Mikel Aranburu

Mikel Aranburu

Personal information
Full name	Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre
Date of birth	(1979-02-18) 18 February 1979
Place of birth	Azpeitia, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
	Lagun Onak
	Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1999	Real Sociedad B	88	(10)
1997–2012	Real Sociedad	402	(31)
Total		490	(41)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre (born 18 February 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

He spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, appearing in 427 official games for the club and scoring 32 goals.^[1]

Football career

Born in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Aranburu made his professional debuts aged 18, in the last round of 1996–97 against CD Logroñés, courtesy of manager Javier Irureta. From his fourth season onwards he became a full member of the main squad, being essential as the Basque finished second in La Liga in the 2002–03 campaign by contributing with 34 games and two goals.

Aranburu was seriously injured during 2005–06, and returned to major action only to see Real be relegated in the following season, the first time in 40 years. He continued to be an important first-team member during the second division campaigns, appearing in 35 matches in 2009–10 as the Txuriurdin returned to the top level after three years.

In 2010–11 Aranburu was once again first-choice, partnering Diego Rivas in central defensive midfield in most of the games. He equalled a career-best five goals, including two in a 4–0 away win against Getafe CF – he only played five minutes in the game^[2]– and the all-important last-minute winner at home against Real Zaragoza in the 36th round (2–1),^[3] as Sociedad narrowly retained its division status.

Honours

• Segunda División: 2009–10

See also

• List of one-club men

References

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Soccerway profile