Gaizka Mendieta

Gaizka Mendieta Zabala (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈgajθka menˈdjeta θaˈβala], Basque: [gais̻ka mendieta s̻aβala]; born 27 March 1974) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

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

Gaizka Mendieta
Mendieta in 1995
Personal information
Full name Gaizka Mendieta Zabala
Date of birth (1974-03-27) 27 March 1974[1]
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain[1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Castellón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992 Castellón 16 (0)
1992–1994 Valencia B 34 (4)
1993–2001 Valencia 230 (44)
2001–2004 Lazio 20 (0)
2002–2003 → Barcelona (loan) 33 (4)
2003–2004 → Middlesbrough (loan) 31 (2)
2004–2008 Middlesbrough 31 (2)
Total 395 (56)
National team
1991 Spain U18 5 (0)
1993 Spain U20 3 (0)
1992–1996 Spain U21 13 (0)
1996 Spain U23 2 (0)
1999–2002 Spain 40 (8)
1998–2007 Basque Country 6 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A versatile player, with good technique, offensive capabilities and tackling skills, who was capable of creating goals both for his teammates and himself, he played mainly for Valencia, and finished his career with Middlesbrough in England.[2][3] Over the course of ten seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 263 games and 48 goals.

Mendieta played 40 times for Spain, appearing for the country in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Valencia

Born in Bilbao, Basque Country, Mendieta made his professional debut at just 17 with CD Castellón in Segunda División, featuring mostly as a full-back.[4][5]

After just one season he moved to La Liga after signing with Valencia CF for 30 million pesetas,[6] but spent the vast majority of his first year with the reserves, making his first team debut on 13 June 1993 against Cádiz CF;[7][8] he played 34 of 42 games during the 1995–96 season as the latter finished runners-up, their best result since 1990.

The 1997–98 campaign was Mendieta's breakthrough season, under new manager Claudio Ranieri. Moving to a central midfield role he played 30 league matches and scored ten goals,[2] soon making his debut for the national team. In June 1999 he won his first trophy with the club, beating Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey;[4] he found the net in wins over Levante UD, FC Barcelona (both legs) and Real Madrid during the run to the final, where he scored a memorable goal: controlling a cross on his chest, he flicked the ball over his own head and two defenders before turning to volley past the goalkeeper.[2]

Under new manager Héctor Cúper, Mendieta had an even better year in 1999–2000. He helped Valencia beat Barcelona 4–3 on aggregate to win the Supercopa de España, and netted a career-best 13 goals as the Che finished third. However, the biggest triumph of the season was helping his team reach the final of the season's UEFA Champions League, a 0–3 loss to fellow league side Real Madrid; later, he was awarded the "European Midfielder of the Season" award.[9]

Valencia reached the final of the Champions League in the following year and lost it again, this time to FC Bayern Munich after a penalty shootout. Mendieta scored an early penalty in normal time to give his team a 1–0 lead, and also converted his attempt in the shootout,[10][4] being again named "UEFA Best Midfielder of the Year".[11]

Moving abroad

Mendieta was one of the most sought-after players in the 2001 off-season, eventually earning a €47.7 million transfer (or a reported 8 billion pesetas[12]) to Italian club S.S. Lazio,[13] being at the time the sixth most expensive player of all time.[14] However, he disappointed in Serie A, spending only one year in Rome while failing to match the performances of departed playmakers Pavel Nedvěd and Juan Sebastián Verón.

Mendieta was loaned to Barcelona for the 2002–03 season[15]– he started most of the fixtures, but the Catalans could only rank sixth – and subsequently he moved to Middlesbrough,[16] choosing the Premier League club over offers from his homeland (Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao) due to a desire to play in England.[5]

Middlesbrough

In his first season at Middlesbrough, Mendieta was part of the team that won the Football League Cup, bringing the Teesside club its first ever silverware.[17][4] In July 2004, the move was made permanent with no transfer fee involved.[5]

In his last two years, a string of injuries (including one which caused him to miss the 2006 UEFA Cup Final)[4] and long spells of regaining match fitness relegated Mendieta to the substitutes bench. He fell out of favour with manager Gareth Southgate, who made it clear that the player no longer featured in his first team plans. Reports suggested that Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao and Málaga CF were interested in purchasing the midfielder in the January 2007 transfer window, however no concrete agreement was ever made, and the transfer deadline passed amid speculation that the player was set for a move to Los Angeles Galaxy;[18] towards its end, he was quoted to have said that he would fight for his place at Middlesbrough. A day later, Boro's chief executive Keith Lamb disregarded his comments saying that there was "no chance" of him featuring in the first team. He played his last game on 26 December 2006, against Everton.[19]

On 5 December 2007, according to a Spanish newspaper,[20] Mendieta announced his retirement from professional football when his Middlesbrough contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 campaign,[21] He was finally released on 13 May 2008, ending a successful 17-year professional career.[22]

On 3 November 2009, Mendieta was quoted as saying a part of him would be interested in football management when interviewed by the BBC. He said: "A part of me can see the excitement and challenge of being a manager, definitely." After retiring, he settled with his family near Middlesbrough, in Yarm.[23]

International career

In March/May 1996, Mendieta was part of the Spain under-21 team which was runner-up in the UEFA European Championship. He made his senior side debut on 27 March 1999, coming on as a substitute for Juan Carlos Valerón in a 9–0 thrashing of Austria for UEFA Euro 2000's qualifying stages;[24] he was included in the list of 22 for the competition in Belgium and the Netherlands, helping the national side reach the last eight.[25]

Despite his form slump at Lazio, Mendieta was picked for the squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring one goal in three matches for the eventual quarter-finalists, against South Africa (3–2 win).[26] The last of his 40 caps was earned in a friendly with Bulgaria in Granada, four months after the World Cup.

Mendieta also featured and scored for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.[27]

Media
Mendieta at a concert (FIB, 2015)

Mendieta was sponsored by sportswear company Nike, and appeared in commercials for the brand. In a global advertising campaign in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, he starred in a "Secret Tournament" commercial (branded "Scorpion KO") directed by Terry Gilliam, appearing alongside footballers such as Luís Figo, Thierry Henry, Hidetoshi Nakata, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Francesco Totti, with former player Eric Cantona the tournament "referee".[28][29]

Mendieta also worked as a pundit on Sky Sports' UK television coverage of Spanish football.[4][30]

Personal life

Mendieta's father Andrés was also a footballer who played as a goalkeeper.[30] Originally from Lekeitio, Biscay, he spent his final years as a player at Castellón and later worked on the club's staff,[31] raising his family in the region. Thus, Gaizka emerged through their youth system despite his Basque birthplace.

Fellow Bilbao-born Spain internationals Ander Herrera and Roberto Ríos had similar origins, learning their skills in the cities where their footballing fathers (Pedro and Eusebio respectively) were based professionally. However, both later signed for Athletic Bilbao, while Mendieta never featured for a Basque club; him and his father both represented Spain at the Olympic Games tournament, the latter in 1968 and the former in 1996.[6]

Mendieta was a talented athlete as a youth and came close to pursuing middle-distance running as a career over football.[6][30] He was a fan of music, and in particular had a passion for DJing;[30] he also appeared on-stage at the Benicàssim festival in 2015 during a set by the band Los Planetas, whose song referenced him in its lyrics.[4]

Mendieta stated that Ruud Gullit was his footballing hero as an adolescent, due to the Dutchman's unconventional style.[32]

Career statistics

Club
Sources:[33][34]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Castellón1991–92Segunda División16000––00160
Valencia1992–93La Liga2000––0020
1993–9420200––00202
1994–9513130––––161
1995–9634080––––420
1996–9730100––60361
1997–98301050––––3510
1998–9937775––1005412
1999–2000331321––1655119
2000–01311000––1644714
Total 230442560048930359
Lazio2001–02Serie A20040––70310
Barcelona2002–03La Liga33410––132476
Middlesbrough2003–04Premier League312106100383
Middlesbrough2004–05Premier League7000001080
2005–06172610060293
2006–077000100080
Total 312611070453
Career total 3615237771751148071

International
Sources:[35][36]
Spain
YearAppsGoals
199991
2000133
200183
2002101
Total408

International goals
Source:[36]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 June 1999El Madrigal, Villarreal, Spain San Marino9–09–0Euro 2000 qualifying
2.7 June 2000Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg Luxembourg1–01–0Friendly
3.21 June 2000Jan Breydel, Bruges, Belgium FR Yugoslavia3–33–4Euro 2000
4.25 June 2000Jan Breydel, Bruges, Belgium France1–11–2Euro 2000
5.24 March 2001José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain Liechtenstein4–05–02002 World Cup qualification
6.24 March 2001José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain Liechtenstein5–05–02002 World Cup qualification
7.1 September 2001Mestalla, Valencia, Spain Austria4–04–02002 World Cup qualification
8.12 June 2002Daegu World Cup, Daegu, South Korea South Africa1–22–32002 World Cup

Honours

Club

Valencia

Middlesbrough

International

Spain U21

Individual

References
  1. "Gaizka MENDIETA". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  2. Hernández, José (27 March 2013). "Gaizka Mendieta: 39 años de una leyenda" [Gaizka Mendieta: 39 years of a legend] (in Spanish). Deporte Valenciano. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  3. "Worst players to win the Champions League". ESPN FC. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. Pérez Sierra, Alberto (22 March 2017). "¿Qué fue de Mendieta, el 'murciélago' indie del Valencia?" [What happened to Mendieta, the indie 'bat' of Valencia?]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  5. Balagué, Guillem (24 August 2003). "Leaving the pain in Spain". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  6. Ballester, Enrique (26 July 2016). "El futbolista con sueños de atleta" [The footballer with athlete dreams]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  7. Hernández, José (12 December 2011). "Cádiz y los malos recuerdos del Valencia" [Cádiz and Valencia's bad memories] (in Spanish). Deporte Valenciano. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  8. "Mendieta: a cult hero for Valencia fans". Valencia CF. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  9. "Real storm to Cup glory". BBC Sport. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  10. "Bayern crowned European champions". BBC Sport. 23 May 2001. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  11. "Liverpool lose out at UEFA awards". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 24 August 2001. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. Owen, Jonny (2001) [circa]. "Mendieta agrees to Lazio switch". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  13. "Definito l'acquisto di Mendieta" [Mendieta purchase complete] (Press release) (in Italian). Rome: S.S. Lazio. 20 July 2001. Archived from the original on 25 July 2001. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  14. "Mendieta agrees to Lazio move". BBC Sport. 19 July 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  15. "Barca seal Mendieta loan deal". BBC Sport. 20 July 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  16. "Boro sign Mendieta". BBC Sport. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  17. "Boro lift Carling Cup". BBC Sport. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  18. "Boro's Mendieta could be US bound". BBC Sport. 6 February 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  19. "Everton 0–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 26 December 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  20. Bort, José Manuel (5 December 2007). "Gaizka Mendieta se retira" [Gaizka Mendieta retires]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2009.
  21. Wilson, Scott (6 December 2007). "Mendieta decides to retire". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  22. Paylor, Eric (9 October 2008). "I'm glad I came to Boro – Mendieta". Teesside Gazette. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  23. Stevenson, Jonathan (3 November 2009). "What became of Gaizka Mendieta?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  24. Ros, Cayetano (28 March 1999). "España vive una noche idílica" [Spain live idyllic night]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  25. "Raul miss sends France through". BBC Sport. 25 June 2000. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  26. "Heartbreak for South Africa". BBC Sport. 12 June 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  27. "Euskadi 5–1 Nigeria" (in Spanish). Basque Football Federation. 29 November 1999. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  28. "A lighter shoe, cooler kits, a faster ball, a Secret Tournament – every touch counts". Nike. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  29. Cozens, Claire (3 April 2002). "Cantona hosts World Cup with a difference". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  30. Fennessy, Paul (4 August 2014). "Here's how Balague and Mendieta see the Premier League and La Liga going this year". The 42. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  31. "El Castellón nombró gerente a Mendieta" [Castellón named Mendieta as manager]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 1 August 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  32. Fraser, Peter (16 January 2014). "My career: Gaizka Mendieta". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  33. Gaizka Mendieta at BDFutbol
  34. Gaizka Mendieta at FootballDatabase.eu
  35. Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Gaizka Mendieta Zabala – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  36. "Gaizka Mendieta". European Football. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  37. Pallàs, Joan Josep; Cubero, Cristina (1 June 1996). "Clemente: "Merecimos vencer sobradamente"" [Clemente: "We deserved to win by far"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  38. Shtutin, Eugene; Aarhus, Lars. "Games of the XXVI. Olympiad". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  39. Garin, Erik. "Europe U-21 Championship 1994". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  40. Starcevic, Nesha (25 August 2000). "Nightmare draw for Leeds as Istanbul beckons again". The Independent. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
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