Agustín Aranzábal Alkorta (born March 15, 1973 in Bergara, San Sebastián, Guipuzcoa) is a former Spanish footballer who played as a left defender.

His main asset was his crossing ability, and he played almost exclusively with Real Sociedad.

[edit] Club career

A product of Basque Country giants Real Sociedad's youth system, Aranzábal first appeared with the main side on February 21, 1993, in a 1–5 loss at Deportivo de La Coruña. After two seasons playing mainly with the B-squad, he went on to be an undisputed first-choice for a decade (1994–2004), playing 32 matches for the 2002–03 runners-up.

In July 2004, Aranzábal moved to Real Zaragoza, where he was used as a backup to Paraguayan Delio Toledo. He retired after a small stint with amateur side CD Vera Puerto de la Cruz in Canary Islands, with ex-Spain international (also a Real Sociedad teammate) Javier de Pedro also starting the season, but promptly dismissed.

[edit] International career

Aranzábal played 28 times for Spain national football team (his debut being on June 7, 1995, in an Euro 1996 qualifier against Armenia in Seville), and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000.

He also appeared for the quarterfinalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

[edit] Personal

Aranzábal's father, José Agustín Aranzábal Askasibar, aka Gaztelu, played as a midfielder for Real Sociedad, during 14 professional seasons. He appeared once in his last season, which ended in league conquest.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)

Agustín Aranzábal - Navigation boxes v • d • e Spain squad – 1996 Summer Olympics 1 Mora • 2 Mendieta • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Navarro • 5 Santi • 6 Óscar • 7 Raúl • 8 Roberto • 9 Corino • 10 José Ignacio • 11 Idiakez • 12 Karanka • 13 Aizkorreta • 14 Morientes • 15 de la Peña • 16 Lardín • 17 Sietes • 18 Dani • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Zubizarreta • 2 Ferrer • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Morientes • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Campo • 15 Aguilera • 16 Celades • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Amor • 19 Kiko • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Cañizares • 2 Salgado • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Guardiola • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro (c) • 7 Helguera • 8 Fran • 9 Munitis • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Casillas • 14 Gerard • 15 Engonga • 16 Mendieta • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Paco • 19 Velasco • 20 Urzaiz • 21 Valerón • 22 Molina • Coach: Camacho

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