Andoni Lakabeg
Encyclopedia
Andoni Lakabeg Fraile is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a right defender.
, Biscay
, Lakabeg was only 19 when he was promoted to Athletic Bilbao
's first team, as English
Howard Kendall
was then in charge. He appeared in 35 matches in his debut season, as the Basque
outfit finished in seventh position, his first division
debut coming on 3 September 1988, in a 3–0 home win against Sevilla FC
.
After two seasons as a highly utilized reserve, Lakabeg again gained starter status under German
Jupp Heynckes
, but eventually lost his importance to Iñigo Larrainzar
, signed from CA Osasuna
in 1994, and a future Spanish international
.
In January 1996, he signed with Celta de Vigo
, but made all his appearances in his first season, after which he was pushed to the sidelines by another future international, Míchel Salgado
. In another winter transfer move, in 1998, the defender joined Villarreal CF
, appearing regularly in his five-month spell, as the Valencian Community
club achieved a first-ever top level promotion.
Leaving Villarreal immediately after that achievement, Lakabeg resumed his career in various levels of Spanish football
: the third
(with CE Sabadell FC, until 2001), the fourth
(until 2006) and in the Basque regional leagues, eventually calling it quits at 40. During his extensive career, he appeared in 202 Spanish first division matches.
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 as a right defender.
Football career
Born in BilbaoBilbao
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...
, Lakabeg was only 19 when he was promoted to Athletic 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...
's first team, as English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall is an English football manager and former player. He is most famous for his connection to Everton, a club that he both played for and managed. His uncle Harry Taylor played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s....
was then in charge. He appeared in 35 matches in his debut season, as the Basque
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....
outfit finished in seventh position, his first division
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...
debut coming on 3 September 1988, in a 3–0 home win against Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
.
After two seasons as a highly utilized reserve, Lakabeg again gained starter status under German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Jupp Heynckes
Jupp Heynckes
Josef "Jupp" Heynckes is a German football coach and former player. As player he belonged to the core of the team of Borussia Mönchengladbach in its golden era of the 1960s and 1970s where he won many national championships and the Cup as well as the UEFA Cup...
, but eventually lost his importance to Iñigo Larrainzar
Iñigo Larrainzar
Iñigo Larrainzar Santamaría is a retired Spanish footballer who played mainly as a right defender.Also a central defender on occasion, his older brother Domingo, often referred to as Larrainzar I, was also a footballer, and both played at CA Osasuna.-Club career:A product of hometown CA Osasuna's...
, signed from CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in 1994, and a future Spanish international
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
.
In January 1996, he signed with Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, but made all his appearances in his first season, after which he was pushed to the sidelines by another future international, Míchel Salgado
Míchel Salgado
Miguel Ángel "Míchel" Salgado Fernández is a Spanish footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, as a right defender.Nicknamed Il Due , he is known for his combative tackling and attacking play...
. In another winter transfer move, in 1998, the defender joined Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, appearing regularly in his five-month spell, as the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
club achieved a first-ever top level promotion.
Leaving Villarreal immediately after that achievement, Lakabeg resumed his career in various levels of Spanish football
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
: the third
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...
(with CE Sabadell FC, until 2001), the fourth
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
(until 2006) and in the Basque regional leagues, eventually calling it quits at 40. During his extensive career, he appeared in 202 Spanish first division matches.