Xabier Castillo

Xabi Castillo
Personal information
Full nameXabier Castillo Aranburu
Date of birth29 March 1986
Place of birthDurango, Spain
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionLeft back
Club information
Current team
Alavés
Number23
Youth career
1995–1996Ikastola Maiztegi
1996–2001Athletic Bilbao
2001–2003Durango
2003–2004Real Sociedad
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2004–2006Real Sociedad B55(2)
2006–2009Real Sociedad71(1)
2006–2007Las Palmas (loan)31(0)
2009–2013Athletic Bilbao37(0)
2013–2014Las Palmas27(0)
2014–Alavés11(0)
National team
2005Spain U191(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 March 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Castillo and the second or maternal family name is Aranburu.

Xabier Castillo Aranburu (born 29 March 1986) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Deportivo Alavés as a left back.

Football career

Born in Durango, Biscay, Castillo came up through the ranks at Athletic Bilbao, but made his senior debuts with Basque neighbours Real Sociedad, where he had finished his football grooming. His first professional experience came with UD Las Palmas on loan, in 2006–07's second division; during his first two seasons with Real Sociedad's first team he was an undisputed first-choice, also in the second level.

On 15 July 2009 Castillo returned his first alma mater, signing a four-year deal.[1] He made his La Liga debut in the campaign opener (30 August 2009), a 1–0 home win against RCD Espanyol,[2] and appeared in 45 official games in his first two years combined.

Castillo spent the entire 2011–12 on the sidelines, due to a patellar ligament injury.[3] Upon returning he was only a fringe player,[4] being released by the Marcelo Bielsa-led squad in June 2013 after his contract expired[5] and returning to former team Las Palmas.[6]

On 10 July 2014 Castillo joined Deportivo Alavés, also in division two.[7]

References

  1. Signing of Xabi Castillo; Athletic's official website, 15 July 2009
  2. Athletic Bilbao 1–0 Espanyol; ESPN Soccernet, 30 August 2009
  3. Xabi Castillo, operado con éxito (Xabi Castillo, surgery was a success); Marca, 22 December 2011 (Spanish)
  4. Tratamiento distinto para Xabi Castillo (Different treatment for Xabi Castillo); El Mundo Deportivo, 23 May 2013 (Spanish)
  5. Athletic no se despide de Bielsa, Llorente y Amorebieta (Athletic does not say goodbye to Bielsa, Llorente and Amorebieta); Goal.com, 22 June 2013 (Spanish)
  6. Xabi Castillo vuelve a Las Palmas (Xabi Castillo returns to Las Palmas); Canarias7, 10 July 2013 (Spanish)
  7. El Deportivo Alavés ficha a Xabi Castillo (Deportivo Alavés signs Xabi Castillo); Alavés' official website, 10 July 2014 (Spanish)

External links