Javier Urruticoechea
Encyclopedia
Francisco Javier González Urruticoechea (born 17 November 1952 in San Sebastián
, Guipúzcoa - died 24 May 2001 in Esplugues de Llobregat
, Barcelona), aka Urruti, was a Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
During his time at FC Barcelona
(1981–88), he became a favourite of both fans and teammates. At a club well known for goalkeepers like Ricardo Zamora
, Franz Platko
, Juan Velasco
and Antoni Ramallets
, he became a legend.
In May 2001, Urruti, aged only 48, died after his car hit the central barrier of a ring road near Barcelona. An annual golf
tournament, the Trofeo Javier Urruti, is played in his honour.
in 1969, spending three full years with the reserve team
. For the next league
seasons, he maintained an interesting battle for first-choice status with legendary Luis Arconada
.
After Arconada finally settled, Urruti moved to RCD Español
, where he won the Don Balón
award in 1981 (Spanish Footballer of the Year), moving across the city
after that season to join FC Barcelona
.
In his third year, Urruti won the Zamora Trophy, while playing in all the matches safe one. Alongside the likes of Steve Archibald
and Bernd Schuster
, he was a prominent member of the team coached by Terry Venables
, that won the league in 1984–85 and then reached the final of the European Cup in the following year. On 25 March 1985, in a game against Real Valladolid
, his penalty
save against Mágico González
effectively clinched the title.
During the second leg of the European Cup semi-final against IFK Göteborg
, Urruti successfully protested to the referee about a conceded goal after he spotted the ball had gone out of play. Barcelona were trailing 3–0 from the first-leg and the decision kept them in the game. They eventually drew level and in the subsequent penalty shootout, Urruti saved a crucial penalty and then scored one. The final against FC Steaua Bucureşti, however, was a major disappointment as, although he saved two in the shootout (after 0–0 in regulation), his Romania
n counterpart, Helmuth Duckadam
, saved all four.
After Andoni Zubizarreta
, another Basque
, arrived from Athletic Bilbao
in 1986, he was pushed to the bench and only appeared in one league match in his final two seasons combined, later being the club's goalkeeper coach. On 24 May 2001, he died in a road accident near Barcelona, at just 48.
in a two-year span, and was a member of the Spanish squads for the 1978
, 1982
and 1986
FIFA World Cup
s, also being picked for UEFA Euro 1980.
His debut came in a friendly with Norway
, on 29 March 1978, in Gijón
. However, his struggles at the club level translated to the international front, as he was never able to replace fellow Basques Arconada and Zubizarreta. Urruti also played twice for the Basque Country national football team
.
Individual
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, Guipúzcoa - died 24 May 2001 in Esplugues de Llobregat
Esplugues de Llobregat
Esplugues de Llobregat is a municipality of the Barcelona metropolitan area. It belongs to the comarca of Baix Llobregat, Barcelona province, Catalonia, Spain. It has some schools, such as the German School of Barcelona and American School of Barcelona, which attract rich families, thus increasing...
, Barcelona), aka Urruti, was a Spanish
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 who played as a goalkeeper.
During his time at FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
(1981–88), he became a favourite of both fans and teammates. At a club well known for goalkeepers like Ricardo Zamora
Ricardo Zamora
Ricard Zamora i Martínez was a Spanish footballer and manager. He played as a goalkeeper for, among others, RCD Espanyol, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. As an international he played for both the Catalan XI and Spain...
, Franz Platko
Franz Platko
Ferenc Plattkó also known Franz Platko Kopiletz, Francisco Platko , also known as Ferenc Platko or Francisco Platko, was a Hungarian footballer and manager...
, Juan Velasco
Juan Zambudio Velasco
Juan Zambudio Velasco, was a Spanish football goalkeeper. He played for Mollet and FC Barcelona. He retired playing in CE Sabadell FC....
and Antoni Ramallets
Antoni Ramallets
Antoni Ramallets Simón is a retired Spanish football goalkeeper and manager.He spent most of his career at FC Barcelona, during the 1950s and early 1960s, winning the Zamora Trophy as the best goalkeeper in La Liga on five occasions, and 17 major club honours...
, he became a legend.
In May 2001, Urruti, aged only 48, died after his car hit the central barrier of a ring road near Barcelona. An annual golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament, the Trofeo Javier Urruti, is played in his honour.
Club career
Urruti played as a junior with Lengokoak before joining Real SociedadReal 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...
in 1969, spending three full years with the reserve team
Real Sociedad B
Real Sociedad de Fútbol B is a Spanish football club based in San Sebastián, in the autonomous community of Basque Country...
. For the next league
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...
seasons, he maintained an interesting battle for first-choice status with legendary Luis Arconada
Luis Arconada
Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri is a retired Spanish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.Having played solely for Real Sociedad for nearly 20 professional years, helping the team to two La Liga titles, amongst other domestic accolades, he also collected 68 national team caps.-Club career:Arconada...
.
After Arconada finally settled, Urruti moved to RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, where he won the Don Balón
Don Balón
Don Balón was a Spanish weekly sports magazine specialising in Spanish and international football. It was distributed on five continents....
award in 1981 (Spanish Footballer of the Year), moving across the city
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
after that season to join FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
In his third year, Urruti won the Zamora Trophy, while playing in all the matches safe one. Alongside the likes of Steve Archibald
Steve Archibald
Steven Archibald is a former Scottish football player and manager.- Club career :He first came to prominence playing in midfield for Scottish First Division side Clyde, but was converted to striker when he signed for Aberdeen, forging a prolific partnership with Joe Harper...
and Bernd Schuster
Bernd Schuster
Bernhard Schuster is a German football manager and former player, currently unemployed. His nickname is "der Blonde Engel" .-Club career:...
, he was a prominent member of the team coached by Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
, that won the league in 1984–85 and then reached the final of the European Cup in the following year. On 25 March 1985, in a game against Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
, his penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
save against Mágico González
Mágico González
Jorge Alberto González Barillas , popularly known as El mágico , is a retired Salvadoran footballer....
effectively clinched the title.
During the second leg of the European Cup semi-final against IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
, Urruti successfully protested to the referee about a conceded goal after he spotted the ball had gone out of play. Barcelona were trailing 3–0 from the first-leg and the decision kept them in the game. They eventually drew level and in the subsequent penalty shootout, Urruti saved a crucial penalty and then scored one. The final against FC Steaua Bucureşti, however, was a major disappointment as, although he saved two in the shootout (after 0–0 in regulation), his Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n counterpart, Helmuth Duckadam
Helmuth Duckadam
Helmuth Robert Duckadam is a retired Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He was dubbed "the hero of Seville" due to his heroics in the 1986 European Cup Final, won by his main club, Steaua Bucureşti...
, saved all four.
After Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.The all-time most capped player for the Spanish national team for several years, he played with individual and team success for Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona , appearing in more than 950...
, another Basque
Basque 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....
, arrived from Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in 1986, he was pushed to the bench and only appeared in one league match in his final two seasons combined, later being the club's goalkeeper coach. On 24 May 2001, he died in a road accident near Barcelona, at just 48.
International career
Urruti played five times 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 two-year span, and was a member of the Spanish squads for the 1978
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
, 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
and 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s, also being picked for UEFA Euro 1980.
His debut came in a friendly with Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
, on 29 March 1978, in Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
. However, his struggles at the club level translated to the international front, as he was never able to replace fellow Basques Arconada and Zubizarreta. Urruti also played twice for the Basque Country national football team
Basque Country national football team
The Basque Country football team is considered the national team of the Basque Country greater region as selected players from the Basque Country Autonomous Community, the nearby Navarre and the Northern Basque Country in France play for it...
.
Honours
Barcelona- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1981–82 - Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1984–85 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1982–83, 1987–88 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19831983 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1983 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 26 October and 30 November 1983. It contested by FC Barcelona, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1982–83, and Athletic Bilbao, who won the 1982–83 Spanish League.-First leg:... - Spanish League CupCopa de la LigaThe Copa de la Liga was a Spanish football tournament created in 1982.Due to time constraints, saturation and club pressure, the competition only lasted four years, being cancelled in 1986...
: 1982–83, 1985–86 - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: Runner-up 1985–86
Individual
- Don Balón AwardDon Balón AwardFrom 1976 until 2010, the Spanish magazine Don Balón confered the Don Balón Award to the best Spanish player, the best foreign player, the best referee, and the breakthrough player in La Liga...
- Spanish Footballer of the Year: 1980–81 - Zamora TrophyRicardo Zamora TrophyThe Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
: 1983–84