Juan Antonio Larrañaga

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Larrañaga and the second or maternal family name is Gurruchaga.
Juan Antonio Larrañaga
Personal information
Full name Juan Antonio Larrañaga Gurruchaga
Date of birth (1958-07-03) 3 July 1958 (age 63)
Place of birth Azpeitia, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Youth career
Lagun Onak
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1980 San Sebastián
1980–1994 Real Sociedad 460 (15)
National team
1986–1987 Spain U21 4 (0)
1987 Spain U23 2 (0)
1988 Spain 1 (0)
1993 Basque Country 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Juan Antonio Larrañaga Gurruchaga (alt.spelling Ion Andoni; born 3 July 1958) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defender.

Club career[]

Larrañaga was born in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country. He started playing as a defensive midfielder, being signed by Real Sociedad in 1977 from local CD Lagun Onak. In January 1980 he made his first-team debut in the Copa del Rey, against Navarre neighbours Peña Sport FC.[1]

Although he appeared sparingly in the 1980–81 season, as Real won the first of their two consecutive titles, Larrañaga did take the field in the decisive draw at Sporting de Gijón in the last round,[2] and featured in all the matches in the following campaign whilst adding two goals. From 1986 to 1992, he only missed a combined two La Liga games; after manager John Toshack was appointed, he began playing as a sweeper.[3] On 1 October 2021, his record of 202 consecutive La Liga appearances, set between 1986 and 1992,[4] was eclipsed by Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams in a match against Alavés.[5][6]

Larrañaga retired at 36 at the end of 1993–94, having made 460 top-flight appearances (589 overall, only behind teammate Alberto Górriz in the club's record books). He was the only member of the league-winning sides to have played at both of the club's grounds: Atotxa and Anoeta.[1]

International career[]

Larrañaga won one cap for Spain, playing the entire 1–2 friendly defeat against Czechoslovakia on 24 February 1988, in Málaga.[7] He also appeared four times for the under-21 team.

Post-retirement[]

After retiring, Larrañaga took up coaching, but only in the lower leagues (for six years). He also appeared as a commentator for ETB 1, which lasted until the end of the 2005–06 season.[1]

From 2006 to 2008, Larrañaga served as the youth coordinator of his only professional club, being fired at the end of the second division campaign.[8]

Honours[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Larrañaga" [Real Sociedad legends – Larrañaga] (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  2. ^ ¡Vaya epilogo! (What a finish!); Mundo Deportivo, 27 April 1981 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ "El encanto de los tres centrales" [The charm of the three stoppers] (in Spanish). Marca. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  4. ^ Larrañaga: "Jugué muchos partidos con dolor e infiltrado" [Larrañaga: "I played many games in pain and broken"], Diario AS, 25 September 2021
  5. ^ Inaki Williams sets record with 203rd consecutive Liga game, France24, 1 October 2021
  6. ^ Iñaki Williams: 'My parents crossed the desert barefoot to get to Spain', Sid Lowe, The Guardian, 6 October 2021
  7. ^ Ensayo fatal y derrota inquietante (Fatal rehearsal and troubling defeat); Mundo Deportivo, 25 February 1988 (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Badiola despide a Larrañaga (Badiola fires Larrañaga); El Diario Vasco, 9 April 2008 (in Spanish)

External links[]

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