Ion Vélez
Encyclopedia
Ion Vélez Martínez is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Girona FC
as a forward.
from lowly Peña Sport FC in 2003, Vélez spent time with the club's B
and feeder clubs
, subsequently being loaned to neighbours Barakaldo CF
(third division
). He made his debut for the first team on 26 August 2007, in the goalless La Liga
home draw against CA Osasuna
.
After spending the second part of 2007–08 on loan to second level
's Hércules CF
, where he appeared significantly - after his debut with the Alicante
side, he managed to play, in the same season, in the three major categories of Spanish football
- Vélez was definitely promoted to Bilbao's main squad for the 2008–09 season. He appeared significantly during the league campaign - 28 matches, although only four complete - and, on 9 May 2009, scored the game's only goal as the Basque
defeated Real Betis
at home.
During the first part of 2010–11
, Vélez only appeared in five official games for Athletic, all as a second-half substitute. On 19 January 2011, he moved to CD Numancia
in division two, on loan, reuniting with former Athletic teammate - and namesake - Iñigo Vélez
; in late July, after being deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Marcelo Bielsa
, he rescinded his link with the club and signed for Girona FC
also in the second level, with his former team having a rebuying option at the end of the 2011–12 season.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Girona FC
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
as a forward.
Football career
Bought by Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
from lowly Peña Sport FC in 2003, Vélez spent time with the club's B
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
and feeder clubs
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
, subsequently being loaned to neighbours Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Barakaldo, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Founded in 1917, it plays in Tercera División - Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre, with a capacity of 7,960 seats.-Club names:*Baracaldo Football-Club —...
(third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
). He made his debut for the first team on 26 August 2007, in the goalless La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
home draw against CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
.
After spending the second part of 2007–08 on loan to second level
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
's Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
, where he appeared significantly - after his debut with the Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
side, he managed to play, in the same season, in the three major categories of Spanish football
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
- Vélez was definitely promoted to Bilbao's main squad for the 2008–09 season. He appeared significantly during the league campaign - 28 matches, although only four complete - and, on 9 May 2009, scored the game's only goal as the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
defeated Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
at home.
During the first part of 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, Vélez only appeared in five official games for Athletic, all as a second-half substitute. On 19 January 2011, he moved to CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
in division two, on loan, reuniting with former Athletic teammate - and namesake - Iñigo Vélez
Iñigo Vélez
Iñigo Vélez de Mendizábal Fernández de Garaialde , known as Iñigo, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Xerez CD as a forward.-Football career:...
; in late July, after being deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine association football coach and former defender, born in Rosario, Santa Fe...
, he rescinded his link with the club and signed for Girona FC
Girona FC
Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Girona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1930, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi Montilivi, which has a capacity of 10,000....
also in the second level, with his former team having a rebuying option at the end of the 2011–12 season.