Héctor Bellerín

Héctor Bellerín Moruno (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeɣtoɾ βeʎeˈɾin moˈɾuno],[lower-alpha 1] born 19 March 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right back or wing back for Premier League club Arsenal and the Spain national team.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Bellerín and the second or maternal family name is Moruno.
Héctor Bellerín
Bellerín playing for Arsenal in 2015
Personal information
Full name Héctor Bellerín Moruno[1]
Date of birth (1995-03-19) 19 March 1995[2]
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Right back / Wing back
Club information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 2
Youth career
2003–2011 Barcelona
2011–2013 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013– Arsenal 177 (7)
2013–2014 → Watford (loan) 8 (0)
National team‡
2011 Spain U16 6 (1)
2012 Spain U17 6 (0)
2013–2014 Spain U19 9 (0)
2015–2017 Spain U21 14 (0)
2016– Spain 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:27, 2 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 01:07, 12 November 2020 (UTC)

Bellerín started his career at Barcelona, and moved to Arsenal in 2011. On 21 November 2016, he signed a long-term contract that ties him to the club until 2022.[3]

Bellerín played internationally for Spain from under-16 to under-21 levels. He made his senior debut for Spain in 2016 and was later chosen for the European Championship of that year.[4]

Early life
Bellerín playing for Arsenal in 2015

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Bellerín started his club football career in Barcelona's youth team. He moved to Arsenal in the summer of 2011, and signed his first professional contract the following year.[5] While a youth player at Arsenal, Bellerín also helped the club to reach fourth place of the NextGen Series of 2012–13. Bellerín made his competitive debut away to West Bromwich Albion in the third round of the League Cup on 25 September 2013, coming on in the 95th minute as a substitute for Mikel Arteta in a penalty shootout victory after a 1–1 draw.[6]

Club career

Watford (Loan)

Two months later, Bellerín joined Championship club Watford on a two-month loan deal, and made his debut against Yeovil Town eight days after signing.[7] The loan at Watford was extended until the end of the season,[8] but he was recalled by Arsenal in February 2014.[9]

Making the starting eleven

Following injuries to Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal, Bellerín made his Champions League debut on 16 September 2014 in a 2–0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.[10] He scored his first goal for Arsenal on 1 February 2015, in a 5–0 win against Aston Villa,[11] and added a second on 4 April to open a 4–1 win over Liverpool despite also conceding a penalty kick through a foul on Raheem Sterling.[12]

Bellerín was selected to start for Arsenal in the 2015 FA Cup Final on 30 May, helping the team keep a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.[13]

2015–16 season: PFA Team of the Year

He signed a new long-term contract before the 2015–16 season and played the entirety of Arsenal's 1–0 win over rivals Chelsea in the 2015 FA Community Shield.[14] He was the sole Arsenal player listed in the season's PFA Team of the Year,[15] and came in third place in Arsenal's Player of the Season voting.[16] On 21 November 2016, he signed a new long-term contract after agreeing to a deal that ties him to the club until 2022.[17][18]

2016–17 season: FA Cup title

Bellerín featured in the following season throughout Arsenal's victorious FA Cup campaign. He played in the Cup final which Arsenal went on to win by a 2–1 margin against Chelsea.[19] He was again triumphant in the Gunners lifting the 2017 Community Shield by beating Chelsea 4–1 on penalties.[20]

2017–18 season: EFL Cup runner-up

Bellerín scored his first goal of Arsenal's 2017–18 season in Arsenal's 3–1 victory over 1. FC Köln.[21] On 3 January 2018, Bellerín earned a draw for Arsenal against Chelsea with what BBC Sport described as 'stunning injury-time strike' in the 92nd minute, having earlier conceded a penalty for a foul on Eden Hazard.[22] Bellerín played the full time match as Arsenal lost the EFL Cup by 3-0 to Manchester City at Wembley.[23] 7 March 2018, Bellerín was ruled out of the Europa League first leg clash against Milan with an unknown return date.[24]

2018–19 season

Bellerín missed out the first five weeks of the 2018–19 season due to a calf problem.[25] During a league game against Chelsea on 19 January he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and was stretchered off of the pitch in the 70th minute at the Emirates Stadium. He was later ruled out for nine months, consequently missing the remainder of the season and the start of the 2019–20 season.[26] Arsenal coach Unai Emery perceives Bellerín as "very mature" and believes that "he is already preparing to come back stronger than before".[27][28]

2019–20 season: FA Cup triumph

On 24 September 2019, Bellerín made his return from injury as a substitute in Arsenal's 5-0 victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup.[29] On 1 August 2020, Bellerín was selected to start in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea, and went on to win his third winners' medal as Arsenal won their 14th FA Cup.[30]

International career

Having reached the semi-finals of the 2013 European Championship with the under-19 team,[31] Bellerín made his debut for Albert Celades's under-21 team on 30 March 2015, playing the full 90 minutes of a 4–0 friendly win over Belarus in León.[32]

On 29 May 2016, after being named as a stand-by player for the year's European Championship, Bellerín made his debut for the full squad by starting in a 3–1 friendly win against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the AFG Arena in St. Gallen, Switzerland.[33] Two days later, he was chosen for the final squad after Dani Carvajal withdrew through injury.[4] He was unused as they reached the last 16.

Style of play

Bellerín is known for his pace, which allows him to take on opposition defenders as well as provide defensive cover. At the beginning of the 2014–15 season, he broke Theo Walcott's 40-metre (130 ft; 44 yd) Arsenal sprint record by 1/100th of a second. He is considered to be one of the fastest footballers in the world.[34]

Personal life

Bellerín became a vegan in 2017, which he credits for improving his health.[35] In an interview in August 2019, he said that footballers have a responsibility to create awareness around environmental issues and that "It's nice to show what we have—our cars, our watches—but good to send a more meaningful message than 'look how cool we are'."[36]

Before the 2019 United Kingdom general election, Bellerin criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a tweet where he encouraged young people to vote, accompanied by a hashtag #FuckBoris.[37]

The 2019–20 Premier League was suspended in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it returned in June, Bellerin pledged to plant 3,000 trees for every Arsenal victory in the remainder of the season.[38]

Bellerín became the second-largest shareholder of EFL League Two club Forest Green Rovers in September 2020. He praised their commitments to veganism and environmentalism.[39]

Bellerín is also the creative director of the EA Sports FIFA Volta game mode.[40]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 February 2021[41][42]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal 2012–13 Premier League 00000000—00
2013–14 Premier League 00001000—10
2014–15 Premier League 20230104[lower-alpha 2]000282
2015–16 Premier League 36120006[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0441
2016–17 Premier League 33140005[lower-alpha 2]0—421
2017–18 Premier League 35200308[lower-alpha 4]11[lower-alpha 3]0473
2018–19 Premier League 190000000—190
2019–20 Premier League 15130203[lower-alpha 4]0—231
2020–21 Premier League 19010101[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 3]0230
Total 177712080271302278
Watford (loan) 2013–14 Championship 80————80
Career total 185712080271302358
  1. In isolation, Bellerín is pronounced [beʎeˈɾin].
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance in FA Community Shield
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
As of match played 12 November 2020[43]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201630
202010
Total40

Honours

Arsenal

Spain U21

Individual

References
  1. "Héctor Bellerín Moruno". BDFutbol. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  2. "Héctor Bellerín: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. "Bellerin signs new long-term Arsenal deal". ESPN. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. "Euro 2016: Arsenal's Hector Bellerin in Spain squad after injury forces out Dani Carvajal". BBC Sport. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. "Bellerin – I'm so happy I joined Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 29 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  6. Harris, Chris (25 September 2013). "WBA 1–1 Arsenal (3–4 pens)". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  7. "Bellerin joins Watford on loan". Arsenal F.C. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  8. "OFFICIAL: Bellerin's Back". Watford F.C. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  9. "Arsenal have recalled young defender Hector Bellerin from his loan with Watford". Watford Observer. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  10. Johnston, Neil (16 September 2014). "Borussia Dortmund 2–0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  11. Dawkes, Phil (1 February 2015). "Arsenal 5–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  12. McNulty, Phil (4 April 2015). "Arsenal 4–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  13. McNulty, Phil (30 May 2015). "Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  14. Cryer, Andy (2 August 2015). "Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  15. "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  16. Jones, Max (18 May 2016). "Player of the Season – in third place..." Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  17. "Hector Bellerin: Spain defender signs new Arsenal deal". BBC Sport. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  18. "Hector Bellerin signs new long-term contract at Arsenal". ESPN FC. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  19. "Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea – Emirates FA Cup Final 2016/17" – via YouTube.
  20. "Arsenal 1–1 Chelsea (4–1 Pens) – FA Community Shield" – via YouTube.
  21. "Arsenal 3–1 FC Cologne". BBC Sport. 14 September 2017.
  22. "Arsenal: 2 Chelsea 2'". BBC Sport. 3 January 2018.
  23. "Arsenal v Manchester City Match Report, 25/02/2018, League Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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  25. Brown, Luke (22 January 2019). "Why Hector Bellerin's season-ending injury could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal and Unai Emery". Independent.co.uk (sports). Independent. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
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  28. Storer, Tom (23 January 2019). "Bellerin mature enough to come back stronger for Arsenal – Emery". Goal. Goal.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  29. "'No words, just pure emotion' - Bellerin overjoyed on Arsenal comeback". Evening Standard. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  30. McNulty, Phil (1 August 2020). "Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  31. "The Future is theirs: Héctor Bellerín, speed embodied in a footballer". Real Federación Española de Fútbol. 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  32. Muñoz, Antonio D. (30 March 2015). "MATCH REPORT: Spain thrashes Belarus (4–0)". Real Federación Española de Fútbol. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  33. "Arsenal's Hector Bellerin makes Spain debut as defending champions warm up for Euro 2016 with a win". Daily Mirror. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
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  35. Moreno, Jonathan (30 March 2018). "La dieta de Héctor Bellerín para evitar lesiones". Sport (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  36. "Arsenal's Bellerin 'scared for planet's future'". BBC Sport. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  37. "Bellerin against British PM: F*ck Boris Johnson". marca.com. 13 December 2019.
  38. "Hector Bellerin pledges to plant 3,000 trees for every Arsenal victory". independent.co.uk. 17 June 2020.
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  40. "FIFA 21: Anthony Joshua to appear as playable character, EA Sports announces | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  41. Hector Bellerin at Soccerbase
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