Jorge Azkoitia

Jorge Azkoitia Gabiola (born 27 April 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Azkoitia and the second or maternal family name is Gabiola.
Jorge Azkoitia
Personal information
Full name Jorge Azkoitia Gabiola
Date of birth (1974-04-27) 27 April 1974
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1996 Sestao 50 (2)
1996–2001 Alavés 111 (10)
2001–2004 Rayo Vallecano 67 (6)
2004–2005 Elche 35 (2)
2005–2006 Eibar 35 (11)
2006–2009 Alicante 98 (15)
Total 396 (46)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Azkoitia started playing professionally with local Sestao Sport Club in the third division, but eventually helped to the club's promotion to the second level. However, the team were relegated in 1996, and he signed with Basque neighbours Deportivo Alavés.

At Alavés, Azkoitia proved essential in the 1997–98 season, appearing in 39 matches and scoring three goals in an eventual La Liga return after a four-decade absence. He was relatively used in the following years, but had few opportunities in the 2000–01 campaign as the side achieved an historical runner-up position in the UEFA Cup.[1]

Afterwards, Azkoitia joined Rayo Vallecano, being scarcely played in his first season. He was an important first-team element in the next two, but the Madrilenians dropped two consecutive divisions and he was sent off a combined four times.

Subsequently, Azkoitia served second division spells with Elche CF and SD Eibar – in 2005–06 he netted a career-best 11 goals, but suffered relegation with the latter.[2] He then moved to Alicante CF for the following season, helping to a 2008 promotion to the second tier.

In the 2008–09 campaign, Azkoitia was once again instrumental for Alicante by scoring nine times in 33 league games, but the Valencians were immediately relegated. He retired from football at the age of 35, with professional totals of 310 matches and 39 goals.

References
  1. "Liverpool win nine-goal epic with golden goal". UEFA. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ""Debemos salir a buscar el gol desde el principio"" ["We must look for a goal from the get-go"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 24 September 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
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