Aitor Larrazábal
Encyclopedia
Aitor Larrazábal Bilbao (born 21 June 1971 in Bilbao
, Biscay
, Basque Country
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played solely for Athletic de Bilbao
.
A left defender of offensive penchant, he appeared in 445 official games for his only club, and was also a penalty kick
specialist, scoring at least one La Liga
goal in 13 of his 14 professional seasons.
's youth ranks at 11, Larrazábal started playing professionally with its reserves
, then in the second division
, and made his first team debut on 2 September 1990, a 0–1 loss at CD Tenerife
, finishing his first year in the top flight
with 18 matches.
From then onwards, Larrazábal was an undisputed starter for the Basques
, scoring and assisting
alike. In 1997–98, as Bilbao finished runner-up, he scored a career-best seven league goals, being instrumental as his team qualified for the subsequent UEFA Champions League
, where he featured, for instance, in both group stage draws against Juventus FC
, although the club eventually ranked last.
After Asier del Horno
(another Lezama
youth graduate)'s emergence in 2002–03, Larrazábal still featured prominently in his last two seasons combined (36 matches, three goals), but eventually retired from the game in May 2004 at the age of 33, after a two-decade link with a sole club.
Larrazábal subsequently became a coach: after starting in amateur football, he joined lowly SD Lemona
(Basque Country) in Segunda División B
, in 2009, leading the club to the sixth position in his first year
, and narrowly missing out on playoff qualification.
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played solely for Athletic de Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
.
A left defender of offensive penchant, he appeared in 445 official games for his only club, and was also a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
specialist, scoring at least one La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
goal in 13 of his 14 professional seasons.
Club career
Having joined Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
's youth ranks at 11, Larrazábal started playing professionally with its reserves
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
, then in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, and made his first team debut on 2 September 1990, a 0–1 loss at CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
, finishing his first year in the top flight
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
with 18 matches.
From then onwards, Larrazábal was an undisputed starter for the Basques
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, scoring and assisting
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
alike. In 1997–98, as Bilbao finished runner-up, he scored a career-best seven league goals, being instrumental as his team qualified for the subsequent UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, where he featured, for instance, in both group stage draws against Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, although the club eventually ranked last.
After Asier del Horno
Asier del Horno
Asier del Horno Cosgaya is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Levante UD mainly as a left defender.-Athletic Bilbao:...
(another Lezama
Lezama
Lezama is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It is home to the training headquarters of the football team Athletic Bilbao, and is accessible by bus - BizkaiBus - from Bilbao.-External links:*...
youth graduate)'s emergence in 2002–03, Larrazábal still featured prominently in his last two seasons combined (36 matches, three goals), but eventually retired from the game in May 2004 at the age of 33, after a two-decade link with a sole club.
Larrazábal subsequently became a coach: after starting in amateur football, he joined lowly SD Lemona
SD Lemona
Sociedad Deportiva Lemona is a Spanish football team based in Lemoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1923, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 2, holding home matches at Estadio Arlonagusia, with a capacity of 5,000 seats....
(Basque Country) in Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, in 2009, leading the club to the sixth position in his first year
2009–10 Segunda División B
The 2009–10 Segunda División B season was the 79th since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 29 August 2009, and the season ended on 20 June 2010 with the promotion play-off finals.- Group 1:...
, and narrowly missing out on playoff qualification.