César Cruchaga

César Cruchaga

Cruchaga before a game with Osasuna
Personal information
Full name	César Cruchaga Lasa
Date of birth	January 26, 1974 (1974-01-26) (age 37)
Place of birth	Ezcároz, Spain
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Retired
Youth career
	Osasuna
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1992–1996	Osasuna B	95	(4)
1996–2009	Osasuna	343	(15)
1996–1997	→ Gavà (loan)	35	(0)
* 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 Cruchaga and the second or maternal family name is Lasa.

César Cruchaga Lasa (born 26 January 1974 in Ezcároz, Navarre) is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender.

He played his entire professional career for Osasuna, appearing in nearly 450 official games for the club and reaching one Copa del Rey final with it.

Football career

A product of Navarrese outfit CA Osasuna's youth ranks, Cruchaga played one season on loan to lowly CF Gavà before making his first team debuts on 14 September 1997, in a second division 0–0 home draw against Albacete Balompié. He would total 249 games and nine goals in La Liga, where he first appeared in September 2000 against Celta de Vigo, in a 0–2 home loss (with 36 matches in his debut season).

Cruchaga was part of the team's run in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, in which they finally bowed out to eventual winners Sevilla FC in the semi-finals, participating in 12 matches, 11 complete. For the vast majority of his stay, he was the undisputed team captain.

In 2008–09, Cruchaga appeared in only 10 matches, and announced his retirement from football prior to the campaign's end, still being started in the 31 May 2009 decider against Real Madrid, where the 2–1 home success guaranteed top flight permanence for a further year.^[1]

References

1. ^ Cruchaga cumple su despedida soñada con el equipo en Primera (Cruchaga has dreamed farewell with team in Primera); El Confidencial, 31 May 2009 (Spanish)

External links

• Osasuna profile (Spanish)
• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• El Mundo stats (Spanish)

Persondata
Name	Cruchaga, Cesar
Alternative names
Short description	Spanish footballer
Date of birth	26 January 1974
Place of birth	Ezcároz - Ezkaroze, Spain
Date of death
Place of death