Carlos Gurpegi
Encyclopedia
Carlos Gurpegui Nausia (alternate spelling Gurpegi; born 19 August 1980 in Pamplona
, Navarre
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao
as a defensive midfielder.
's Lezama
youth academy, Gurpegui made his first team and La Liga
debuts on 31 March 2002, in a 2–5 away defeat against Villarreal CF
, going on to establish himself as the first-choice holding midfielder in the following years (121 matches in four seasons). On 17 January 2004, he scored a late equaliser against FC Barcelona
, at Camp Nou
(1–1).
Gurpegui was banned for two years on November 3, 2003, for testing positive for nandrolone
in a 1 September 2002 game against Real Sociedad
(2–4 away defeat, scoring both goals) the previous season. The ban was initially suspended after repeated appeals, with the player claiming that his body produced nandrolone naturally, but the appeals were in vain as he eventually was forced to serve his sentence, which ran until 23 April 2008. Athletic Bilbao, however, neither released the player nor took his number from the official squad, and he returned to action in a 0–3 away loss against Real Madrid
, four days later.
In 2008–09, Gurpegui was used mostly as a backup, due to the emergence of youngster (also born in Navarre) Javi Martínez
, but regained his starting position in the following seasons, precisely alongside Martínez. On 28 November 2010, he headed home in the last minute
against hometown's CA Osasuna
, in a 1–0 home win.
Gurpegui was again relegated to the bench for 2011–12
, following the arrival of new coach Marcelo Bielsa
. On 23 October 2011, after having replaced Andoni Iraola
af half-time
of an eventual 1–1 away draw against Valencia CF
, he also had to leave the pitch early into the second half, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament
.
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
) is a 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 plays for 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...
as a defensive midfielder.
Club career
A product of the famous Athletic de 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 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 academy, Gurpegui made his first team and 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...
debuts on 31 March 2002, in a 2–5 away defeat against 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...
, going on to establish himself as the first-choice holding midfielder in the following years (121 matches in four seasons). On 17 January 2004, he scored a late equaliser against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, at Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
(1–1).
Gurpegui was banned for two years on November 3, 2003, for testing positive for nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
in a 1 September 2002 game against Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
(2–4 away defeat, scoring both goals) the previous season. The ban was initially suspended after repeated appeals, with the player claiming that his body produced nandrolone naturally, but the appeals were in vain as he eventually was forced to serve his sentence, which ran until 23 April 2008. Athletic Bilbao, however, neither released the player nor took his number from the official squad, and he returned to action in a 0–3 away loss against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, four days later.
In 2008–09, Gurpegui was used mostly as a backup, due to the emergence of youngster (also born in Navarre) Javi Martínez
Javi Martínez
Javier "Javi" Martínez Aguinaga is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, as a central midfielder.Martínez also played for the Spanish national team and was a member of the squad that won the 2010 World Cup.-Club career:...
, but regained his starting position in the following seasons, precisely alongside Martínez. On 28 November 2010, he headed home in the last minute
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
against hometown's 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 a 1–0 home win.
Gurpegui was again relegated to the bench for 2011–12
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
, following the arrival of new coach Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa
Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine association football coach and former defender, born in Rosario, Santa Fe...
. On 23 October 2011, after having replaced Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola Sagarna is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, as a defender or midfielder....
af half-time
Half-time
In some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match...
of an eventual 1–1 away draw against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, he also had to leave the pitch early into the second half, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
.
Honours
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: Runner-up 2008–09 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: Runner-up 20092009 Supercopa de EspañaThe 2009 Supercopa de España was two-legged Spanish football match-up played on 16 August and 23 August 2009. It was contested by Athletic Bilbao, the 2008–09 Copa del Rey runners-up, and FC Barcelona, the 2008–09 Primera División Winners....