Daniel Aranzubia Aguado (born 18 September 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the current goalkeeper coach of Amorebieta.
He appeared in 303 La Liga matches over 13 seasons, with Athletic Bilbao – in whose youth system he grew – Deportivo and Atlético Madrid. With the second club, he scored one goal in the competition.
Aranzubia represented Spain at Euro 2004.
Club career Athletic Bilbao Born in Logroño, La Rioja, but nonetheless a product of Athletic Bilbao's famed youth academy at Lezama, Aranzubia made his La Liga debut with the first team on 10 June 2001 in a 1–3 home derby loss against Real Sociedad. After two seasons as backup to Iñaki Lafuente, he emerged as the side's undisputed starter, helping them qualify for the UEFA Cup in 2004 while extending his contract a further four years.
Following additional struggles for first-choice duties with Lafuente in the 2005–06 campaign, Aranzubia was definitely deemed surplus to requirements by the Basques due to the emergence of Gorka Iraizoz, not appearing even when the first-choice was severely injured during 2007–08 (Athletic received veteran Armando on loan from Cádiz CF, and he became the starter).
Deportivo On 13 July 2008, Aranzubia joined Deportivo de La Coruña on a three-year deal, helping the Galicians to the UEFA Intertoto Cup and starting throughout the entire season, save one match due to suspension. On 2 October, he saved three penalties in a shootout against SK Brann in a UEFA Cup first round 2–0 home win, with Depor thus reaching the group stage.
Aranzubia missed the first six games of the 2010–11 campaign due to injury, but again finished as a starter. On 20 February 2011, he scored with his head through a 95th-minute corner kick as his team managed a 1–1 draw at UD Almería, becoming the first goalkeeper in the history of the Spanish top division to score from open play.
Atlético Madrid In August 2013, Aranzubia signed for Atlético Madrid as a backup to Thibaut Courtois. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on 11 December 2013 shortly after his 34th birthday, saving a penalty from FC Porto's Josué in a 2–0 group stage home victory.
As the Belgian was unavailable due to injury, Aranzubia first played in the league with the Colchoneros on 8 February 2014, being sent off in the last minutes of a 2–0 loss at Almería after fouling Jonathan Zongo in the box. He finished his spell at the Vicente Calderón Stadium with five competitive appearances.
International career Aranzubia made his only appearance for Spain on 5 June 2004, in a friendly with Andorra at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. He came on as a substitute for Santiago Cañizares, who had already replaced Iker Casillas, at the hour-mark, after having been selected as third-choice for the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament.
Previously, Aranzubia helped the nation to win the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and finish runners-up at the 2000 Summer Olympics, starting in both finals.
Coaching career On 21 June 2016, Aranzubia was hired as a goalkeeper coach for SD Amorebieta under manager Aitor Larrazábal. Three years later, in the same capacity, he joined his former teammate Joseba Etxeberria's staff at Athletic Bilbao B.
Aranzubia returned to Amorebieta in summer 2023, in the same role.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAthletic Bilbao B1996–97Segunda División B50——501998–99Segunda División B330——3301999–2000Segunda División B320——320Total700——700Basconia1997–98Tercera División310——310Athletic Bilbao2000–01La Liga2040—602001–02La Liga8080—1602002–03La Liga25020—2702003–04La Liga34000—3402004–05La Liga37010404202005–06La Liga18020002002006–07La Liga28000—2802007–08La Liga10060—160Total1620230401890Deportivo La Coruña2008–09La Liga370001004702009–10La Liga36000—3602010–11La Liga32100—3212011–12Segunda División38000—3802012–13La Liga35000—350Total1781001001881Atlético Madrid2013–14La Liga10301050Career total44212601504831
Honours
Basconia Tercera División: 1997–98
Deportivo Segunda División: 2011–12
Atlético Madrid La Liga: 2013–14 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14
Spain U20 FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999
Spain U23 Summer Olympics silver medal: 2000
References
External links
Deportivo official profile