Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri (born 26 June 1954) is a former Spanish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

Having played solely for Real Sociedad for nearly 20 professional years, he also collected 68 national team caps.

[edit] Club career

Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa. Aged 16, he joined local giants Real Sociedad's youth ranks, going on to play there his entire career. He was known as "El pulpo" (Octopus in English).

After two seasons backing up Urruti, he became the club's undisputed starter, being instrumental in back-to-back leagues, which led – after the second – to a semifinal run in the European Cup.

In 1985–86, Arconada was seriously injured in the league's opener, which caused him to miss the remainder of the campaign and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He still returned strong for three more seasons, helping Real Sociedad to two consecutive Copa del Rey finals before retiring at 35, with a total of 414 appearances for the club (551 overall); after that, he remained apart from the football world.

[edit] International career

On 27 March 1977, Arconada played his first game for Spain, a 1–1 friendly with Hungary in Alicante, replacing Real Madrid's Miguel Ángel for the second half.

Having captained the national side on many occasions, he represented it at the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups, as well as at UEFA Euro 1980 and 1984. In the latter competition, his blunder resulted in the opening goal for hosts France, in the 2–0 final defeat: Arconada appeared to have smothered a Michel Platini free-kick under his chest in a diving save, but he fumbled the ball, which slid off under his body and rolled slowly into the net.^[1]

Arconada's last game was a 0–3 defeat in Wales, for the 1986 World Cup qualifiers; a severe injury while playing for Real ousted him from the final stages, being replaced by another legendary figure, also-Basque Andoni Zubizarreta.

During the ceremony following Spain's victory in Euro 2008, third-choice for the winners Andrés Palop wore Arconada's original Euro 84 final shirt, as he received the gold medal from Platini, now president of UEFA.^[2]

Arconada also represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, as Spain was eliminated in the first round.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

• Spanish League: 1980–81, 1981–82
• Spanish Cup: 1986–87; Runner-up 1987–88
• Spanish Supercup: 1982

[edit] Country

• UEFA European Football Championship: Runner-up 1984

[edit] Individual

• Zamora Trophy: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82

[edit] Personal

Arconada's younger brother, Gonzalo, never played professional football, but had an extensive coaching career, mainly in the third division. For a few months in early 2006, he coached Real Sociedad's first team.

[edit] See also

• List of one-club men

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• NationalFootballTeams data
• International appearances, at rsssf
• Luis Arconada FIFA competition record

Spain Squad v • d • e Spain squad – 1976 Summer Olympics 1 Arconada • 2 San José • 3 Camus • 4 Sanjosé • 5 Pulido • 6 Sánchez • 7 Juanito • 8 Saura • 9 Idígoras • 10 Vitoria • 11 Esteban • 12 Cundi • 13 Manzanedo • 14 Olmo • 15 Bermejo • 16 Mir • 17 Juani • Coach: Kubala v • d • e Spain squad – 1978 FIFA World Cup 1 Arconada • 2 de la Cruz • 3 Uría • 4 Asensi • 5 Migueli • 6 Biosca • 7 Dani • 8 Juanito • 9 Quini • 10 Santillana • 11 Cardeñosa • 12 Guzmán • 13 Miguel Ángel • 14 Leal • 15 Marañón • 16 Olmo • 17 Marcelino • 18 Pirri • 19 Rexach • 20 Rubén Cano • 21 San José • 22 Urruti • Coach: Kubala v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 1980 1 Arconada • 2 Alexanko • 3 Migueli • 4 Diego • 5 Uría • 6 Asensi • 7 Dani • 8 Cardeñosa • 9 Carrasco • 10 Quini • 11 del Bosque • 12 Juanito • 13 Urruti • 14 Gordillo • 15 Olmo • 16 Santillana • 17 Satrústegui • 18 Saura • 19 Cundi • 20 Tendillo • 21 Zamora • 22 Artola • Coach: Kubala v • d • e Spain squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Arconada • 2 Camacho • 3 Gordillo • 4 Alonso • 5 Tendillo • 6 Alexanko • 7 Juanito • 8 Joaquín • 9 Satrústegui • 10 Zamora • 11 López Ufarte • 12 Urquiaga • 13 Jiménez • 14 Maceda • 15 Saura • 16 Sánchez • 17 Gallego • 18 Uralde • 19 Santillana • 20 Quini • 21 Urruti • 22 Miguel Ángel • Coach: Santamaría v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 1984 Runners-up 1 Arconada • 2 Urquiaga • 3 Camacho • 4 Maceda • 5 Goikoetxea • 6 Gordillo • 7 Señor • 8 Víctor • 9 Santillana • 10 Gallego • 11 Carrasco • 12 Salva • 13 Buyo • 14 Julio Alberto • 15 Roberto • 16 Francisco • 17 Marcos • 18 Butragueño • 19 Sarabia • 20 Zubizarreta • Coach: Muñoz

Awards and achievements
Preceded by José Luis Manzanedo	Zamora Trophy 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82	Succeeded by Agustín Rodríguez