Luis María Echeberría Explained

Luis María Echeberría
Fullname:Luis María Echeberría Igartua
Birth Date:24 March 1940
Birth Place:Asua, Spain
Death Place:Las Arenas, Spain
Height:1.75 m
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Getxo
Years1:1958–1960
Years2:1960–1961
Caps2:38
Goals2:0
Years3:1961–1972
Caps3:259
Goals3:1
Years4:1972–1973
Caps4:9
Goals4:0
Totalcaps:306
Totalgoals:1
Nationalyears1:1961
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1962–1963
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0

Luis María Echeberría Igartua (24 March 1940 – 19 October 2016) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Born in Asua, Biscay, Echeberría signed for Athletic Bilbao in 1961 at the age of 21 from Basque Country neighbours CD Basconia, at that time still not the club's farm team. He made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 10 September 1961 in a 1–2 away loss against Sevilla FC, and finished his debut season with 29 league appearances (out of a possible 30) as his team finished fifth.

In the following years, Echeberría would be part of a legendary Athletic defense that also featured José Ángel Iribar in goal, Jesús Aranguren and Iñaki Sáez,[1] helping the Lions to the 1969 Copa del Rey and appearing in more than 300 official games with his main club. He retired from football in 1973 (aged 33) after one season with Barakaldo CF, in Segunda División.

International career

Echeberría earned four caps for Spain, during nearly one year (exactly 11 months and three weeks). His debut came on 6 June 1962 as the national team lost 1–2 against Brazil at Viña del Mar in that year's FIFA World Cup, for an eventual group stage exit.

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

1969; Runner-up 1965–66, 1966–67

Notes and References

  1. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Txutxi/Aranguren/defensa/total/elpepudep/20110322elpepudep_1/Tes 'Txutxi' Aranguren, un defensa total ('Txutxi' Aranguren, a complete defender)