Mikel San José

Mikel San José

San José training for Athletic Bilbao in 2014.
Personal information
Full name	Mikel San José Domínguez
Date of birth	(1989-05-30) 30 May 1989 (age 27)
Place of birth	Pamplona, Spain
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder / Centre back
Club information
Current team	Athletic Bilbao
Number	6
Youth career
	Chantrea
2005–2007	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2010	Liverpool	0	(0)
2009–2010	→ Athletic Bilbao (loan)	25	(1)
2010–	Athletic Bilbao	205	(25)
National team‡
2007–2008	Spain U19	16	(0)
2009–2011	Spain U21	8	(1)
2012	Spain U23	1	(0)
2014–	Spain	7	(0)
2011–	Basque Country	6	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 April 2017. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 December 2016

Mikel San José Domínguez (Spanish pronunciation: [miˈkel saŋxoˈse ðoˈmiŋɡeθ]; born 30 May 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a defensive midfielder or a central defender.

After starting out at Liverpool's reserves he joined Athletic Bilbao in 2009, initially on loan, and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club in La Liga.

San José won European Championships with Spain at under-19 and under-21 level. He also represented the country at the 2012 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2014, being part of the squad at Euro 2016.

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, San José progressed through the youth teams at Athletic Bilbao in the neighbouring Basque Country, playing for the Juvenil B and moving to the A-team in the 2006–07 season, where he made 27 appearances and scored five goals.

Aged just 18, he signed a three-year contract with Liverpool, in August 2007, and subsequently played regularly for the reserves, in 2007–08 and 2008–09.