Summary
Gorka Elustondo Urkola (born 18 March 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender or a defensive midfielder.
 Elustondo playing for Real Sociedad in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gorka Elustondo Urkola[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 March 1987[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Beasain, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Aitzgorri | |||
| 2004–2005 | Real Sociedad | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2007 | Real Sociedad B | 64 | (6) |
| 2006–2015 | Real Sociedad | 144 | (7) |
| 2015–2017 | Athletic Bilbao | 13 | (1) |
| 2017 | Atlético Nacional | 8 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Rayo Vallecano | 19 | (0) |
| Total | 248 | (14) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Spain U19 | 6 | (0) |
| 2007 | Spain U20 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He spent most of his career with Real Sociedad after making his debut in 2006, going on to appear in 167 competitive matches over six La Liga seasons (nine in total, eight goals).
Club career edit
Real Sociedad edit
Elustondo was born in Beasain, Gipuzkoa. A product of Real Sociedad's prolific youth ranks, he made his La Liga debut on 20 December 2006 in a 0–0 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo.[2] He made a further five first-team appearances in his first professional season, as the Basque club suffered top-tier relegation for the first time in 40 years.
In late October 2008, with Real in the Segunda División, in a home derby against Deportivo Alavés, Elustondo suffered a serious knee injury (which later relapsed), being rendered unavailable for the remainder of the campaign.[3] He contributed 30 matches – 26 starts – and one goal[4] in 2009–10, helping the Txuriurdin to return to the Spanish top flight after three years, as champions.
Athletic Bilbao edit
On 1 July 2015, after his contract with Real Sociedad expired, Elustondo signed a two-year deal with their neighbours, Athletic Bilbao.[5] He made his competitive debut on 30 July, playing the second half of a 0–0 draw at Inter Baku PIK in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[6] His first league appearance occurred on 23 August, where he committed a penalty on Luis Suárez – later missed by Lionel Messi – in an eventual 0–1 home loss to FC Barcelona.[7] Four days later, in the Europa League playoff round against MŠK Žilina, he scored through a long-range effort in the 23rd minute for the game's only goal and an away goals rule qualification.[8][9]
On 2 June 2017, Elustondo confirmed that he would leave the San Mamés Stadium at the end of his contract.[10]
Atlético Nacional and Rayo Vallecano edit
On 14 July 2017, Elustondo joined Colombia Categoría Primera A club Altético Nacional.[11] On 17 January 2018, after a brief spell in Colombia with Atlético Nacional, the 30-year-old Elustondo returned to Spain after agreeing to an 18-month deal at Rayo Vallecano.[12]
International career edit
Elustondo was part of the Spain under-19 squad that won the 2006 UEFA European Championship in Poland.[13]
Honours edit
Real Sociedad
Athletic Bilbao
Rayo Vallecano
- Segunda División: 2017–18
Spain U19
References edit
- ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ Balaídos sigue estando maldito para el Celta (Balaídos still cursed for Celta); El Mundo, 20 December 2006 (in Spanish)
- ^ Una vuelta sin Elustondo (Half a season without Elustondo); Mundo Deportivo, 26 February 2009 (in Spanish)
- ^ La Real Sociedad se da un festín en Anoeta y golea a un débil Cádiz (Real Sociedad have a ball at Anoeta and rout weak Cádiz); El Mundo, 10 January 2010 (in Spanish)
- ^ Fichaje de Gorka Elustondo (Signing of Gorka Elustondo); Athletic Bilbao, 1 July 2015 (in Spanish)
- ^ "Eraso arranca con el pie derecho en Bilbao" [Eraso starts with the right foot in Bilbao] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Ath Bilbao 0–1 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Athletic Clubek 1 MSK Zilinak 0" [Athletic Club 1 MSK Zilina 0] (in Basque). Athletic Bilbao. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "Elustondo: "Nunca he sido anti Athletic"" [Elustondo: "I've never been anti-Athletic"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "Gorka Elustondo no seguirá en el Athletic" [Gorka Elustondo will not continue in Athletic] (in Spanish). EITB. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Gorka Elustondo ficha por el Atlético Nacional de Juan Manuel Lillo". Marca.com (in Spanish). 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ^ "Gorka Elustondo nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Gorka Elustondo new player of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Aquella Rojita que arrasó en Polonia" [That Little Red One who crushed in Poland] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
External links edit
- Gorka Elustondo at Athletic Bilbao
- Gorka Elustondo at BDFutbol
- Gorka Elustondo – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Gorka Elustondo at Soccerway