Sendoa Aguirre
Encyclopedia
Sendoa Agirre Basterretxea, simply Sendoa (born 31 December 1975 in Bilbao
, Biscay
), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Deportivo Alavés
as an attacking midfielder.
giants Athletic Bilbao
, Sendoa spent several years playing amateur football in the region, on loan. In 1998, he returned to the first team, but only appeared for the side during pre-season games, under Luis Fernández
, going on to exclusively represent the reserves
during two seasons.
Aged nearly 25, Sendoa had his first taste of professional football, playing one season with SD Eibar
in the second division
, but he moved immediately after to the third
with neighbouring Barakaldo CF
. In the following four years, he played level three football with Alicante CF
, finishing twice in the top-three but never promoting in the playoffs.
Sendoa signed with second division's Hércules CF
for the 2006–07 season, being an undisputed starter from early on, and contributing with three goals in 39 games (almost 3,000 minutes) in his fourth year
, as the Alicante
outfit returned to La Liga
after a 13-year absence; he was almost 35 at the time of promotion.
On 28 August 2010, Sendoa appeared in the 2010–11
opener, a 0–1 home loss against Athletic Bilbao, thus becoming the oldest rookie in the history of the Spanish first division. On 7 May of the following year, he scored his first goal in the competition, as Hércules fell 2–3 at home against Racing de Santander
and were finally relegated; he added a brace in the following fixture, a 2–2 home draw against RCD Mallorca
, which certified the team's fate.
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...
), 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 Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
as an attacking midfielder.
Football career
After finishing his football formation at BasqueBasque 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....
giants 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...
, Sendoa spent several years playing amateur football in the region, on loan. In 1998, he returned to the first team, but only appeared for the side during pre-season games, under Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández is a Spanish-French footballer who played as a defender / midfielder. He retired as a player in 1993 to become a manager....
, going on to exclusively represent the reserves
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
during two seasons.
Aged nearly 25, Sendoa had his first taste of professional football, playing one season with SD Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
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:...
, but he moved immediately after to 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 neighbouring Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Barakaldo, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Founded in 1917, it plays in Tercera División - Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre, with a capacity of 7,960 seats.-Club names:*Baracaldo Football-Club —...
. In the following four years, he played level three football with Alicante CF
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
, finishing twice in the top-three but never promoting in the playoffs.
Sendoa signed with second division's Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
for the 2006–07 season, being an undisputed starter from early on, and contributing with three goals in 39 games (almost 3,000 minutes) in his fourth year
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
, as the Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
outfit returned to 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...
after a 13-year absence; he was almost 35 at the time of promotion.
On 28 August 2010, Sendoa appeared in the 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
opener, a 0–1 home loss against Athletic Bilbao, thus becoming the oldest rookie in the history of the Spanish first division. On 7 May of the following year, he scored his first goal in the competition, as Hércules fell 2–3 at home against Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
and were finally relegated; he added a brace in the following fixture, a 2–2 home draw against RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, which certified the team's fate.