Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Arturo García Muñoz | ||
Date of birth | 17 March 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Dos Hermanas, Spain | ||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Playing position | Defensive midfielder / Centre back | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Gimnàstic | ||
Number | 25 | ||
Youth career | |||
Betis | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
1999–2001 | Betis B | 33 | (4) |
2000–2011 | Betis | 269 | (11) |
2011– | Gimnàstic | 3 | (0) |
National team | |||
2001 | Spain U20 | 1 | (0) |
2002–2003 | Spain U21 | 10 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
Arturo García Muñoz, aka Arzu (born 17 March 1981 in Dos Hermanas, Seville), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Gimnàstic de Tarragona in Segunda División, as a defensive midfielder or central defender.
He spent most of his professional career with Betis, appearing in 200 La Liga games over the course of seven seasons (12 years with the club overall), and winning one Copa del Rey.
A product of Andalusia outfit Real Betis's youth system, Arzu played for its B team during the 1999–2000 season, scoring two goals in 19 league matches. In 2000–01, he made his debuts with the main side, who was then playing in the second division (16 matches, two goals). Betis achieved promotion, but Arzu stayed in the category, being loaned to neighbours Córdoba CF.
In his first season in La Liga, Arzu netted four goals in 35 matches, including one in the opener, away to Deportivo de La Coruña, on 1 September 2002 (4–2 win). He added a further 60 league appearances in the following two years, as in 2004–05 Betis finished fourth.
During 2005–06, Arzu appeared in eight European matches: four in the UEFA Champions League (netting against Liverpool in a 1–2 group stage home loss[1]) and in the UEFA Cup. On 13 May 2006, he scored a crucial equalizer at Atlético de Madrid (1–1 draw) on the last matchday, as Betis barely avoided relegation.
Still a defensive cornerstone in 2008–09, Arzu featured in 34 matches scoring twice - mostly as a centre back - but Betis was relegated for the first time in nine years. In August 2011, after only appearing in 17 games as the Verdiblancos returned to the top level, he was released from his contract.[2]
In the penultimate day of the summer transfer window, Arzu signed with Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the second division.[3]
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