Alberto Górriz

Alberto Górriz

Górriz in 1981
Personal information
Full nameAlberto Górriz Echarte
Date of birth16 February 1958
Place of birthIrun, Spain
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionDefender
Youth career
San Marcial
Real Sociedad
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1977–1979San Sebastián
1979–1993Real Sociedad461(14)
National team
1988–1990Spain12(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Górriz and the second or maternal family name is Echarte.

Alberto Górriz Echarte (born 16 February 1958) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a central defender.

His main asset was his tremendous heading ability, and he often scored from set pieces. He spent his entire career with Real Sociedad, appearing in nearly 600 official games and winning four major titles.

Górriz represented Spain at the 1990 World Cup.

Football career

A Real Sociedad youth graduate, Górriz was born in Irun, Gipuzkoa, and played solely for the Basque, making his first-team debut on 8 April 1979 in a 4–0 away win against Rayo Vallecano.[1] From his third season – where Real won the La Liga title – onwards he was a defensive stalwart until the 1991–92 campaign, with 31 matches as his minimum output, often being partnered by Agustín Gajate who also only played for one professional club.

Górriz retired in June 1993 having appeared in 461 top flight matches (599 overall, club best), his last year also being the old Atotxa Stadium's last. With the Spanish national team he received 12 caps, and made his debut on 16 November 1988 at already 30, in a decisive 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, a 2–0 triumph in Seville.[2]

Being subsequently picked for the final stages in Italy, Górriz scored his only national side goal, in the 2–1 group stage win over Belgium, heading home a free kick from Real Madrid's Míchel.[3]

Honours

See also

References

  1. ↑ "0–4: La Real, orejas, rabo y salida a hombros" [0–4: Real, ears, tail and triumphant exit] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 9 April 1979. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Italia... ¡Allá vamos!" [Italy... Here we go!] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 17 November 1988. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "¡España, campeona de grupo!" [Spain, group champion!] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 22 June 1990. Retrieved 1 June 2014.

External links