Agustín Aranzábal
Spanish footballer (born 1973)
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Agustín Aranzábal Alkorta (Spanish pronunciation: [aɣusˈtin aɾanˈθaβal alˈkoɾta]; born 15 March 1973) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Agustín Aranzábal Alkorta[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 15 March 1973[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bergara, Spain[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left-back | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1987 | Bergara | ||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1991 | Real Sociedad | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Real Sociedad B | 90 | (14) | ||||||||||||||
| 1993–2004 | Real Sociedad | 322 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | Zaragoza | 31 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Vera | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Kitchee | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 443 | (19) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Spain U21 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Spain U23 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1995–2003 | Spain | 28 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 1995–2003 | Basque Country | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
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.[2]
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 5–1 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña. After three full seasons with the reserves, he went on to be an undisputed first-choice for one 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 mainly as a backup to Paraguayan Delio Toledo.[3] He retired after a small stint with amateur side CD Vera in the Canary Islands, with ex-Spain international (also a Real Sociedad teammate) Javier de Pedro also starting the campaign but being promptly dismissed.[4]
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.[5]
International career
Aranzábal earned 28 caps for Spain.[6] His debut was on 7 June 1995 in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier against Armenia in Seville,[7] and he was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.[8][6]
Aranzábal also appeared for the quarter-finalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[9][6]
Personal life
Aranzábal's father, José Agustín, was also a footballer. A midfielder, he too played for Real Sociedad and Spain.[10]
Honours
Spain U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 1996[11]