Mikel Aranburu

Mikel Aranburu

Personal information
Full name	Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre
Date of birth	18 February 1979 (1979-02-18) (age 32)
Place of birth	Azpeitia, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Real Sociedad
Number	11
Youth career
	Lagun Onak
	Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1999	Real Sociedad B	88	(10)
1997–	Real Sociedad	375	(29)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Aranburu and the second or maternal family name is Eizagirre.

Mikel Aranburu Eizagirre (born 18 February 1979 in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Sociedad as a midfielder.

He has so far spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, appearing in more than 500 official games for the club.

Football career

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

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

In the 2010–11 campaign, 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^[1]- and the all-important last-minute winner at home against Real Zaragoza in the 36th round (2–1),^[2] as Sociedad narrowly retained its division status.

References

1. ^ Four-star Sociedad batter Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 15 January 2011
2. ^ Aranburu the hero for Sociedad; ESPN Soccernet, 11 May 2011

External links

• Real Sociedad official profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Transfermarkt profile

Persondata
Name	Aranburu, Mikel
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	18 February 1979
Place of birth	Azpeitia, Spain
Date of death
Place of death