Koikili Lertxundi

Koikili Lertxundi del Campo (born 23 December 1980), known simply as Koikili or Koi for short, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left back.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Lertxundi and the second or maternal family name is Del Campo.

Koikili
Personal information
Full name Koikili Lertxundi del Campo
Date of birth (1980-12-23) 23 December 1980
Place of birth Otxandio, Spain
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Aurrerá 12 (0)
1999–2001 Osasuna B 37 (2)
2001–2003 Gernika 55 (0)
2003–2004 Beasain
2004–2005 Gernika
2005–2007 Sestao 64 (16)
2007–2012 Athletic Bilbao 82 (2)
2012–2014 Mirandés 52 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A late bloomer, he only became a professional at the age of 26 after signing with Athletic Bilbao. During his five-year spell with the club, he appeared in 98 competitive matches.

Club career

Koikili was born in Otxandio, Basque Country. Playing fourth division football just two seasons before moving to Athletic Bilbao, he was signed from third level side Sestao River Club for the start of 2007–08.[1] He made his La Liga debut on 26 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Navarrese neighbours CA Osasuna,[2] whose reserves he had already represented in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Koikili was first-choice for much of the campaign, dislodging international Asier del Horno.[3] On his 27th birthday he scored his first top-level goal, in a 1–1 home draw against Real Murcia.[4]

Koi appeared slightly less in the following two seasons for Athletic, but still took part in a combined 52 official games (ten in the Copa del Rey, with the team reaching the final in the 2008–09 edition, and one in the newly created UEFA Europa League). On 11 January 2009, he netted the 1–1 at Atlético Madrid in an eventual 3–2 win.[5]

Koikili was deemed surplus to requirements at Athletic in 2011–12 after the appointment of manager Marcelo Bielsa, alongside teammates Aitor Ocio and Iban Zubiaurre – he remained with the club, however.[6] On 25 June 2014, he retired at age 33 after spending two seasons at CD Mirandés.[7]

Personal life

Koikili was a Greco-Roman wrestler in his youths, once being crowned Spanish champion at under-15 level.[8]

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

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References
  1. "Koikili, de la lucha grecorromana al Athletic de Bilbao" [Koikili, from freestyle wrestling to Athletic Bilbao]. El País (in Spanish). 21 August 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  2. "Athletic Bilbao 0–0 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  3. Cuenca, Nika (24 November 2009). "Koikili sigue titular tras fichar a tres competidores" [Koikili still starting after three competitors have been signed]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. "Athletic Bilbao 1–1 Murcia". ESPN Soccernet. 23 December 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  5. "Atlético Madrid 2–3 Athletic Bilbao". ESPN Soccernet. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  6. San Cristóbal, Ainara (14 July 2011). "Koi, entre los ocho leones descartados por el argentino" [Koi, amongst the eight lions deemed surplus to requirements by the Argentine]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  7. "Koikili Lertxundi, de 33 años, se retira del fútbol profesional" [Koikili Lertxundi, 33 years old, retires from professional football] (in Spanish). EFE. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. Hawkey, Ian (26 April 2009). "Only way to stop a genius". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
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