Aitor López Rekarte
Encyclopedia
Aitor López Rekarte is a retired Spanish
footballer.
He played as a defender
on the right side, and sporadically on the other flank; his professional career was closely connected to Real Sociedad
, where he played 13 of 15 total seasons.
side of Real Sociedad
, with nearly 400 overall appearances with the first team. After being promoted to the first team for 1997–98, he immediately became the undisputed starter, with his worse ouptut consisting of 26 appearances, during his second professional season.
In that first campaign, as Real finished third, Rekarte spent most of the season at left back, as habitual starter Agustín Aranzábal suffered a long injury lay-off. Eventually, he also became team captain, only missing one La Liga
match in 2002–03, for a final runner-up place.
On July 2007, López Rekarte switched to newly promoted UD Almería
, but appeared scarcely throughout the season as the Andalusia
team overachieved, being subsequently released.
On 18 March 2009, he joined second division
side SD Eibar
, in a deal until the end of the season. After the club's relegation, he chose to retire from football, at nearly 34.
, in a September 2004 friendly against Scotland
in Valencia (1–1).
Previously, he helped the nation's U21s
win the 1998 European Championship
.
, whom also played for Real Sociedad, also being a right-back, and an international.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer.
He played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
on the right side, and sporadically on the other flank; his professional career was closely connected to Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, where he played 13 of 15 total seasons.
Club career
López Rekarte played a decade for the BasqueBasque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
side of Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, with nearly 400 overall appearances with the first team. After being promoted to the first team for 1997–98, he immediately became the undisputed starter, with his worse ouptut consisting of 26 appearances, during his second professional season.
In that first campaign, as Real finished third, Rekarte spent most of the season at left back, as habitual starter Agustín Aranzábal suffered a long injury lay-off. Eventually, he also became team captain, only missing one La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
match in 2002–03, for a final runner-up place.
On July 2007, López Rekarte switched to newly promoted UD Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
, but appeared scarcely throughout the season as the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
team overachieved, being subsequently released.
On 18 March 2009, he joined second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
side SD Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
, in a deal until the end of the season. After the club's relegation, he chose to retire from football, at nearly 34.
International career
López Rekarte had one appearance for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, in a September 2004 friendly against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in Valencia (1–1).
Previously, he helped the nation's U21s
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
win the 1998 European Championship
1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
.
Honours
Spain U21- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 19981998 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
Personal
López Rekarte is the younger brother of another professional footballer, Luis MaríaLuis López Rekarte
Luis María López Rekarte is a retired Spanish footballer who played mainly as a right defender.-Club career:...
, whom also played for Real Sociedad, also being a right-back, and an international.