Luis López Rekarte
Encyclopedia
Luis María López Rekarte (born 26 March 1962 in Mondragón
, Basque Country
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mainly as a right defender.
, amidst the massive financial difficulties the Basque
side endured, culminating with the relegation to the third division
in 1983. Two years later, he signed with neighbours Real Sociedad
.
Forming a defensive quarter with legendary Alberto Górriz
, Agustín Gajate
and Juan Antonio Larrañaga
, López Rekarte was an undisputed starter on a side that won the Spanish Cup
in 1987, whilst in the following year they emerged runner-up in both domestic competitions.
After losing the 1988 domestic cup final to FC Barcelona
, López Rekarte moved to the La Liga
giants, alongside José Mari Bakero
and Txiki Begiristain. Relatively used in his first two seasons, he appeared rarely in Barças 1991 league conquest, playing in all but one of his 13 matches as a used substitute. His greatest moment with the Catalans
came in the 1988–89 Cup Winners' Cup final: brought in from the bench, Rekarte netted the decisive 2–0 to seal the win.
Being a crucial member of a rising Deportivo de La Coruña
side soon dubbed Super Depor (he never played less than 25 matches during a five-year stay), López Rekarte retired in 1997, after another spell in the second division
, now with RCD Mallorca
.
in 1988, the first coming in a friendly against East Germany
on 27 January, in Valencia (0–0).
, whom also played for Real Sociedad (ten years), also being a right back, and an international.
Mondragón
Arrasate or Mondragón - is a town and municipality in Gipuzkoa province, Basque Country, Spain...
, Basque Country
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....
) is a retired 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 mainly as a right defender.
Club career
López Rekarte made his professional debuts with Deportivo AlavésDeportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, amidst the massive financial difficulties the 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....
side endured, culminating with the relegation to the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
in 1983. Two years later, he signed with neighbours 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...
.
Forming a defensive quarter with legendary Alberto Górriz
Alberto Górriz
Alberto Górriz Echarte is a retired Spanish footballer who played mainly as a central defender.His main asset was his tremendous heading ability, and he often scored from set pieces...
, Agustín Gajate
Agustín Gajate
José Agustín Gajate Vidriales is a former Spanish footballer, in the central defender position.Not a skilled player , Gajate excelled in man-marking, and played for Real Sociedad's first team for 15 years.-Football career:A Real Sociedad youth graduate, Gajate played solely for the Basque outfit,...
and Juan Antonio Larrañaga
Juan Antonio Larrañaga
Juan Antonio Larrañaga Gurruchaga is a retired Spanish footballer, who played as a defender.-Club career:...
, López Rekarte was an undisputed starter on a side that won the Spanish Cup
Copa del Rey
The 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 ....
in 1987, whilst in the following year they emerged runner-up in both domestic competitions.
After losing the 1988 domestic cup final to 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....
, López Rekarte moved to the 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...
giants, alongside José Mari Bakero
José Mari Bakero
José María Bakero Escudero is a retired Spanish footballer, and the current coach of Lech Poznań in Poland.Having played mainly for Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, he began his career as a forward but was converted into an attacking midfielder, who possessed passing and netting ability José María...
and Txiki Begiristain. Relatively used in his first two seasons, he appeared rarely in Barças 1991 league conquest, playing in all but one of his 13 matches as a used substitute. His greatest moment with the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
came in the 1988–89 Cup Winners' Cup final: brought in from the bench, Rekarte netted the decisive 2–0 to seal the win.
Being a crucial member of a rising Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
side soon dubbed Super Depor (he never played less than 25 matches during a five-year stay), López Rekarte retired in 1997, after another spell in the 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:...
, now with RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
.
International career
López Rekarte had four caps 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 1988, the first coming in a friendly against East Germany
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
on 27 January, in Valencia (0–0).
Honours
- Real Sociedad:
- 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 ....
: 1986–87
- Spanish Cup
- 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...
: 1988–89 - 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...
: 1990–91 - 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 ....
: 1989–90
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- Deportivo:
- 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 ....
: 1994–95 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 1995
- Spanish Cup
Personal
López Rekarte is the older brother of another professional footballer, AitorAitor López Rekarte
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.-Club career:López Rekarte played a decade for the Basque side...
, whom also played for Real Sociedad (ten years), also being a right back, and an international.