Xabi Castillo

Xabier 'Xabi' Castillo Aranburu (born 29 March 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left back.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Castillo and the second or maternal family name is Aranburu.
Xabi Castillo
Personal information
Full name Xabier Castillo Aranburu
Date of birth (1986-03-29) 29 March 1986
Place of birth Durango, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Youth career
1995–1996 Ikastola Maiztegi
1996–2001 Athletic Bilbao
2001–2003 Durango
2003–2004 Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Real Sociedad B 55 (2)
2006–2009 Real Sociedad 71 (1)
2006–2007 → Las Palmas (loan) 31 (0)
2009–2013 Athletic Bilbao 37 (0)
2013–2014 Las Palmas 27 (0)
2014–2015 Alavés 13 (0)
Total 234 (3)
National team
2005 Spain U19 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Durango, Biscay, Castillo came up through the ranks at Athletic Bilbao, but made his senior debut with Basque neighbours Real Sociedad, where he had finished his football development.[1] His first professional experience came with UD Las Palmas on loan, in 2006–07's second division; during his first two seasons with Real Sociedad's first team he was an undisputed first-choice, also in the second level.

On 15 July 2009, Castillo returned his first alma mater and signed a four-year deal.[2] He made his La Liga debut in the campaign opener (30 August 2009), a 1–0 home win against RCD Espanyol,[3] and appeared in a combined 45 official games in his first two years.

Castillo spent the entire 2011–12 on the sidelines, due to a patellar ligament injury.[4] Upon returning he was only a fringe player,[5] being released by the Marcelo Bielsa-led squad in June 2013 after his contract expired[6] and returning to former club Las Palmas.[7]

On 10 July 2014, Castillo joined Deportivo Alavés also of division two.[8]

References
  1. "Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: jugadores en los dos bandos" [Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: players on both sides] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  2. Signing of Xabi Castillo; Athletic Bilbao, 15 July 2009
  3. Athletic Bilbao 1–0 Espanyol; ESPN Soccernet, 30 August 2009
  4. Xabi Castillo, operado con éxito (Xabi Castillo, surgery was a success); Marca, 22 December 2011 (in Spanish)
  5. Tratamiento distinto para Xabi Castillo (Different treatment for Xabi Castillo); Mundo Deportivo, 23 May 2013 (in Spanish)
  6. Athletic no se despide de Bielsa, Llorente y Amorebieta (Athletic does not say goodbye to Bielsa, Llorente and Amorebieta); Goal, 22 June 2013 (in Spanish)
  7. Xabi Castillo vuelve a Las Palmas (Xabi Castillo returns to Las Palmas); Canarias7, 10 July 2013 (in Spanish)
  8. El Deportivo Alavés ficha a Xabi Castillo (Deportivo Alavés sign Xabi Castillo) Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine; Deportivo Alavés, 10 July 2014 (in Spanish)
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