Andoni Murúa Explained

Andoni Murúa
Fullname:Andoni Murúa Zenarruzabeitia
Birth Date:20 March 1953
Birth Place:Burceña, Spain
Height:1.72m (05.64feet)
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:1971–1975
Caps1:110
Goals1:26
Years2:1975–1977
Years3:1977–1979
Years4:1979–1981
Caps4:53
Goals4:16
Years5:1981–1983
Caps5:51
Goals5:13
Years6:1983–1985
Caps6:42
Goals6:4
Years7:1985–1986
Caps7:1
Goals7:0

Andoni Murúa Zentarruzabeitia (born 20 March 1953) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a left winger.

He appeared in 121 La Liga games over the course of five seasons, scoring 29 goals.

Club career

Born in the village of Burceña, in Barakaldo, Biscay, Murúa emerged through Basque Country giants Athletic Bilbao's youth system. He spent four seasons with the reserve team in the third division, but could not break into the first team as he was barred by Txetxu Rojo, moving to another club in that tier and his native region, Sestao Sport Club.

In the summer of 1977, Murúa signed with Levante UD also in the third level – renamed Segunda División B shortly before – helping to promotion to division two in his second year with a career-best 38 goals. He played six games in the following season scoring twice, before moving in late 1979 to La Liga with AD Almería, coached by former Athletic great José María Maguregui: on 21 October of that year he made his debut in the competition, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Real Sociedad, and finished the campaign with 11 goals;[1] [2] this included a brace in a 4–2 success over former team Athletic Bilbao, on 30 December.[3]

After a further two seasons in the top flight with RCD Español, Murúa returned to division two and joined Racing de Santander, promoting to the former competition in 1984 (25 matches, four goals); on both occasions, he was managed by Maguregui.

Murúa retired from professional football in 1986 at the age of 33, playing with his first team Sestao in the second division.

International career

Murua did not earn any caps for Spain. He was pre-selected by László Kubala for the 1982 FIFA World Cup which was played on home soil, while playing with Almería, but did not make the final list.[2]

Personal life

Murúa's younger brother (ten years his junior) was also a footballer. A defender, he too played with Bilbao Athletic and Sestao (coinciding with his sibling in the latter as Andoni was playing his final year), and appeared in two top level seasons with Real Oviedo (1988 to 1990).

Murúa's daughter, Irune, also represented Athletic Bilbao.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: 0–0: Díez Frías la armó en el Almería-Real Sociedad. 0–0: Díez Frías put on a spectacle in Almería-Real Sociedad. Mundo Deportivo. Spanish. 22 October 1979. 26 June 2017.
  2. News: Un almeriense del mismo Bilbao. From Almería but born in Bilbao. Ideal. Spanish. 7 February 2010. 26 June 2017.
  3. News: 4–2: Murúa, dos goles y "superstar". 4–2: Murúa, two goals and superstar. Mundo Deportivo. Spanish. 31 December 1979. 26 June 2017.
  4. News: La rojiblanca Irune Murua y el ciclista David López, 'padrinos' del Barakaldo. Red-and-white Irune Murua and cyclist David López, Barakaldo's 'godparents'. El Desmarque. Spanish. 19 July 2012. 4 September 2016.