21, having previously played for Spain's youth sides;[34] FIFA removed the rule in 2009,[35] and talks between the player and the Venezuelan Football Federation resumed.
Finally, on 2 September 2011, Amorebieta made his senior debut in a friendly with Argentina, a 1–0 loss in Kolkata.[36] On 11 October, against the same opponent but for the 2014 FIFA World Cupqualifying campaign, he scored in a 1–0 home win, which signified Venezuela's first-ever win against the Albiceleste in the tournament.[37]
Amorebieta was included in the squad for the 2015 Copa América, where he was sent off in the team's 1–0 defeat to Peru in the group stage for a stamp on Paolo Guerrero.[38] He retired from international football that November.[39]
↑Artetxe, José Luis (19 December 2012). "Amorebieta: lo tomas o lo dejas"[Amorebieta: take it or leave it]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 May 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑"Amorebieta debuta con Venezuela"[Amorebieta makes Venezuela debut]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
