Luis Arconada

Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri (born 26 June 1954) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

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

Luis Arconada
Arconada in 2019
Personal information
Full name Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri
Date of birth (1954-06-26) 26 June 1954
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Lengokoak
Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1974 San Sebastián 40 (0)
1974–1989 Real Sociedad 414 (0)
Total 454 (0)
National team
1972 Spain U18 4 (0)
1976 Spain amateur 2 (0)
1977–1985 Spain 68 (0)
1979 Basque Country 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played only for Real Sociedad for nearly 20 years, and helped the club to four titles including two La Liga championships.[2]

Arconada collected 68 caps for Spain over eight years, and was part of the squads at two World Cups and two European Championships.[3]

Club career

Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa. Aged 16, he joined local giants Real Sociedad's youth ranks, going on to play there his entire career and being known as "El pulpo" (Octopus in English).[1][4]

After two seasons backing up Urruti, Arconada became the club's undisputed starter.[5] He was instrumental in consecutive La Liga titles, which led – after the second – to a semi-final run in the European Cup.

Arconada was seriously injured in 1985–86's league opener, which caused him to miss the remainder of the campaign and the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[6] He still returned strong for three more seasons, helping Real Sociedad to two consecutive Copa del Rey finals before retiring at 35 with a total of 414 appearances (551 overall); after that, he remained apart from the football world.[7]

International career

On 27 March 1977, Arconada played his first game for Spain, a 1–1 friendly with Hungary in Alicante, replacing Real Madrid's Miguel Ángel for the second half. Having captained the nation on many occasions, he represented it at the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups as well as at UEFA Euro 1980 and 1984. In the latter competition, his blunder resulted in the opening goal for hosts France in a 0–2 final defeat: he appeared to have smothered a free kick from Michel Platini under his chest in a diving save, but he fumbled the ball, which slid off under his body and rolled slowly into the net; despite his reputation as a world-class goalkeeper, several years later he was still widely remembered for the error, known as "Arconada's goal" in Spain.[8][9][10][11]

Arconada's last game was a 0–3 defeat in Wales for the 1986 World Cup qualifiers.[12] A severe cruciate ligament injury while playing for Real ousted him from the final stages,[6] being replaced by fellow Basque Andoni Zubizarreta.

During the ceremony following Spain's victory in Euro 2008, third choice Andrés Palop wore Arconada's original Euro 84 final shirt as he received the gold medal from Platini, now president of UEFA.[13] Arconada also represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where Spain was eliminated in the first round.

Style of play

Arconada was known for his leadership, bravery and consistency, and was regarded as one of the best Spanish goalkeepers of all time. His athleticism, speed, shot-stopping ability, reflexes, footwork and acrobatic style served as an inspiration to Iker Casillas.[10][14][15][16][17][18]

In 2017, former goalkeeper Manuel Almunia also praised Arconada for his ability to produce saves with his feet.[19]

Personal life

Arconada's younger brother, Gonzalo, never played professional football, but had an extensive coaching career, mainly in the third division. For a few months in early 2006, he coached Real Sociedad's first team.[20]

Honours

Club

Real Sociedad

International

Spain

Individual

See also

References
  1. "Éxtasis galo tras el error de Arconada" [Gaul ecstasy after Arconada's mistake] (in Spanish). UEFA. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. "Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Arconada" [Real Sociedad legends – Arconada]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  3. Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Luis Miguel Arconada Echarri – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  4. Sanmartín C., Xabier (17 July 2010). "Pulpo eres, en 'polbo' te convertirás... y así te mueves" [Octupus you are, 'polbo' you shall become... and so you go]. El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. "Arconada, nuevo numero uno del fútbol español" [Arconada, new number one of Spanish football]. El País (in Spanish). 22 March 1980. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. Reizabal, Gorka (29 January 1986). "Arconada vuelve a los entrenamientos" [Arconada returns to training]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. Belastegui, Iñigo (21 March 2018). "Luis Arconada: «Este premio, 30 años después, es muy bonito»" [Luis Arconada: "This award, 30 years later, is quite beautiful"]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. "Platini fires France to victory". UEFA. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  9. Mentruit, Imma (13 April 2016). "1984: Los 'bleus' se coronan tras el error de Arconada" [1984: ‘Bleus’ crowned after Arconada's mistake]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  10. Spinella, Vanni (6 June 2016). "EuroStorie: 1984, la "papera" di Arconada" [EuroStories: 1984, Arconada's "error"] (in Italian). Sky Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  11. Villalobos, Fran (7 June 2016). "France 1984: Platini the hero, Arconada the villain". Marca. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  12. Pérez de Rozas, Emilio (1 May 1985). "Gales, espectacular y potente, goleó a España" [Gales, spectacular and powerful, routed Spain]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  13. "Arconada alucinó con el gesto de Palop" [Arconada went crazy with Palop's gesture]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 2 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  14. Rodríguez, Alfredo (24 March 2015). "Casillas carrying the torch for his fellow keepers". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  15. Brown, Lucas (28 March 2007). "Spanish legends salute Casillas". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  16. "Real Sociedad '81: la Liga conquistata allo scadere" [Real Sociedad '81: the League captured in the final minutes] (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  17. Clements, Chris (23 July 2012). "Spotlight Season: The Basque conquest of La Liga begins – 1980/81". El Centrocampista. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  18. Balagué, Guillem (5 February 2010). "Casillas names his top ten No1s". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  19. Ruiz, Marco (13 December 2017). "Manuel Almunia: "Kepa is good with his feet, like Luis Arconada"". Diario AS. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  20. "Luis Arconada saludó a Gonzalo sobre el césped" [Luis Arconada greeted Gonzalo on the pitch]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 14 October 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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