Luis Arconada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Luis Arconada

Arconada in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri
Date of birth	(1954-06-26) 26 June 1954 (age 70)
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 Representing  Spain UEFA European Championship Runner-up 1984 France
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri (born 26 June 1954) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played only for Real Sociedad for nearly 20 years, and helped the club to four titles including two La Liga championships. Arconada collected 68 caps for Spain over eight years, and was part of the squads at two World Cups and two European Championships.

Arconada has served for the Board of Directors of the big industrial company of his home region Gipuzkoa, CAF, since 1992.

Club career

Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa. Aged 16, he joined local giants Real Sociedad's youth ranks, going on to play there his entire career and being known as "El pulpo" (Octopus in English). After two seasons backing up Urruti and the older Pedro Artola, Arconada became the club's undisputed starter by 1976. He was instrumental in consecutive La Liga titles, which led – after the second – to a semi-final run in the European Cup.

Arconada was seriously injured in 1985–86's league opener, which caused him to miss the remainder of the campaign and the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He still returned strong for three more seasons, helping Real Sociedad to two consecutive Copa del Rey finals before retiring at 35 with a total of 414 appearances (551 overall); after that, he remained apart from the football world.

International career

On 27 March 1977, Arconada played his first game for Spain, a 1–1 friendly with Hungary in Alicante, replacing Real Madrid's Miguel Ángel for the second half. Having captained the nation on many occasions, he represented it at the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cups as well as at UEFA Euro 1980 and 1984. In the 1982 World Cup, during a match in Valencia on 25th June, he fumbled a cross from Northern Ireland's Billy Hamilton, dropping the ball for Gerry Armstrong to score what was to be the winning goal for Northern Ireland. As a result, Northern Ireland won the group, although Spain did still go through in second place. The goal has been immortalised by Northern Ireland fans ever since. This has led to a Northern Ireland fanzine with the name "Arconada...Armstrong!", which is so-named due to John Motson's commentary on the goal. The fanzine is available to view online, on their Facebook page and in printed editions from 1992 to 2016. In the 1984 European Championships, his blunder resulted in the opening goal for hosts France in a 2–0 final defeat: he appeared to have smothered a free kick from Michel Platini under his chest in a diving save, but he fumbled the ball, which slid off under his body and rolled slowly into the net; despite his reputation as a world-class goalkeeper, several years later he was still widely remembered for the error, known as "Arconada's goal" in Spain.

Arconada's last game was a 3–0 defeat in Wales for the 1986 World Cup qualifiers. A severe cruciate ligament injury while playing for Real ousted him from the final stages, being replaced by fellow Basque Andoni Zubizarreta.

During the ceremony following Spain's victory in Euro 2008, third choice Andrés Palop wore Arconada's original Euro 84 final shirt as he received the gold medal from Platini, now president of UEFA. Arconada also represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where Spain was eliminated in the first round.

Style of play

Arconada was known for his leadership, bravery and consistency, and was regarded as one of the best Spanish goalkeepers of all time. His athleticism, speed, shot-stopping ability, reflexes, footwork and acrobatic style served as an inspiration to Iker Casillas.

In 2017, former goalkeeper Manuel Almunia also praised Arconada for his ability to produce saves with his feet.

Personal life

Arconada's younger brother, Gonzalo, never played professional football, but had an extensive coaching career, mainly in the third division. For a few months in early 2006, he coached Real Sociedad's first team.

Honours

Real Sociedad

• La Liga: 1980–81, 1981–82
• Copa del Rey: 1986–87; runner-up 1987–88
• Supercopa de España: 1982

Spain

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1984

Individual

• Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82

See also

In Spanish: Luis Miguel Arconada para niños

• List of La Liga players (400+ appearances)
• List of one-club men in association football
• List of Real Sociedad players