Mikel Balenziaga

After two solid years as first-choice in Castile and León, Balenziaga returned to Athletic for 2013–14 to challenge for a first-team spot under new manager Ernesto Valverde. He scored his first ever goal as a professional on 24 September 2016, helping the hosts defeat Sevilla FC 3–1 in the domestic league.

In July 2009, Athletic bought Xabier Castillo from neighbours Real Sociedad and Balenziaga, seeing his chances for the upcoming season dim, accepted a loan move to CD Numancia, freshly relegated from the top division. He transferred to Real Valladolid on a three-year contract in the summer of 2011, after an unassuming campaign in which he made only one official appearance for the Lions.

Born in Zumarraga, Gipuzkoa, Balenziaga started his football grooming at Real Sociedad, playing two full seasons with its B-team in the third division. However, in 2008–09, he switched to neighbours Athletic Bilbao.

Initially thought of as a member of the reserve side, Balenziaga quickly beat competition from veterans Koikili and Javier Casas to become the undisputed first-choice for the vast majority of the campaign, making his first-team debut on 14 September 2008 in a 0–0 away draw against Málaga CF – another club graduate, Ander Iturraspe, also made his first La Liga appearance in that game.

Balenziaga appeared once for the Spain under-21 team, playing 58 minutes in a 1–4 friendly away loss to Portugal on 18 November 2008. He also featured for the unofficial Basque Country regional side.

Mikel Balenziaga Oruesagasti (Basque: [mikel balens̻iaɣa] ; Spanish: [ˈmikel βalenˈθjaɣa] ; born 29 February 1988) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a left back.