Luis Prieto Zalbidegoitia

Luis Prieto

Prieto during presentation as a Valladolid player
Personal information
Full name	Luis Prieto Zalbidegoitia
Date of birth	19 February 1979 (1979-02-19)
Place of birth	Bilbao, Spain
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Alavés
Youth career
1995–1997	Arratia
	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–1998	Baskonia	61	(2)
1998–1999	→ Barakaldo (loan)	27	(1)
1999–2000	Bilbao Athletic	34	(2)
2000–2002	→ Eibar (loan)	63	(0)
2002–2008	Athletic Bilbao	134	(5)
2008–2010	Valladolid	48	(3)
2010–2011	Ponferradina	19	(0)
2011–	Alavés	12	(0)
National team
2003–	Basque Country	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Prieto and the second or maternal family name is Zalbidegoitia.

Luis Prieto Zalbidegoitia (born 19 February 1979 in Bilbao, Biscay) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Deportivo Alavés mainly as a central defender.

Football career

Coming through the ranks of Athletic de Bilbao, Prieto spent three seasons on loan at two Basque neighbours, before establishing himself in the main squad. His first-team debut came in 2002–03's opening round, a 2–4 away defeat against Real Sociedad.

In the 2005–06 season, as Athletic finished 12th in La Liga, Prieto scored four goals in 36 matches, notably the deciders (1–0 wins) at RCD Mallorca and with CA Osasuna.

After having appeared just three times during 2007–08, Prieto left Bilbao and joined fellow top flight outfit Real Valladolid, on 10 July 2008. A regular starter in his first year, he saw time at central and right defender.

On 31 July 2009, Prieto was involved in a pre-season game against Ipswich Town, played in honour of the late Bobby Robson, who died aged 76 that morning. Prieto scored an own goal, in an eventual 1–3 loss to the Championship side. He appeared slightly less in the 2009–10 league campaign, mainly due to the signing in January 2010 of Portuguese Henrique Sereno. On 16 May, he opened the score as Valladolid certified its relegation after three years as they lost 0–4 at eventual champions FC Barcelona.

External links

• Athletic Bilbao profile
• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)