Luis Arconada facts for kids
_(cropped).jpg)
Arconada in 2019
|
|||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 26 June 1954 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | San Sebastián, Spain | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m | ||||||||||||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||
| Lengokoak | |||||||||||||
| Real Sociedad | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||
| 1972–1974 | San Sebastián | 40 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 1974–1989 | Real Sociedad | 414 | (0) | ||||||||||
| Total | 454 | (0) | |||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||
| 1972 | Spain U18 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 1976 | Spain amateur | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 1977–1985 | Spain | 68 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 1979 | Basque Country | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||
|
Honours
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri (born 26 June 1954) is a Spanish retired footballer. He played as a goalkeeper.
He spent almost 20 years playing only for Real Sociedad. He helped his club win four titles, including two La Liga championships.
Arconada played 68 games for the Spanish national team over eight years. He was part of the squads for two World Cups and two European Championships.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Starting at Real Sociedad
Luis Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. When he was 16, he joined the youth teams of the local football giant, Real Sociedad. He played his entire professional career there. People often called him "El pulpo," which means "The Octopus" in English. This nickname came from his amazing saves, as if he had many arms.
Becoming a Star Goalkeeper
After two seasons as a backup player, Arconada became the main goalkeeper for Real Sociedad in 1976. He was very important when the team won two La Liga titles in a row. After their second win in 1982, they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. This is a big achievement for any club.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1985, Arconada got a serious injury during the first league game. This meant he missed the rest of that season and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. However, he came back strong and played for three more seasons. He helped Real Sociedad reach two Copa del Rey finals in a row. He retired at age 35, having played 414 league games and 551 games overall for the club. After retiring, he stayed away from the football world.
Playing for Spain
First Games and Major Tournaments
On 27 March 1977, Arconada played his first game for Spain. It was a friendly match against Hungary in Alicante. He often served as the team's captain. He played for Spain in the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups. He also played in UEFA Euro 1980 and 1984.
Memorable Moments in International Matches
During the 1982 World Cup, Arconada made a mistake. He fumbled a cross from Billy Hamilton of Northern Ireland. The ball slipped, and Gerry Armstrong scored the only goal. This helped Northern Ireland win the group. Fans in Northern Ireland even made a fanzine called "Arconada...Armstrong!" after the famous commentary.
At the 1984 European Championships, Arconada had another difficult moment. In the final against host nation France, he tried to save a free kick from Michel Platini. The ball went under his body and slowly rolled into the net. This goal was often remembered as "Arconada's goal" in Spain.
End of International Career
Arconada's last game for Spain was a 3–0 loss to Wales in a World Cup qualifier. A serious knee injury while playing for Real Sociedad stopped him from playing in the final stages of the 1986 World Cup. Another Basque goalkeeper, Andoni Zubizarreta, took his place.
Years later, during the celebration for Spain's victory in Euro 2008, goalkeeper Andrés Palop wore Arconada's original Euro 84 final shirt. He received his gold medal from Michel Platini, who was then the president of UEFA. Arconada also played for the Spanish amateur team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. His team was eliminated in the first round.
Playing Style
Arconada was known for his strong leadership, bravery, and consistent performance. Many people consider him one of the best Spanish goalkeepers ever. His amazing athleticism, speed, ability to stop shots, quick reflexes, and acrobatic style inspired many. One famous goalkeeper he inspired was Iker Casillas.
In 2017, former goalkeeper Manuel Almunia also praised Arconada. He highlighted Arconada's special skill in making saves with his feet.
Personal Life
Luis Arconada's younger brother, Gonzalo, never played professional football. However, he had a long career as a coach, mostly in the lower divisions. For a few months in 2006, he even coached Real Sociedad's first team.
In 1992, Luis Arconada joined the board of directors at Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, a large Spanish company.
Achievements
With Real Sociedad
- La Liga: 1980–81, 1981–82
- Copa del Rey: 1986–87; runner-up: 1987–88
- Supercopa de España: 1982
With Spain
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1984
Individual Awards
- Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82
- La Liga Team of The Year: 1979–80, 1981–82, 1987–88
See also
- List of La Liga players (400+ appearances)
- List of one-club men in association football
- List of Real Sociedad players
Images for kids
-
A robot for kids.
