![]() Villalibre celebrating Alavés' promotion in 2023 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Asier Villalibre Molina | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 30 September 1997||
Place of birth | Guernica, Spain[1] | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Alavés | ||
Youth career | |||
2011–2014 | Athletic Bilbao | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2015 | Basconia | 45 | (26) |
2015–2019 | Bilbao Athletic | 99 | (37) |
2016–2024 | Athletic Bilbao | 102 | (11) |
2017 | → Numancia (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2017–2018 | → Valladolid (loan) | 13 | (0) |
2018 | → Lorca (loan) | 12 | (0) |
2023 | → Alavés (loan) | 16 | (4) |
2024– | Alavés | 0 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2013–2014 | Spain U17 | 9 | (2) |
2014–2015 | Spain U18 | 3 | (1) |
2015 | Spain U19 | 1 | (0) |
2019– | Basque Country | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:12, 25 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2024 |
Asier Villalibre Molina (born 30 September 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Deportivo Alavés.
Club career
Born in Guernica, Biscay, Basque Country, Villalibre joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in 2011. He made his debut as a senior with the farm team in the 2013–14 season, scoring on his Tercera División debut at the age of 15.[2]
In May 2015, after a further 20 goals for the third side, Villalibre was promoted to the reserves in the Segunda División – he had already represented them the previous campaign in the Segunda División B.[3] He made his professional debut on 24 August, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gorka Santamaría in a 1–0 home loss against Girona FC.[4]
Villalibre scored his first professional goal for Bilbao Athletic on 6 September 2015, closing the 3–1 home win over RCD Mallorca.[5] At 17 years and 341 days, this made him the second-youngest goalscorer for the team when competing in the second division (behind Ander Garitano's 17 years and 198 days in 1986).[6]
On 3 December 2016, Villalibre was called up to the first team for the Basque derby against SD Eibar, with habitual first-choice Aritz Aduriz suspended after being sent off in the previous league match.[7] He made his La Liga debut the following day, replacing Iñaki Williams after 84 minutes and providing the assist for Iker Muniain to score the final goal of a 3–1 victory in injury time.[8]
Villalibre appeared in his first game in European competition on 8 December 2016, contributing another decisive pass in a 1–1 draw away to SK Rapid Wien in the UEFA Europa League group stage after once again coming on from the bench.[9] He was loaned out to CD Numancia on 2 May of the following year, for one month.[10]
On 20 August 2017, Villalibre was loaned to second-tier club Real Valladolid for one year.[11] After only netting twice in the cup, his loan was terminated and he subsequently moved to Lorca FC of the same league also in a temporary deal.[12]
Villalibre scored his first league goal for Athletic on 25 January 2020, playing 84 minutes in the 1–1 away draw with RCD Espanyol.[13] The following 17 January, his last-minute equaliser against FC Barcelona earned extra time and an eventual 3–2 win in the 2021 Supercopa de España final; he was also the target of an aggression that earned Lionel Messi the first club red card of his career.[14]
After totalling 35 games and four goals in 2020–21, Villalibre fell down the pecking order the following years,[15] and was loaned to Deportivo Alavés on 30 January 2023.[16] He scored twice during the second-division play-offs to help the club to gain promotion, starting with a 2–0 victory over Eibar;[17] in the second leg of the final at Levante UD, his penalty deep into injury time of extra time was the tie's only goal.[18]
Back with Athletic, on 16 September 2023 Villalibre scored in a 3–0 win over Cádiz CF just a few seconds after replacing Gorka Guruzeta.[19] On 7 December, in his first start of the season, he netted twice against CD Cayón in the second round of the Copa del Rey.[20][21] A month later, he added two to help defeat Eibar in the round of 32 (3–0),[22] repeating the feat in the next stage as the hosts downed Alavés 2–0;[23][24] with these six goals, he equalled Javi Luke's tally from the 1991–92 edition,[25] and finished joint-top scorer of the tournament together with Abdón Prats and Anastasios Douvikas.[26] He did not leave the bench in the final, won against Mallorca on penalties.[27][28]
On 15 July 2024, Villalibre returned to Alavés on a four-year contract.[29]
International career
Villalibre made his debut for the unofficial Basque Country national team in May 2019, in a 0–0 draw away to Panama for which a small, youthful and inexperienced squad was selected.[30][31]
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Basconia | 2013–14 | Tercera División | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | 11 | 6 | |||
2014–15 | Tercera División | 34 | 20 | — | — | — | 34 | 20 | ||||
Total | 45 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 26 | ||
Bilbao Athletic | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
2015–16 | Segunda División | 32 | 3 | — | — | — | 32 | 3 | ||||
2016–17 | Segunda División B | 27 | 11 | — | — | — | 27 | 11 | ||||
2018–19 | Segunda División B | 38 | 23 | — | — | — | 38 | 23 | ||||
Total | 99 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 101 | 37 | ||
Athletic Bilbao | 2016–17 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
2019–20 | La Liga | 19 | 3 | 5[c] | 2 | — | — | 24 | 5 | |||
2020–21 | La Liga | 35 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 2[d] | 1 | 43 | 6 | ||
2021–22 | La Liga | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||
2022–23 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
2023–24 | La Liga | 18 | 2 | 6 | 6 | — | — | 24 | 8 | |||
Total | 102 | 11 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 127 | 21 | ||
Numancia (loan) | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
Valladolid (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 13 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 17 | 2 | ||
Lorca (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
Alavés (loan) | 2022–23 | Segunda División | 16 | 4 | — | — | 4[e] | 2 | 20 | 6 | ||
Career total | 293 | 78 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 328 | 92 |
- ^ Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
- ^ Appearances in Supercopa de España
- ^ Appearances in Segunda División play-offs
Honours
Athletic Bilbao
- Copa del Rey: 2023–24;[28] runner-up: 2019–20,[35] 2020–21[36]
- Supercopa de España: 2021[37]
References
- ^ a b c "Asier Villalibre". Eurosport. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Martín, Javi (10 September 2015). "Villalibre: El debut soñado con 15 años" [Villalibre: A dream debut at 15 years] (in Spanish). La Cantera de Lezama. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ F. Mangana, David (9 May 2015). "Asier Villalibre, un nuevo cachorro en el Bilbao Athletic" [Asier Villalibre, a new pup at Bilbao Athletic] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ García-Muñoz, Sergio (24 August 2015). "El que la sigue, la consigue" [He who wants it, gets it]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "El filial remonta al Mallorca y suma sus tres primeros puntos" [The reserves complete a comeback over Mallorca and get their first points]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ Martín, Javi (7 September 2015). "Asier Villalibre: segundo goleador más jóven de la historia del Bilbao Athletic en 2ª División" [Asier Villalibre: second-youngest goalscorer of Bilbao Athletic's history in 2nd Division] (in Spanish). La Cantera de Lezama. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ San Cristóbal, Einara (3 December 2016). "Villalibre se estrena en convocatoria ante el Eibar" [Villalibre gets first selection against Eibar]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ Callero, Borja Luis (4 December 2016). "Un león a la carrera por Europa" [A lion runs loose in Europe]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ "La semana soñada de Villalibre" [Villalibre's dream week]. El Correo (in Spanish). 9 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ "Asier Villalibre, nuevo jugador del C. D. Numancia" [Asier Villalibre, new player of C.D. Numancia] (in Spanish). CD Numancia. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Villalibre fortalece el ataque" [Villalibre strengthens the attack] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ "Asier Villalibre on-loan". Athletic Bilbao. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ García, Miguel Ángel (25 January 2020). "Con RDT hay esperanza" [There's hope with RDT]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ Carnerero, Fernando (17 January 2021). "La Supercopa de Williams" [Williams' Supercup]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Ugalde, Iñaki (19 August 2022). "Villalibre solo ha completado 4 de sus 80 partidos de Liga con el Athletic" [Villalibre has only completed 4 of his 80 League matches with Athletic]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Villalibre jugará cedido en el Deportivo Alavés" [Villalibre will play on loan at Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Athletic Bilbao. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "El Alavés se agarra a Mendizorroza para meterse en la final" [Alavés hold on to Mendizorroza to reach final] (in Spanish). Relevo. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Portillo Maya, Sara (17 June 2023). "Levante 0–1 Alavés: Un gol de penalti en los últimos compases decide el ascenso" [Levante 0–1 Alavés: Penalty goal in dying breath decides promotion]. Estadio Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Velasco, Juanma (16 September 2023). "El Athletic disfruta de un buen ariete" [Athletic enjoy a good striker]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Herrán, Alfonso (7 December 2023). "El Athletic aniquila el sueño del Cayón en la Copa del Rey" [Athletic annhilate Cayón's dream in King's Cup]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Velasco, Juanma (7 December 2023). "Villalibre acepta el reto y hace un doblete ganador" [Villalibre accepts challenge and bags winning brace]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Velasco, Juanma (7 January 2024). "Festival del Athletic en Eibar" [Athletic festival in Eibar]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Velasco, Juanma (16 January 2024). "El Athletic va en serio a por la Copa" [Athletic mean business in Cup]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Rodríguez Beltrán, Javier (17 January 2024). "Villalibre: "Dentro del campo no hay amigos"" [Villalibre: "No such thing as friends on a pitch"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Aramendia, Arkaitz (16 January 2024). "Una Copa con sello propio para Villalibre" [Villalibre's name written all over Cup]. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Douvikas, pichichi de la Copa junto a Villalibre y Abdón Prats" [Douvikas, Cup top scorer alongside Villalibre and Abdón Prats]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Carnerero, Fernando (7 April 2024). "El Athletic cantó la 'cuarenta'" [Athletic sang 'forties']. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ a b Reinoso del Real, Mario (7 April 2024). "Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, en directo: final de Copa del Rey 2024 | Celebración del Athletic, campeón de Copa" [Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, live: 2024 King's Cup final | Celebrations of Athletic, Cup champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "Villalibre vuelve al Deportivo Alavés" [Villalibre returns to Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Lekuona, Javier (30 May 2019). "Empate sin goles de la Euskal Selekzioa ante Panamá" [Basque Selection goalless draw against Panama]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ "Empate entre la Euskal Selekzioa y Panamá (0–0)" [Draw between Basque Selection and Panama (0–0)] (in Spanish). EITB. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ Asier Villalibre at Athletic Bilbao
- ^ Asier Villalibre at Soccerway
- ^ Asier Villalibre at FBref.com
- ^ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (17 April 2021). "Messi stars as Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to lift Copa del Rey". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 17 de enero de 2021, en Sevilla" [Minutes of the match held on 17 January 2021, in Seville] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
External links
- Asier Villalibre at Athletic Club
- Asier Villalibre at BDFutbol
- Asier Villalibre at ESPN FC