| Iban Zubiaurre | |
| Fullname: | Iban Zubiaurre Urrutia |
| Birth Date: | 22 January 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Mendaro, Spain |
| Height: | 1.76m (05.77feet) |
| Position: | Right-back |
| Youthclubs1: | Real Sociedad |
| Years1: | 2000–2005 |
| Caps1: | 53 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2004–2005 |
| Caps2: | 14 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2006–2013 |
| Caps3: | 2 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2008–2009 |
| Clubs4: | → Elche (loan) |
| Caps4: | 23 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2010–2011 |
| Clubs5: | → Albacete (loan) |
| Caps5: | 10 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2012–2013 |
| Clubs6: | → Salamanca (loan) |
| Caps6: | 33 |
| Goals6: | 3 |
| Years7: | 2013 |
| Caps7: | 0 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 135 |
| Totalgoals: | 6 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1999–2000 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2001 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2001 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2002 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Nationalyears5: | 2005 |
| Nationalcaps5: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals5: | 0 |
Iban Zubiaurre Urrutia (born 22 January 1983) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a right-back.
Zubiaurre was born in Mendaro, Gipuzkoa. After making his Real Sociedad first-team debut during the 2004–05 season, he achieved notoriety as a result of a lawsuit in which his first club prevented him from playing for Athletic Bilbao for 14 months, due to an alleged illegality in his transfer between the two Basque sides.[1]
Zubiaurre, who represented Real Sociedad at youth level, was 'presented' as the new Athletic Bilbao player in 2005 by the latter's president Fernando Lamikiz, despite still being under contract.[2] He had no permission to rescind his link, which had a year left to run and a buy-out clause of €33 million (the former club had activated a one-season optional extension to his contract, while the latter asserted that he was a free agent).[3] Real insisted that Athletic pay the entire amount, with the player not being allowed to play professional football during the subsequent legal battle; SCD Durango, a regional club, asked permission to field him, but they were denied.[4]
Fifteen months after the lawsuit began, a judge ruled that Athletic had to pay Real Sociedad €5 million,[5] and were granted permission to field Zubiaurre for the 2006–07 campaign. He was presented a second time at San Mamés Stadium on 16 November 2006, and was given the number 12 shirt.[6]
On 11 February 2007, Zubiaurre played his first La Liga match for Athletic, appearing against Atlético Madrid as a substitute in a 1–0 away defeat.[7] That was his only game of the season, in which his team avoided relegation on the very last match day.
Zubiaurre also only featured once in 2007–08, in a 2–0 loss at Getafe CF on 31 October 2007.[8] After almost two years on the sidelines, he left in order to gain more playing time, joining Segunda División side Elche CF on a season-long loan.[9]
Returning to Athletic for the 2009–10 campaign, Zubiaurre's season input consisted of 15 minutes against FK Austria Wien (3–0 win at home) in the UEFA Europa League group stage.[10] In July 2010, another loan ensued, also in the second tier, as he signed with Albacete Balompié.[11]
Zubiaurre was deemed surplus to requirements in 2011–12 after the appointment of manager Marcelo Bielsa, alongside teammates Koikili and Aitor Ocio. He remained with the team, however.[12]
Zubiaurre was loaned to UD Salamanca in the Segunda División B for the 2012–13 season. He moved to Racing de Santander in August 2013, being waived after only one month and no matches played.[13]
Spain U19