Agustín Aranzábal

Agustín Aranzábal Alkorta (Spanish pronunciation: [aɣusˈtin aɾanˈθaβal alˈkoɾta]; born 15 March 1973) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left back.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Aranzábal and the second or maternal family name is Alkorta.

Agustín Aranzábal
Personal information
Full name Agustín Aranzábal Alkorta
Date of birth (1973-03-15) 15 March 1973
Place of birth Bergara, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
1984–1987 Bergara
1987–1992 Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1994 Real Sociedad B 34 (7)
1993–2004 Real Sociedad 331 (5)
2004–2007 Zaragoza 31 (0)
2007–2008 Vera 0 (0)
2010 Kitchee 0 (0)
Total 396 (12)
National team
1994–1996 Spain U21 9 (0)
1996 Spain U23 4 (0)
1995–2003 Spain 28 (0)
1995–2003 Basque Country 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

His main asset was his crossing ability, and he played almost exclusively with Real Sociedad, which he represented for more than ten years, appearing in 353 competitive matches.[1]

Aranzábal was also a Spanish international, and played for the country in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Aranzábal was born in Bergara, Gipuzkoa. A product of Basque Country giants Real Sociedad's youth system he first appeared with the main squad on 21 February 1993, in a 1–5 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña. After two seasons playing mainly with the reserves, he went on to be an undisputed first-choice for one full decade, for instance playing 32 games for the 2002–03 runners-up.

In July 2004, still in La Liga, Aranzábal moved to Real Zaragoza, where he was used as a backup to Paraguayan Delio Toledo. He retired after a small stint with amateur side CD Vera Puerto de la Cruz in Canary Islands, with ex-Spain international (also a Real Sociedad teammate) Javier de Pedro also starting the campaign but being promptly dismissed.

In early 2010, Kitchee SC from Hong Kong signed Aranzábal alongside compatriot Albert Celades. They both appeared with the club at the 2010 Lunar New Year Cup, a mid-season exhibition tournament.[2]

International career

Aranzábal played 28 times for Spain. His debut was on 7 June 1995 in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier against Armenia in Seville,[3] and he was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.

Aranzábal also appeared for the quarter-finalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[4]

Personal life

Aranzábal's father, José Agustín, was also a footballer. A midfielder, he too played for Real Sociedad and Spain.[5]

Honours

Club

Zaragoza

International

Spain U21

References
  1. "Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Aranzabal" [Real Sociedad legends – Aranzabal] (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  2. Celades jugará con el Kitchee de Hong Kong (Celades will play with Hong Kong's Kitchee) Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; Sport, 6 February 2010 (in Spanish)
  3. “No soy vengativo” (“I do not hold grudges”); Mundo Deportivo, 8 June 1995 (in Spanish)
  4. Agustín Aranzábal – FIFA competition record
  5. Qué fue de... Aranzabal (What happened to... Aranzabal); La Liga, 21 April 2014 (in Spanish)
  6. Italia ya ganó un Europeo a España en el 1996 (Italy have already won European Championships against Spain in 1996) Archived 13 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Orgullo Bianconero, 18 June 2013 (in Spanish)
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