Ismael Urzaiz

Football player infobox
playername= Ismael Urzaiz


fullname = Ismael Urzaiz Aranda
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|10|7
cityofbirth = Tudela
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height|m=1.88
currentclub = Free agent
clubnumber =
position = Centre forward
years = 1989–1990
1990–1991
1991–1992
1992–1993
1993
1993–1994
1994–1995
1995–1996
1996–2007
2007–2008
clubs= Real Madrid B
Real Madrid
Albacete Balompié
Real Madrid B
Celta Vigo
Rayo Vallecano
UD Salamanca
RCD Espanyol
Athletic Bilbao
Ajax
caps(goals) = 10 (5)
0 (0)
11 (1)
26 (7)
6 (1)
20 (1)
21 (3)
41 (13)
367 (115)
3 (0)
nationalyears = 1996–2001
1997-2005
nationalteam = Spain
Euskadi XI
nationalcaps(goals) = 25 (8)
7 (2)
pcupdate = August 1, 2008
ntupdate = August 1, 2008

Ismael Urzaiz Aranda, Urzaiz (born October 7, 1971 in Tudela, Navarre), is a Spanish footballer who plays as a centre forward, currently unattached. Urzaiz is best known for his physical strength and superb aerial ability.

Club career

Real Madrid

Urzaiz began his professional career at Real Madrid's B-side, making his debut in the "Segunda División" in 1989. Despite being a successful youth international, he did not make any first division appearances for the first team (however, in 1990, he did play one game against Odense BK, in the European Cup). He spent the 1991/92 season on loan at Albacete Balompié, making his debut in "La Liga" when he came on as a substitute against Athletic Bilbao in October 1991. In early 1993, Urzaiz was loaned to Real Club Celta de Vigo, scoring once in 6 outings.

Professional journeyman

Urzaiz left Real permanently in 1993 and during the following three seasons played for three different clubs - Rayo Vallecano, UD Salamanca and RCD Espanyol, with a very modest scoring rate in the first two. He did help Salamanca win promotion to the top flight in 1995, scoring twice as they beat Albacete 5-0 in a play-off.

The following season he joined RCD Espanyol and exploded as a first-rate attacking player, netting 13 goals for a side that eventually finished fourth (including a hat-trick against former Rayo Vallecano).

Athletic Bilbao

The form of a revived Urzaiz attracted interest and in the summer of 1996 he joined Athletic Bilbao. In ten seasons at Athletic he scored 115 goals in 367 league appearances. During 1997-98, he helped Athletic finish second, which led to direct qualification for the UEFA Champions League 1998-99, in which Urzaiz netted once in 10 games.

In 6 of the seasons in the Basque Country, Urzaiz netted in double figures, but the emergence of Fernando Llorente (height|m=1.95) prompted his exit from the squad, in July 2007.

Ajax Amsterdam

On July 19, 2007, Urzaiz signed a one-year contract with AFC Ajax, joining fellow Spaniards Gabri and Albert Luque. He made his official Ajax debut in the Champions League qualifier against SK Slavia Praha.

After just 3 league appearances, Urzaiz was released by Ajax.

International career

Urzaiz played for Spain as a youth international and helped them win the European Under-17 Football Championship in Denmark, in 1988. He also scored 4 goals at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal in 1991.

On October 10, 1996, Urzaiz made his debut for the senior side in a 0-0 away draw with the Czech Republic, in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Over the next three years he made only three more appearances and failed to score. However, he emerged as the hero as Spain qualified for Euro 2000, scoring six goals in three games. This included two against Austria and a hat-trick against Cyprus. He scored a further two in a friendly against Poland and went on to represent Spain at Euro 2000.

After 25 caps and 8 goals, Urzaiz made his last appearance for Spain in a 3-0 friendly loss against England, in Birmingham in 2001. Between 1997 and 2005, Urzaiz also made 7 appearances for the Euskadi XI and scored twice in a 3-2 win over Morocco in 2000.

Honours

*European Under-17 Football Championship: 1988
*Dutch Supercup: 2007

tatistics

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=5739 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://futbol.sportec.es/seleccion/ficha_jugador.asp?j=644&n=urzaiz/ismael/urzaiz/aranda National team data] es icon
* [http://www.rsssf.com/players/urzaiz-in-ec.html European competition stats at RSSSF]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/urzaiz-intl.html Spain stats at RSSSF]
* [http://elmundodeporte.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/envivos/fichas/1/042/42.html ElMundoDeporte.com stats] es icon
* [http://www.vi.nl/Teams/Team.htm?dbid=343&selectiesl=all&typeofpage=84139 Ajax 2007-08] nl icon