Andoni Goikoetxea Explained

Andoni Goikoetxea
Fullname:Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga[1]
Birth Date:23 August 1956
Birth Place:Alonsotegi, Spain
Height:1.85 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Arbuyo
Youthyears2:1973–1974
Youthclubs2:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:1973–1975
Caps1:25
Goals1:8
Years2:1975–1987
Caps2:277
Goals2:35
Years3:1987–1990
Caps3:35
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:337
Totalgoals:43
Nationalyears1:1975
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1977
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1983
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1983–1988
Nationalcaps4:39
Nationalgoals4:4
Nationalyears5:1978–1990
Nationalcaps5:4
Nationalgoals5:0
Manageryears1:1992–1996
Managerclubs1:Spain U21
Manageryears2:1995
Managerclubs2:Spain U20
Manageryears3:1996–1998
Managerclubs3:Salamanca
Manageryears4:1998–1999
Managerclubs4:Compostela
Manageryears5:1999–2000
Managerclubs5:Numancia
Manageryears6:2000–2001
Managerclubs6:Racing Santander
Manageryears7:2001
Managerclubs7:Rayo Vallecano
Manageryears8:2004–2005
Managerclubs8:Salamanca
Manageryears9:2005–2007
Managerclubs9:Numancia
Manageryears10:2007–2008
Managerclubs10:Hércules
Manageryears11:2010–2011
Managerclubs11:Ceuta
Manageryears12:2013–2015
Managerclubs12:Equatorial Guinea
Medaltemplates: (as manager)

Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga (born 23 August 1956), Goiko for short, is a Spanish former football centre-back and manager.

He was known for his aggressive play and was nicknamed "The Butcher of Bilbao". He mainly played for Athletic Bilbao; among the club's fans, he was also known as El Gigante de Alonsotegui (The Giant of Alonsotegui).[2] [3]

Goikoetxea was a Spanish international in the 1980s. He won 39 caps, and represented the country in the 1986 World Cup and Euro 1984.

Playing career

Club

Born in Alonsotegi, Biscay, Goikoetxea began playing football with local Arbuyo before joining Athletic Bilbao in 1973 where, after starting out at the reserve side, he soon established himself in the senior team squad. He scored four La Liga goals in 27 games in his debut season, but played a lesser role in the following three years with a total of only 24 appearances.[4]

During the 1980s, along with Dani, José Ramón Gallego, José Núñez, Manuel Sarabia and Andoni Zubizarreta, Goiko was a prominent member of the successful Bilbao side coached by Javier Clemente. In 1984 the Basque club renewed its league title, also achieving the double (league and Copa del Rey) in that year.

Maradona foul

On 24 September 1983, Goikoetxea achieved notoriety for a foul on Diego Maradona described as "one of the most brutal fouls ever delivered in the history of Spanish football".[5] In a league match at the Camp Nou, he tackled the Argentine from behind and broke his ankle.[5] Maradona compared the sound he heard to that of wood breaking[6] and, in the aftermath, English journalist Edward Owen coined the phrase "Butcher of Bilbao" to describe Goikoetxea,[5] [6] a nickname which stayed with him for the rest of his career. Maradona's compatriot César Luis Menotti, the coach of FC Barcelona, accused the Spaniard of "belonging to a 'race of anti-footballers'" and called for a lifelong ban;[5] he was served a ten-match ban by the Royal Spanish Football Federation.[5] It was later reported he kept "the boot he had used to destroy...(Maradona's) ankle ligaments" at home in a glass case.[7]

Two seasons earlier, Goikoetxea had severely injured Barcelona midfielder Bernd Schuster, leaving him with a serious right knee injury from which the German never fully recovered.[8] When the two teams met in the 1984 Copa del Rey Final in May, the match ended 1–0 for Athletic. Featuring in a mass brawl on the pitch, he kicked Maradona's chest;[5] [9] he was initially banned for 18 games for his actions, but the suspension was later reduced to seven.[10]

Later years

After three years with Atlético Madrid[11] where he featured sparingly, Goikoetxea retired at almost 34 after appearing in 369 competitive matches for Athletic, netting 44 times.[12]

International

Goikoetxea played 39 matches with Spain, making his debut against the Netherlands on 16 February 1983.[13] He represented the nation at both UEFA Euro 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. During the latter competition he scored one of his four international goals, through a penalty in a round-of-16 5–1 win against Denmark – the remaining four came courtesy of Emilio Butragueño.[14]

Coaching career

Goikoetxea became a coach two years after retiring, starting to work at club level in 1996 and going on to be in charge of UD Salamanca (twice),[15] [16] SD Compostela, CD Numancia (two spells),[17] [18] Racing de Santander[19] and Rayo Vallecano.[20] In the 1996–97 season he guided Salamanca to promotion from the Segunda División, finishing second. He was assistant with the Spain national team to his former manager Clemente, during the 1994 World Cup held in the United States.[21]

In June 2007, Goikoetxea joined Alicante-based Hércules CF in the second tier,[22] being released at the end of the campaign after being suspended by the club for implying its internal structures "stank".[23] In late February 2013 he was appointed coach of Equatorial Guinea,[24] being dismissed in January 2015 just three weeks before the start of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations due to poor performance in friendlies, which included a loss to a lower league side in Portugal.[25]

Style of play

Goikoetxea was notorious for his aggressive style of play,[26] [27] [28] [29] not least because of the two heavy fouls (see Maradona foul) on Maradona and Schuster which earned him the nickname "Butcher of Bilbao". In 2007, English newspaper The Times named him the "hardest defender of all time".[6] [7]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30]
ClubSeasonLeagueCopa del ReyEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Athletic Bilbao1974–75La Liga002020
1975–7627410284
1976–771002040160
1977–7841003071
1978–791013000131
1979–80303124427
1980–8127491365
1981–823167000386
1982–83244501020324
1983–84282704100393
1984–85313622020415
1985–863156160436
1986–872425030322
Total277356582314036944
Atlético Madrid1987–88La Liga13040170
1988–891408000220
1989–90800020100
Total3501202000490
Career total312357782514041844

International goals

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Goikoetxea goal.[13]

List of international goals scored by Andoni Goikoetxea
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 26 May 1984 Charmilles, Geneva, Switzerland 4–0 4–0 Friendly
2 14 November 1984 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 1–2 1–3 1986 World Cup qualification
3 18 June 1986 La Corregidora, Querétaro, Mexico 3–1 5–1 1986 FIFA World Cup
4 15 October 1986 Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany 2–2 2–2 Friendly

Honours

Player

Athletic Bilbao

1982–83, 1983–84

1983–84

1984

Spain

Manager

Spain U21

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga. Athletic Bilbao. 24 August 2021.
  2. News: Leyendas del Athletic Club de Bilbao – 'Goiko'. Athletic Club de Bilbao legends – 'Goiko'. El Correo. es. 23 May 2016.
  3. News: Rafa Nadal y Jorge Lorenzo, protagonistas de las dos portadas de ICON SPORT. Rafa Nadal and Jorge Lorenzo, protagonists of the two ICON SPORT covers. El País. es. 26 April 2014. 23 May 2016.
  4. News: Los cachorros son casi leones. The pups are almost lions. Mundo Deportivo. es. 23 May 1975. 7 December 2015.
  5. Book: Burns, Jimmy. Maradona: The Hand of God. A&C Black. 115. 5 December 2011. 978-1-4088-2772-7.
  6. News: Wie Holz, das bricht. Like wood, it breaks. Süddeutsche Zeitung. Javier. Cáceres. de. 17 May 2010. 6 December 2015.
  7. News: Football's 50 greatest hard men. The Times. 2007. 23 December 2008.
  8. News: Estas botas son la cara y la cruz del fútbol. These boots are the heads and tails of football. El País. Unai. Larrea. es. 22 September 2008. 11 May 2018.
  9. News: The Joy of Six: hot football funks. The Guardian. Scott. Murray. 5 December 2008. 25 April 2015.
  10. News: El tercer mayor castigo. The third biggest punishment. El País. es. 27 November 1999. 2 November 2015.
  11. News: Goikoetxea y Parra firmaron ayer por tres años con el Atlético. Goikoetxea and Parra signed with Atlético for three years yesterday. El País. es. 10 July 1987. 7 December 2015.
  12. News: San Mamés despide hoy a Goikoetxea, prototipo genuino del 'león vasco'. Today, San Mamés bids farewell to Goikoetxea, genuine epitome of the 'Basque' lion. El País. Eduardo. Rodrigálvarez. es. 20 December 1990. 2 November 2015.
  13. Web site: Andoni Goicoechea Olascoaga – International Appearances. RSSSF. Emilio. Pla Díaz. 6 November 2009. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090206013156/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/goicoechea-intl.html. 6 February 2009.
  14. News: 5–1: ¡Buitre, que grande eres!. 5–1: Vulture, you're so great!. Mundo Deportivo. Andrés. Astruells. es. 19 June 1986. 2 June 2014.
  15. News: Goiko, cesado como técnico del Salamanca. Goiko, sacked as Salamanca coach. El País. Agusti. Sintes. es. 22 October 1997. 7 December 2015.
  16. News: Goikoetxea, al Salamanca. Goikoetxea, to Salamanca. Mundo Deportivo. Carlos. Martín. es. 10 March 2005. 7 December 2015.
  17. News: Goikoetxea no seguirá en el Numancia la próxima temporada. Goikoetxea will not continue with Numancia next season. El País. es. 22 May 2000. 7 December 2015.
  18. News: Goikoetxea regresa al banquillo soriano. Goikoetxea returns to soriano bench. Mundo Deportivo. Amancio. Martínez. es. 7 December 2005. 7 December 2015.
  19. News: Ratificado y destituido en 48 horas. Confirmed and dismissed in 48 hours. El País. Mauro. Muriendas. es. 5 December 2000. 7 December 2015.
  20. News: El vestuario se traga a 'Goiko'. Locker room eats 'Goiko' up. El País. Diego. Torres. Óscar. Sanz. es. 1 October 2001. 7 December 2015.
  21. News: Goikoetxea, con Clemente. Goikoetxea, with Clemente. El País. Juan José. Paradinas. es. 24 September 1992. 7 December 2015.
  22. News: Andoni Goikoetxea entrenará al Hércules en la próxima temporada. Andoni Goikoetxea to manage Hércules next season. Super Deporte. es. 11 June 2007. 26 June 2013.
  23. News: El Hércules CF abre proceso disciplinario a Andoni Goikoetxea. Hércules CF start disciplinary proceedings against Andoni Goikoetxea. Diario Información. es. 11 April 2008. 26 June 2013.
  24. Web site: Goikoetxea, seleccionador de la Nzalang Nacional. Goikoetxea, Nzalang national team coach. Iratzar Blogspot. es. 27 February 2013. 1 March 2013.
  25. News: Africa Cup of Nations hosts Equatorial Guinea sack Andoni Goikoetxea. The Guardian. January 2015. 7 January 2015.
  26. Top 50 hardest footballers. Empire. 13 August 2007. 1 May 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151019002225/http://www.empireonline.com/forum/printable.asp?m=1554851. 19 October 2015.
  27. News: Goikoetxea: "Me crucificaron por lo de Maradona, pero de Figo nadie dice nada". Goikoetxea: "I was crucified for the Maradona bit, but no one says anything about Figo". Marca. es. 13 August 2007. 26 June 2013.
  28. News: Andoni Goikoetxea, el segundo futbolista más duro de la historia según 'The Sun'. Andoni Goikoetxea, second hardest footballer in history for 'The Sun'. 20 minutos. es. 10 January 2008. 26 June 2013.
  29. News: Kevin Muscat named football's dirtiest player. The Sydney Morning Herald. Dominic. Bossi. 12 December 2013. 31 August 2014.
  30. Web site: Andoni Goikoetxea. Footballdatabase. 6 December 2015.