Mikel Aranburu

Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre (born 18 February 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Aranburu and the second or maternal family name is Eizagirre.
Mikel Aranburu
Personal information
Full name Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre
Date of birth (1979-02-18) 18 February 1979
Place of birth Azpeitia, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Lagun Onak
Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1999 Real Sociedad B 88 (10)
1997–2012 Real Sociedad 402 (31)
Total 490 (41)
National team
2002–2011 Basque Country 9 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, appearing in 427 official matches for the club and scoring 32 goals.[1][2]

Club career

Born in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Aranburu made his professional debut aged 18, in the last round of 1996–97 against CD Logroñés, courtesy of manager Javier Irureta. From his fourth season onwards he became a full member of the main squad, being essential as the Basques finished second in La Liga in 2002–03 by contributing with 34 games and two goals.

Aranburu was seriously injured during 2005–06, and returned to major action only to see Real be relegated the following year, the first time in four decades. He continued to be an important first-team member during the second division campaigns, appearing in 35 matches in 2009–10 to help the Txuriurdin return to the top level after three years.[3]

In 2010–11, Aranburu was once again first-choice, partnering Diego Rivas in central defensive midfield in most of the games. He equalled a career-best five goals, including two in a 4–0 away win against Getafe CF – he only played five minutes in the game[4]– and the all-important last-minute winner at home against Real Zaragoza in the 36th round (2–1),[5] as the side narrowly retained their division status.

Honours
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See also

References
  1. Una vida en la Real (A lifetime with Real); Real Sociedad, 4 May 2012 (in Spanish)
  2. "Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Aranburu" [Real Sociedad legends – Aranburu]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  3. "El cielo de Primera vuelve a abrirse para la Real Sociedad" [Primera heaven reopens for Real Sociedad]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  4. Four-star Sociedad batter Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 15 January 2011
  5. Aranburu the hero for Sociedad; ESPN Soccernet, 11 May 2011
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