Iban Zubiaurre

Football player infobox
playername= Iban Zubiaurre


fullname = Iban Zubiaurre Urrutia
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|1|22
cityofbirth = Mendaro
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height|m=1.76
weight = 78 kg
currentclub = Elche CF
clubnumber = 2
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs = Real Sociedad
years = 2000–2005
2004–2005
2006–
2008–2009
clubs = Real Sociedad B
Real Sociedad
Athletic Bilbao
Elche CF (loan)
caps(goals) = 53 (2)
14 (0)
2 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = September 1, 2008
ntupdate =

Iban Zubiaurre Urrutia, Zubiaurre (born January 22, 1983 in Mendaro, Guipuzcoa), is a Spanish-Basque footballer who currently plays for Elche CF, as a defender.

After making his Real Sociedad first-team debuts during 2004-05, Zubiaurre achieved notoriety as a result of a lawsuit in which his first club prevented him from playing for Athletic de Bilbao for 14 months, due to an alleged illegality in his transference between the two Basque clubs.

Zubiaurre, who represented Real Sociedad at youth level, was 'presented' as new Athletic Bilbao player in 2005 by then club president Fernando Lamikiz, despite still being under contract. Zubiaurre had no permission to rescind his contract, which had a year left to run and a buy-out clause of €33 million. Real Sociedad insisted that Athletic pay the entire amount and, during the subsequent legal battle Zubiaurre was not entitled to play professional football. SCD Durango, a regional Spanish club, asked permission to field the player, but were denied.

15 months after the lawsuit began, a judge ruled that Athletic had to pay Real Sociedad €5 million, [ [http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2008/06/04/futbol/1212582939.html Athletic to pay Real Sociedad €5 millions] es icon] and were granted permission to field Zubiaurre for the 2006-07 season. He was presented for a second time at San Mamés stadium on November 16, 2006, and was given the number 12 shirt.

On February 11, 2007, Zubiaurre played his first "La Liga" match for Athletic against Atlético Madrid, as a substitute in a 1-0 away defeat. [cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3760.php | accessdate=February 13 | accessyear=2007] That was to be his only game of the season, in which his team avoided relegation on the very last matchday.

In 2007-08 Zubiaurre also only appeared once, in an October 31, 2007 0-2 loss at Getafe CF. After almost two years in the sidelines, he left the side to gain more playing time, joining second level outfit Elche CF, on a season-long loan. [ [http://www.elchecf.es/s_noticias.php?ID=2442 Zubiaurre: "I am thrilled to play in Elche"] es icon]

References

External links

* [http://www.elchecf.es/s_secciones.php?codigo=plantilla1&ID=105 Elche profile] es icon
* [http://www.athletic-club.net/acc/home.asp?a=1&b=250&equipo=1&jug=1659&idi=2 Athletic Bilbao profile]
* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7470 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon