Gorka Elustondo

Gorka Elustondo Urkola (born 18 March 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central defender or a defensive midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Elustondo and the second or maternal family name is Urkola.
Gorka Elustondo
Elustondo playing for Real Sociedad in 2014
Personal information
Full name Gorka Elustondo Urkola
Date of birth (1987-03-18) 18 March 1987
Place of birth Beasain, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back, defensive midfielder
Youth career
Aitzgorri
2004–2005 Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Real Sociedad B 64 (6)
2006–2015 Real Sociedad 144 (7)
2015–2017 Athletic Bilbao 13 (1)
2017 Atlético Nacional 8 (0)
2018–2019 Rayo Vallecano 19 (0)
National team
2006 Spain U19 6 (0)
2007 Spain U20 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:58, 5 June 2019 (UTC)

He spent most of his career with Real Sociedad after making his debut in 2006, going on to appear in 167 competitive matches over six La Liga seasons (nine in total, eight goals).

Club career

Real Sociedad

Elustondo was born in Beasain, Gipuzkoa. A product of Real Sociedad's prolific youth ranks, he made his La Liga debut on 20 December 2006 in a 0–0 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo.[1] He made a further five first-team appearances in his first professional season, as the Basque club suffered top-tier relegation for the first time in 40 years.

In late October 2008, with Real in the second division, in a home derby against Deportivo Alavés, Elustondo suffered a serious knee injury (which later relapsed), being rendered unavailable for the remainder of the campaign.[2] He contributed 30 matches – 26 starts – and one goal[3] in 2009–10, helping the Txuriurdin return to the Spanish top flight after three years, as champions.

Athletic Bilbao

On 1 July 2015, after his contract with Real Sociedad expired, Elustondo signed a two-year deal with their neighbours, Athletic Bilbao.[4] He made his competitive debut on 30 July, playing the second half of a 0–0 draw at Inter Baku PIK in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[5] His first league appearance occurred on 23 August, where he committed a penalty on Luis Suárez – later missed by Lionel Messi – in an eventual 0–1 home loss to FC Barcelona.[6] Four days later, in the Europa League playoff round against MŠK Žilina, he scored through a long-range effort in the 23rd minute for the game's only goal and an away goals rule qualification.[7][8]

On 2 June 2017, Elustondo confirmed that he would leave the San Mamés Stadium at the end of his contract.[9]

Rayo Vallecano

On 17 January 2018, after a brief spell in Colombia with Atlético Nacional, the 30-year-old Elustondo returned to Spain after agreeing to an 18-month deal with Rayo Vallecano.[10]

International career

Elustondo was part of the Spain under-19 squad that won the 2006 UEFA European Championship, in Poland.[11]

Honours

Club

Real Sociedad

Athletic Bilbao

Rayo Vallecano

International

Spain U19

References
  1. Balaídos sigue estando maldito para el Celta (Balaídos still cursed for Celta); El Mundo, 20 December 2006 (in Spanish)
  2. Una vuelta sin Elustondo (Half a season without Elustondo); Mundo Deportivo, 26 February 2009 (in Spanish)
  3. La Real Sociedad se da un festín en Anoeta y golea a un débil Cádiz (Real Sociedad have a ball at Anoeta and rout weak Cádiz); El Mundo, 10 January 2010 (in Spanish)
  4. Fichaje de Gorka Elustondo (Signing of Gorka Elustondo); Athletic Bilbao, 1 July 2015 (in Spanish)
  5. "Eraso arranca con el pie derecho en Bilbao" [Eraso starts with the right foot in Bilbao] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  6. "Ath Bilbao 0–1 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. "Athletic Clubek 1 MSK Zilinak 0" [Athletic Club 1 MSK Zilina 0] (in Basque). Athletic Bilbao. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. "Elustondo: "Nunca he sido anti Athletic"" [Elustondo: "I've never been anti-Athletic"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. "Gorka Elustondo no seguirá en el Athletic" [Gorka Elustondo will not continue in Athletic] (in Spanish). EITB. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  10. "Gorka Elustondo nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Gorka Elustondo new player of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. "Aquella Rojita que arrasó en Polonia" [That Little Red One who crushed in Poland] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
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