Jesús Unanua

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Unanua and the second or maternal family name is Becerril.
Jesús Unanua
Personal information
Full name Jesús Unanua Becerril
Date of birth (1969-06-23) 23 June 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 Osasuna B 54 (0)
1990–1996 Osasuna 47 (0)
1992–1993 → Albacete (loan) 13 (0)
1996–1999 Leganés 76 (0)
1999–2003 Villarreal 3 (0)
2003–2004 Xerez 38 (0)
2004–2006 Elche 55 (0)
2006–2009 Alicante 98 (0)
Total 384 (0)
International career
1986 Spain U18 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jesús Unanua Becerril (born 23 June 1969) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played 204 Segunda División matches over ten seasons, in representation of six teams. In La Liga he was almost exclusively a backup, appearing in the competition with Osasuna, Albacete and Villarreal.[1]

Club career

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Unanua began his professional career with hometown side CA Osasuna, playing 13 La Liga games in the 1989–90 season. However, he never managed to become first-choice during his early years, and, after a loan spell at Albacete Balompié (also as backup), he returned to his first club, being once again barred, now by youngster Javier López Vallejo, another youth graduate.

After three seasons at Segunda División team CD Leganés,[2] Unanua moved to Villarreal CF, achieving top-flight promotion in his first year although he appeared in no matches, being once again cast aside by Vallejo whom signed at the same time – both players lost importance in the 2002–03 campaign, after the arrival of FC Barcelona's Pepe Reina.[3]

Unanua featured the most he had in years in 2003–04, as he helped Xerez CD to a ninth place. He continued his career also in the second division, with Elche CF.[4][5][6]

In 2006, Unanua dropped down to the Segunda División B but stayed in the Valencian Community, joining Alicante CF. In his first year he helped to a return to the second tier after 52 years, and won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the season in the competition with only 19 goals conceded in 35 games.[7][8]

On 17 June 2009, shortly after having been relegated to the bench by manager José Carlos Granero,[9] Unanua announced his retirement from professional football.[10] He played his last match on the 20th between already relegated teams Alicante and Sevilla Atlético (3–3), three days shy of his 40th birthday.[11]

Subsequently, Unanua worked as goalkeeper coach at Villarreal.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Unanua: "He realizado 15 mudanzas y mi familia nunca me ha abandonado" (Unanua: "I've moved 15 times and my family has never abandoned me"); Diario de Navarra, 18 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Un gol sublime de Ziganda acaba con las ilusiones del Leganés (Wondergoal by Ziganda kills Leganés' hopes); El País, 2 November 1998 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Reguero se confirma como tercer portero (Reguero confirmed as third goalkeeper); El Periódico Mediterráneo, 27 June 2003 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Unanua es el portero elegido por el Xerez (Unanua is the goalkeeper chosen by Xerez); Diario AS, 31 July 2003 (in Spanish)
  5. ^ Acuerdo con el Xerez en el 'Caso Unanua' (Agreement with Xerez in 'Unanua Affair'); Diario AS, 26 August 2004 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Boceto del nuevo Xerez (Outline of new Xerez); Diario de Jerez, 14 June 2010 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Unanua, el portero menos goleado de la categoría (Unanua, least-beaten goalkeeper in the category); Las Provincias, 4 March 2008 (in Spanish)
  8. ^ El ascenso en sus manos (Promotion in his hands); La Verdad, 12 June 2008 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ Alicante: Unanua se muestra «molesto» tras verse relegado a la suplencia ante el Éibar (Alicante: Unanua displays "unrest" after being relegated to the bench against Eibar); Diario Información, 5 March 2009 (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Unanua decide retirarse después de veintiún años de carrera profesional (Unanua decides to retire after a 21-year professional career); Marca, 17 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Alicante y Sevilla Atlético empatan en una jornada de despedidas (Alicante and Sevilla Atlético draw in round of goodbyes); Marca, 20 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  12. ^ Fútbol.– Los ex porteros del Villarreal, Molina y Unanua, se incorporan al cuerpo técnico del club amarillo (Football.– Former Villarreal goalkeepers, Molina y Unanua, join yellow club's coaching staff); El Economista, 21 July 2009 (in Spanish)
  13. ^ Femenías, un martillo pilón para la portería del Real Oviedo (Femenías, sledgehammer for Real Oviedo goal); La Voz de Asturias, 12 August 2020 (in Spanish)