Mikel Labaka

Mikel Labaka

Labaka in action for Real Sociedad in 2011
Personal information
Full name Mikel Labaka Zurriarain
Date of birth (1980-08-10) 10 August 1980
Place of birth Azpeitia, Spain
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre back
Youth career
1996–1997 Lagun Onak
1997–1999 Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1999–2002 Real Sociedad B 106 (8)
2002–2011 Real Sociedad 173 (10)
2002–2003 → Real Unión (loan) 35 (1)
2003–2004 → Ciudad Murcia (loan) 26 (2)
2011–2013 Rayo Vallecano 23 (1)
Total 363 (22)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Labaka and the second or maternal family name is Zurriarain.

Mikel Labaka Zurriarain (born 10 August 1980) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

He amassed La Liga totals of 111 games and five goals over the course of six seasons, representing in the competition Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano. He added 111/8 in Segunda División, in a 14-year professional career.

Football career

Born in Azpeitia, Basque Country, Labaka reached Real Sociedad's youth system at the age of 17. After playing three years with the reserves he made his professional debuts with Real Unión (Segunda División B) and Ciudad de Murcia (Segunda División), spending one season with each club on loan.

On 24 October 2004 Labaka made his first-team – and La Liga – debut with Real Sociedad, in a 2–1 home win against RCD Mallorca, and finished his first season with 30 games and three goals as the Txuriurdin finished in 14th position; he only appeared in 11 league matches in 2006–07 as the club suffered relegation for the first time in 40 years, but regained first-choice status in the following campaigns.

In August 2011, 31-year-old Labaka was deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Philippe Montanier, and left Real to sign for Rayo Vallecano, freshly promoted to the top level. He retired in June 2013, after two seasons as a backup.

External links

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