Koikili Explained

Koikili
Fullname:Koikili Lertxundi del Campo
Birth Date:23 December 1980
Birth Place:Otxandio, Spain
Height:1.68 m
Position:Left-back
Years1:1998–1999
Caps1:12
Goals1:0
Years2:1999–2001
Caps2:37
Goals2:2
Years3:2001–2003
Caps3:55
Goals3:0
Years4:2003–2004
Years5:2004–2005
Years6:2005–2007
Caps6:64
Goals6:16
Years7:2007–2012
Caps7:82
Goals7:2
Years8:2012–2014
Caps8:52
Goals8:0

Koikili Lertxundi del Campo (born 23 December 1980), known simply as Koikili or Koi for short, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

A late bloomer, he only became a professional at the age of 26 after signing with Athletic Bilbao. Over a five-year spell with the club, he appeared in 98 competitive matches.

Club career

Koikili was born in Otxandio, Basque Country. Playing Tercera División football just two seasons before moving to Athletic Bilbao, he was signed from Segunda División B side Sestao River Club for the start of 2007–08.[1] He made his La Liga debut on 26 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Navarrese neighbours CA Osasuna,[2] whose reserves he had already represented in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Koikili was first choice for much of the campaign, dislodging international Asier del Horno.[3] On his 27th birthday, he scored his first top-flight goal in a 1–1 home draw against Real Murcia.[4]

Koi appeared slightly less in the following two seasons for Athletic, but still totalled 52 official games (ten in the Copa del Rey, with the team reaching the final in the 2008–09 edition, and one in the newly created UEFA Europa League). On 11 January 2009, he netted the 1–1 at Atlético Madrid in an eventual 3–2 win.[5]

Koikili was deemed surplus to requirements at Athletic in 2011–12 after the appointment of manager Marcelo Bielsa, alongside teammates Aitor Ocio and Iban Zubiaurre – he remained with the club, however.[6] On 25 June 2014, he retired at age 33 after spending two Segunda División seasons at CD Mirandés.[7]

Personal life

Koikili was a Greco-Roman wrestler in his youth, once being crowned Spanish champion at under-15 level.[8]

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Notes and References

  1. News: Koikili, de la lucha grecorromana al Athletic de Bilbao. Koikili, from freestyle wrestling to Athletic Bilbao. El País. Spanish. 21 August 2007. 7 July 2012.
  2. Web site: Athletic Bilbao 0–0 Osasuna. ESPN Soccernet. 26 August 2007. 7 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180906124843/http://www.espn.com/soccer/report?cc=5739&id=226659. 6 September 2018.
  3. News: Koikili sigue titular tras fichar a tres competidores. Koikili still starting after three competitors have been signed. Diario AS. Nika. Cuenca. Spanish. 24 November 2009. 21 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Athletic Bilbao 1–1 Murcia. https://archive.today/20120720023949/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/226383?cc=5739. dead. 20 July 2012. ESPN Soccernet. 23 December 2007. 7 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Atlético Madrid 2–3 Athletic Bilbao. ESPN Soccernet. 11 January 2009. 7 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160426205730/http://www.espnfc.com/report/_/id/253089?cc=5739. 26 April 2016.
  6. News: Koi, entre los ocho leones descartados por el argentino. Koi, amongst the eight lions deemed surplus to requirements by the Argentine. Mundo Deportivo. Ainara. San Cristóbal. Spanish. 14 July 2011. 7 July 2012.
  7. Web site: Koikili Lertxundi, de 33 años, se retira del fútbol profesional. Koikili Lertxundi, 33 years old, retires from professional football. EFE. Spanish. 25 June 2014. 18 August 2014.
  8. News: Only way to stop a genius. The Sunday Times. Ian. Hawkey. 26 April 2009. 16 April 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061250/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/sport/football/article165098.ece. 4 March 2016.