Joseba Etxeberria
A one-club man who became the embodiment of Athletic Bilbao's fierce local identity, transitioning from a dynamic winger to a respected manager.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Spanish football manager·Birthday: September 5·Generation X
Biography
Born in the Basque town of Elgoibar, Joseba Etxeberria's footballing destiny was intertwined with Athletic Bilbao from the start. He debuted for Real Sociedad, but his 1995 move to Athletic, where he would spend the next 15 years, defined his career. On the left wing, he was a blur of speed and directness, a constant threat who played with a palpable local passion. His loyalty in an era of increasing player mobility made him a symbol for the club's unique philosophy of fielding only players from the Basque region. After hanging up his boots in 2010, he moved into coaching within the Athletic structure, managing their reserve team and later taking the helm of the first team in 2024, tasked with upholding the traditions he once embodied on the pitch.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Joseba was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joseba Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Joseba's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made over 500 official appearances for Athletic Bilbao across all competitions.
- Earned 53 caps for the Spanish national team, participating in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000.
- Won the Copa del Rey with Athletic Bilbao in 1984, though he did not play in the final, and the Supercopa de España in 1984.
- Scored a famous 'chilena' (bicycle kick) goal against Barcelona at San Mamés in 2004.
- Successfully transitioned from player to manager within the Athletic Bilbao organization.
Did You Know?
He famously played his final professional season for Athletic Bilbao for free, accepting a symbolic salary of one euro per year.
His father, Joseba Etxeberria Sr., was also a professional footballer who played for Real Sociedad.
He holds the record for the fastest goal in a Spanish Supercopa, scoring after just 50 seconds against Real Madrid in 1998.
He is known by the nickname 'Etxeberria'.
“In Bilbao, the shirt is not worn; it is lived, with every sprint and cross.”
