Ángel Javier Arizmendi

Javier Arizmendi
Arizmendi as a Zaragoza player in 2009
Personal information
Full name Ángel Javier Arizmendi de Lucas
Date of birth (1984-03-03) 3 March 1984
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Forward / Winger
Youth career
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Atlético Madrid B 28 (10)
2004–2006 Atlético Madrid 5 (0)
2004–2005 → Racing Santander (loan) 22 (3)
2006–2007 Deportivo La Coruña 50 (7)
2007–2008 Valencia 30 (1)
2008–2010 Zaragoza 69 (14)
2010–2013 Getafe 22 (2)
2011–2012 → Neuchâtel Xamax (loan) 13 (4)
2012–2013 → Mallorca (loan) 21 (2)
2013–2015 Deportivo La Coruña 17 (2)
Total 277 (45)
National team
2003 Spain U20 5 (1)
2004–2006 Spain U21 8 (0)
2005 Spain U23 4 (1)
2007 Spain 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Ángel Javier Arizmendi de Lucas (born 3 March 1984) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played either as a forward or winger.

He played 181 La Liga games during nine seasons, scoring a combined 20 goals for Atlético Madrid, Racing de Santander, Deportivo, Valencia, Zaragoza, Getafe and Mallorca.

All youth levels comprised, Arizmendi earned 13 caps for Spain. He appeared once with the full side.

Club career

Born in Madrid, and a product of local Atlético Madrid's youth system, Arizmendi made his La Liga debut for the first team on 15 February 2004, in a 1–3 away loss against FC Barcelona. The following season, he played on loan with fellow league club Racing de Santander.

As opportunities were scarce at Atlético, Arizmendi was signed by Deportivo de La Coruña for €2 million, on 3 January 2006. The Colchoneros bought him back according to a clause in the contract[1] but, on 21 June 2007, he joined Valencia CF on a six-year deal.[2]

During 2007–08, Arizmendi's physical style of play was occasionally put to use at right back due to injuries to habitual Miguel and Marco Caneira.[3] On 23 March 2008, he scored his first Valencia goal in a 3–2 win at Real Madrid,[4] while also helping the Che to the campaign's Copa del Rey.[5][6]

On 12 August 2008, Arizmendi was signed by Real Zaragoza for roughly €4 million on a six-year contract.[7] In his debut year, he was instrumental as the Aragonese returned to the top flight after just one year out, netting nine times in the league alone.[8]

On 30 June 2010, after greatly helping Zaragoza retain its division status – 31 games, five goals,[9] 2,064 minutes – Arizmendi signed for six years with Getafe CF, qualified for the UEFA Europa League.[10] In August of the following year, however, after an unassuming season and the arrival of new manager Luis García, he moved to Neuchâtel Xamax in Switzerland on a season-long loan.[11]

Along three other teammates, Arizmendi was released from contract by the Super League team on 6 January 2012.[12] He played his first game in his second spell on 4 February, appearing 24 minutes and being booked in a 0–1 home loss against Real Madrid.[13]

International career

In 2003, without having played any football at the highest level, Arizmendi was called up to the Spain under-20 team that competed at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored an extra time winner over Canada in the quarter-finals, after coming on as a substitute.[14] The nation went on to finish as runner-up.

He made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against England on 7 February 2007, playing the final 25 minutes in a 1–0 triumph at Old Trafford.[15]

Controversy

During the 2005 Mediterranean Games, Arizmendi controversially celebrated the nation's gold medal carrying a Spanish flag which hailed from the days of Francisco Franco's fascist dictatorship. The player argued it was thrown from the stands at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, and that he did not notice the emblem on it.[16]

Personal life

After retiring, Arizmendi took a Master's degree in private banking.[17]

Honours

Valencia
Spain U20
Spain U23

References

  1. ↑ Arizmendi to make Atlético return; UEFA, 30 May 2007
  2. ↑ "Valencia signs striker Javier Arizmendi from Deportivo". Reuters. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  3. ↑ "El Zaragoza refuerza su ataque con Arizmendi" [Zaragoza bolster attack with Arizmendi] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Real Madrid 2–3 Valencia". ESPN Soccernet. 23 March 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "Cup triumph salvages Valencia season". UEFA.com. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Una Copa para el perdón" [A Cup for forgiveness] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Arizmendi ficha por el Zaragoza" [Arizmendi signs for Zaragoza] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Arizmendi: "Pasar por el banquillo te hace cambiar"" [Arizmendi: "A trip to the bench makes you change"] (in Spanish). Heraldo de Aragón. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Arizmendi no se siente feliz por ser el máximo goleador" [Arizmendi is not happy with being top scorer] (in Spanish). El Periódico de Aragón. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "Arizmendi ficha por seis temporadas" [Arizmendi signs for six seasons] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Les rouge et noir passent à l'offensive" [The red-and-black go offensive] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "El Neuchatel Xamax despide a Arizmendi" [Neuchatel Xamax fire Arizmendi] (in Spanish). Marca. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "Madrid sneak past Getafe". ESPN Soccernet. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  14. ↑ Arzimendi strikes gold for Spain; UEFA, 12 December 2003
  15. ↑ "England 0–1 Spain". BBC Sport. 7 February 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  16. ↑ La jugada del 'empollón' (The "nerd"'s play); El Mundo, 8 January 2007
  17. ↑ "Arizmendi ajusta cuentas tras el fútbol" [Arizmendi opens a new account after football] (in Spanish). Marca. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain)". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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