Joseba Zaldúa Explained

Joseba Zaldúa
Full Name:Joseba Zaldúa Bengoetxea[1]
Birth Date:24 June 1992
Birth Place:San Sebastián, Spain
Height:1.76 m
Position:Right-back
Currentclub:Cádiz
Clubnumber:2
Youthclubs1:Real Sociedad
Years1:2010–2014
Caps1:67
Goals1:2
Years2:2013–2022
Caps2:152
Goals2:1
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Leganés (loan)
Caps3:30
Goals3:1
Years4:2022–
Caps4:23
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:4 June 2024

Joseba Zaldúa Bengoetxea (born 24 June 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Cádiz CF.

Club career

Real Sociedad

Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Zaldúa played his youth football with local Real Sociedad. He made his senior debut with the reserves, spending several seasons in the Segunda División B with them.

Zaldúa appeared in his first official match with the main squad on 23 November 2013, featuring the first 80 minutes before being substituted for Javi Ros in a 4–3 La Liga home win against RC Celta de Vigo.[2] Roughly a month later, he signed a new deal with the Basques until 2016.[3]

On 20 May 2014, Zaldúa renewed his contract with the Txuri-urdin until 2018, and was definitely promoted to the first team.[4] On 4 July 2017, he was loaned to fellow top-flight club CD Leganés for one year.[5] He made 30 appearances as the side from the outskirts of Madrid avoided relegation, and scored a last-minute equaliser in a 2–2 draw at Deportivo Alavés on 21 January 2018.[6] On 7 May, he was sent off in a 3–0 home loss to Levante UD for denying José Luis Morales a goalscoring opportunity.[7]

Zaldúa scored his only goal for Real Sociedad on 12 May 2019 in a 3–1 victory over Real Madrid at Anoeta Stadium, but was replaced in the same game with a broken left leg.[8] He totalled 190 matches during his spell.[9]

Cádiz

On 11 July 2022, Zaldúa joined Cádiz CF on a three-year contract.[10] He spent the vast majority of his first season on the sidelines, nursing a serious knee injury.[11]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Sociedad B2010–11Segunda División B1010
2011–12201201
2012–13321321
2013–14140140
Total672000000672
Real Sociedad2013–14La Liga1007000170
2014–152301040280
2015–1613000130
2016–1714030170
2018–1926130291
2019–2030030330
2020–21120104010180
2021–222404070350
Total1521220150101901
Leganés (loan)2017–18La Liga30100301
Cadiz2022-23La Liga 10000100
2023-24La Liga 13020150
Total 230200000250
Career total2724240150103124

Honours

Real Sociedad

2019–20[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Zaldua. Diario AS. 22 August 2022.
  2. Web site: Superb Vela inspires Sociedad. ESPN FC. 23 November 2013. 24 November 2013.
  3. Web site: Joseba Zaldua renueva hasta 2016. Joseba Zaldua renews until 2016. Real Sociedad. es. 20 December 2013. 6 August 2014.
  4. Web site: El sueño de Joseba y Jon. Joseba and Jon's dream. Real Sociedad. es. 20 May 2014. 6 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Zaldua apuntala el lateral derecho pepinero. Zaldua bolsters the pepinero right flank. CD Leganés. es. 4 July 2017. 5 July 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212243/http://www.deportivoleganes.com/noticia/zaldua-apuntala-el-lateral-derecho-pepinero. 3 August 2017.
  6. News: Alaves snatch a draw from the jaws of victory. Marca. Euan. McTear. 21 January 2018. 8 March 2020.
  7. News: Tormenta granota en Butarque. Granota storm in Butarque. Marca. Ángel. Rodríguez. es. 7 May 2018. 8 March 2020.
  8. Web site: Ya se conoce el alcance de la lesión de Zaldua. Extent of Zaldúa's injury already known. El Desmarque. es. 13 May 2019. 8 March 2020.
  9. News: Joseba Zaldua, 16 años en blanco y azul. Joseba Zaldua, 16 years in white-and-blue. Noticias de Gipuzkoa. José Luis. Lorenzo. es. 10 July 2022. 12 May 2024.
  10. Web site: Joseba Zaldua refuerza el lateral derecho. Joseba Zaldua bolsters the right back. Cádiz CF. es. 11 July 2022. 11 July 2022.
  11. News: Cádiz CF: Zaldua jugó nueve meses después de su lesión y explica cómo se siente. Cádiz CF: Zaldua played nine months after his injury and explains how he feels. Diario de Cádiz. es. 15 July 2023. 28 September 2023.
  12. News: Athletic Club 0–1 Real Sociedad: result, summary, goal. Diario AS. Paul. Reidy. 3 April 2021. 4 April 2021.
  13. News: Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory. The Guardian. Sid. Lowe. 3 April 2021. 4 April 2021.