Javier Arizmendi

Ángel Javier Arizmendi de Lucas (born 3 March 1984) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played either as a forward or winger.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Arizmendi and the second or maternal family name is De Lucas.

Javier Arizmendi
Arizmendi as a Zaragoza player in 2009
Personal information
Full name Ángel Javier Arizmendi de Lucas
Date of birth (1984-03-03) 3 March 1984
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward, winger
Youth career
Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Atlético Madrid B 28 (10)
2004–2006 Atlético Madrid 5 (0)
2004–2005 → Racing Santander (loan) 22 (3)
2006–2007 Deportivo La Coruña 50 (7)
2007–2008 Valencia 30 (1)
2008–2010 Zaragoza 69 (14)
2010–2013 Getafe 22 (2)
2011–2012 → Neuchâtel Xamax (loan) 13 (4)
2012–2013 → Mallorca (loan) 21 (2)
2013–2015 Deportivo La Coruña 17 (2)
Total 277 (45)
International career
2003 Spain U20 5 (1)
2004–2006 Spain U21 8 (0)
2005 Spain U23 4 (1)
2007 Spain 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played 181 La Liga matches over nine seasons, scoring a combined 20 goals for Atlético Madrid, Racing de Santander, Deportivo, Valencia, Zaragoza, Getafe and Mallorca.

All youth levels comprised, Arizmendi earned 13 caps for Spain. He appeared once with the full side.

Club career

Born in Madrid, and a product of local Atlético Madrid's youth system, Arizmendi made his La Liga debut for the first team on 15 February 2004, in a 1–3 away loss against FC Barcelona.[1] The following season, he played on loan with fellow league club Racing de Santander.[2]

As opportunities were scarce at Atlético, Arizmendi was signed by Deportivo de La Coruña for €2 million, on 3 January 2006. The Colchoneros bought him back according to a clause in the contract[3] but, on 21 June 2007, he joined Valencia CF on a six-year deal.[4]

During 2007–08, Arizmendi's physical style of play was occasionally put to use at right back due to injuries to habitual Miguel and Marco Caneira.[5] On 23 March 2008, he scored his first Valencia goal in a 3–2 win at Real Madrid,[6] while also helping the Che to the campaign's Copa del Rey.[7][8]

On 12 August 2008, Arizmendi was signed by Real Zaragoza for roughly €4 million on a six-year contract.[9] In his debut year, he was instrumental as the Aragonese returned to the top flight after just one year out, netting nine times in the league alone.[10]

On 30 June 2010, after greatly helping Zaragoza retain their status – 31 games, five goals,[11] 2,064 minutes – Arizmendi signed for six years with Getafe CF, qualified for the UEFA Europa League.[12] In August of the following year, however, after an unassuming season and the arrival of new manager Luis García, he moved to Neuchâtel Xamax in Switzerland on a season-long loan.[13]

Along three other teammates, Arizmendi was released from contract by the Super League team on 6 January 2012.[14] He played his first match in his second spell on 4 February, appearing 24 minutes and being booked in a 0–1 home loss against Real Madrid.[15]

International career

In 2003, without having played any football at the highest level, Arizmendi was called up to the Spain under-20 team that competed at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, where he scored an extra time winner over Canada in the quarter-finals after coming on as a substitute.[16] The nation went on to finish as runner-up.

He made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against England on 7 February 2007, playing the final 25 minutes in a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford.[17]

Controversy

During the 2005 Mediterranean Games, Arizmendi controversially celebrated the nation's gold medal carrying a Spanish flag which hailed from the days of Francisco Franco's fascist dictatorship. The player argued it was thrown from the stands at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, and that he did not notice the emblem on it.[18]

Personal life

After retiring, Arizmendi took a Master's degree in private banking.[19]

Honours

Valencia

Spain U20

Spain U23

References
  1. Besa, Ramon (16 February 2004). "El Barça se gusta ante el Atlético" [Barça like themselves against Atlético]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  2. Del Olmo, J. (20 August 2004). "Arizmendi llegará a Santander en calidad de cedido" [Arizmendi will arrive to Santander on loan]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  3. "Arizmendi to make Atlético return". UEFA. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  4. "Valencia signs striker Javier Arizmendi from Deportivo". Reuters. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
  5. Prera, Xavier (13 August 2008). "El Zaragoza refuerza su ataque con Arizmendi" [Zaragoza bolster attack with Arizmendi] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. "Real Madrid 2–3 Valencia". ESPN Soccernet. 23 March 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  7. "Cup triumph salvages Valencia season". UEFA. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  8. Herguedas, Miguel Ángel (17 April 2008). "Una Copa para el perdón" [A Cup for forgiveness]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  9. "Arizmendi ficha por el Zaragoza" [Arizmendi signs for Zaragoza]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 13 August 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  10. R. Bravo, Chema (26 March 2009). "Arizmendi: "Pasar por el banquillo te hace cambiar"" [Arizmendi: "A trip to the bench makes you change"]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  11. "Arizmendi no se siente feliz por ser el máximo goleador" [Arizmendi is not happy with being top scorer]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  12. Hernández, Javier (30 June 2010). "Arizmendi ficha por seis temporadas" [Arizmendi signs for six seasons]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  13. "Les rouge et noir passent à l'offensive" [The red-and-black go offensive] (in French). Neuchâtel Xamax. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  14. Rincón, Jaime (6 January 2012). "El Neuchatel Xamax despide a Arizmendi" [Neuchatel Xamax fire Arizmendi]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  15. "Madrid sneak past Getafe". ESPN Soccernet. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  16. "Arzimendi strikes gold for Spain". UEFA. 12 December 2003. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  17. Sinnott, John (7 February 2007). "England 0–1 Spain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  18. "La jugada del 'empollón'" [The "nerd"'s play]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 8 January 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  19. Egea, Pablo (7 January 2017). "Arizmendi ajusta cuentas tras el fútbol" [Arizmendi opens a new account after football]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  20. Garin, Erik. "Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain)". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
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