Fernando Amorebieta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personal information
Fernando Amorebieta
Replace this image male.svg
Full name	Fernando Amorebieta Mardaras
Date of birth	March 29, 1985 (1985-03-29) (age 23)
Place of birth	Cantaura, Venezuela
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3+¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Central defender
Club information
Current club	Athletic Bilbao
Number	5
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2003–2004 2004–2005 2005–	CD Baskonia Bilbao Athletic Athletic Bilbao	26 (1) 24 (1) 76 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 7, 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Fernando Amorebieta Mardaras (born March 29, 1985^[1] in Cantaura (Anzoátegui), Venezuela) is a Venezuelan Spanish football player. He plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central defender.

Amorebieta meets Athletic Bilbao's eligibility standards having been raised in the region, and through his parents, both of whom are from the Basque Country. He debuted for the first team in 2005-06.

Amorebieta expressed his interest in playing for La Vinotinto however, according to FIFA association rules, he should have switched codes prior to the age of 21, having previously played for the Spain in the youth categories. He remains Venezuelan and is eligible by right to play for the Venezuelan national side.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2007, he returned to Venezuela to play for the Euskadi (a non-FIFA affiliate) against Venezuela, in San Cristóbal in a 4-3 Basque win. The friendly match was the grand opening for the 43.000 all-seated Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, after 2 years of construction for the Copa América 2007.