Mikel Aranburu
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre | ||
| Date of birth | 18 February 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Azpeitia, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lagun Onak | |||
| Real Sociedad | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1999 | Real Sociedad B | 88 | (10) |
| 1997–2012 | Real Sociedad | 402 | (31) |
| Total | 490 | (41) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Template:Spanish name Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre (born 18 February 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.
He spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, appearing in 427 official games for the club and scoring 32 goals.[1]
Football career
Born in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Aranburu made his professional debuts aged 18, in the last round of 1996–97 against CD Logroñés, courtesy of manager Javier Irureta. From his fourth season onwards he became a full member of the main squad, being essential as the Basques finished second in La Liga in the 2002–03 campaign by contributing with 34 games and two goals.
Aranburu was seriously injured during 2005–06, and returned to major action only to see Real be relegated in the following season, the first time in 40 years. He continued to be an important first-team member during the second division campaigns, appearing in 35 matches in 2009–10 to help the Txuriurdin return to the top level after three years.
In 2010–11, Aranburu was once again first-choice, partnering Diego Rivas in central defensive midfield in most of the games. He equalled a career-best five goals, including two in a 4–0 away win against Getafe CF – he only played five minutes in the game[2]– and the all-important last-minute winner at home against Real Zaragoza in the 36th round (2–1),[3] as Sociedad narrowly retained its division status.
Honours
See also
References
- ^ Una vida en la Real (A lifetime with Real); Real Sociedad, 4 May 2012 Template:Es icon
- ^ Four-star Sociedad batter Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 15 January 2011
- ^ Aranburu the hero for Sociedad; ESPN Soccernet, 11 May 2011
External links
- Mikel Aranburu at BDFutbol
- Mikel Aranburu at Soccerway