Iban Zubiaurre - Football Career

Football Career

After making his Real Sociedad first-team debuts during 2004–05, Zubiaurre achieved notoriety as a result of a lawsuit in which his first club prevented him from playing for Athletic de Bilbao for 14 months, due to an alleged illegality in his transference between the two Basque clubs.

Zubiaurre, who represented Real Sociedad at youth level, was 'presented' as new Athletic Bilbao player in 2005 by then club president Fernando Lamikiz, despite still being under contract. He had no permission to rescind his contract, which had a year left to run and a buy-out clause of €33 million. Real Sociedad insisted that Athletic pay the entire amount and, during the subsequent legal battle, the player was not entitled to play professional football; SCD Durango, a regional club, asked permission to field him, but were denied.

15 months after the lawsuit began, a judge ruled that Athletic had to pay Real Sociedad €5 million, and were granted permission to field Zubiaurre for the 2006–07 season. He was presented for a second time at San Mamés Stadium on 16 November 2006, and was given the number 12 shirt.

On 11 February 2007, Zubiaurre played his first La Liga match for Athletic against Atlético de Madrid, as a substitute in a 0–1 away defeat. That was to be his only game of the season, in which his team avoided relegation on the very last matchday.

In 2007–08 Zubiaurre also only appeared once, in an 31 October 2007 loss at Getafe CF (0–2). After almost two years in the sidelines, he left the side to gain more playing time, joining second division outfit Elche CF, on a season-long loan.

Returned to Athletic for 2009–10, Zubiaurre's season input consisted of 15 minutes against FK Austria Wien (3–0 win at home), for the UEFA Europa League group stage. In July 2010 another loan ensued, also in the second level, as he joined Albacete Balompié.

Zubiaurre was deemed surplus to requirements at Athletic in 2011–12 after the appointment of manager Marcelo Bielsa, alongside teammates Koikili and Aitor Ocio. He remained with the team however.