Arzu (footballer)

Arzu

Personal information
Full name	Arturo García Muñoz
Date of birth	17 March 1981 (1981-03-17) (age 30)
Place of birth	Dos Hermanas, Spain
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder / Centre back
Club information
Current club	Gimnàstic
Number	25
Youth career
	Betis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2001	Betis B	33	(4)
2000–2011	Betis	269	(11)
2011–	Gimnàstic	3	(0)
National team
2001	Spain U20	1	(0)
2002–2003	Spain U21	10	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

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

Arturo García Muñoz, aka Arzu (born 17 March 1981 in Dos Hermanas, Seville), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Gimnàstic de Tarragona in Segunda División, as a defensive midfielder or central defender.

He spent most of his professional career with Betis, appearing in 200 La Liga games over the course of seven seasons (12 years with the club overall), and winning one Copa del Rey.

Club career

A product of Andalusia outfit Real Betis's youth system, Arzu played for its B team during the 1999–2000 season, scoring two goals in 19 league matches. In 2000–01, he made his debuts with the main side, who was then playing in the second division (16 matches, two goals). Betis achieved promotion, but Arzu stayed in the category, being loaned to neighbours Córdoba CF.

In his first season in La Liga, Arzu netted four goals in 35 matches, including one in the opener, away to Deportivo de La Coruña, on 1 September 2002 (4–2 win). He added a further 60 league appearances in the following two years, as in 2004–05 Betis finished fourth.

During 2005–06, Arzu appeared in eight European matches: four in the UEFA Champions League (netting against Liverpool in a 1–2 group stage home loss^[1]) and in the UEFA Cup. On 13 May 2006, he scored a crucial equalizer at Atlético de Madrid (1–1 draw) on the last matchday, as Betis barely avoided relegation.

Still a defensive cornerstone in 2008–09, Arzu featured in 34 matches scoring twice - mostly as a centre back - but Betis was relegated for the first time in nine years. In August 2011, after only appearing in 17 games as the Verdiblancos returned to the top level, he was released from his contract.^[2]

In the penultimate day of the summer transfer window, Arzu signed with Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the second division.^[3]

References

1. ^ Real Betis 1-2 Liverpool; BBC Sport, 13 September 2005
2. ^ Arzu rescinde contrato (Arzu rescinds contract); Betis Web, 24 August 2011 (Spanish)
3. ^ Arzu dará experiencia a la medular del Nàstic (Arzu to provide experience in Nàstic's back sector); Marca, 30 August 2011 (Spanish)

External links

• Gimnàstic official profile (Catalan)
• BDFutbol profile
• Transfermarkt profile

Persondata
Name	Arzu
Alternative names	Arturo García Muñoz
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	17 March 1981
Place of birth	Dos Hermanas, Spain
Date of death
Place of death