Alain Eizmendi


Alain Eizmendi Blanco is a Spanish footballer who plays as a winger for Real Unión.

Club career

Born in Beasain, Basque Country, Eizmendi joined Real Sociedad's youth system in 2002, aged 12. He made his senior debut in the 2008–09 season, playing for the reserves in Segunda División B and being relegated; on 20 June 2009 he made his professional debut with the first team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 away win against Elche CF for the Segunda División championship.
On 30 June 2011, Eizmendi rejected a contract extension and signed a two-year deal with neighbouring Athletic Bilbao, being assigned to B-team also in the third level. In his second year, he scored a career-best seven goals in 31 matches as the club failed to promote in the playoffs; on 19 June 2013, he was released.
Eizmendi returned to Real Sociedad in July 2013, being subsequently loaned to SD Eibar. On 17 July 2014, after achieving promotion to La Liga, he agreed to a one-year contract at CD Leganés; he renewed his link with the latter on 9 July of the following year, and won another promotion at the end of the season.

Personal life

Eizmendi's twin brother, Eneko, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He too was groomed at Real Sociedad, but spent all of his career in the lower leagues.
Their father, Francisco Javier, and uncle, José Ramón, were also involved in the sport.