Gaizka Toquero

Early years

Toquero was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava. Following a brief youth spell at Real Sociedad, and three years with both reserve teams of Deportivo Alavés where he had also featured in his teens, he started playing professionally for SD Lemona in the 2006–07 season, later joining Basque neighbours Sestao River Club (both clubs were in the Segunda División B). While at Sestao, Athletic Bilbao showed interest in acquiring Toquero, who eventually signed in 2008. After not being part of Joaquín Caparrós' plans in pre-season, he was loaned to neighbouring SD Eibar greatly due to new manager Carlos Pouso, who had coached the player before.

Athletic Bilbao

After 15 matches in 2008–09's Segunda División, Toquero was recalled by Athletic on 4 January 2009, making his La Liga debut six days later by appearing as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 home draw against RCD Espanyol. He scored his first goal for the team on 4 March in a 3–0 home win in the Copa del Rey over Sevilla FC (4–2 on aggregate) which qualified them for the final; there, he opened the scoring, albeit in a 4–1 loss to FC Barcelona. A player with a tremendous workrate, Toquero was affectionately nicknamed Lehendakari, and grew into a top-division player in 2009–10. He started most of the campaign as an attacking complement to Fernando Llorente, and also found the net on several occasions, notably a double against Real Valladolid on 7 March 2010 in a 2–0 home victory. Toquero once again was a…

Toquero did not represent Spain at any level. He played seven matches for the Basque Country representative side, and scored twice in a 6–1 win over Bolivia at the Anoeta Stadium on 29 December 2012.

Athletic Bilbao

Copa del Rey runner-up: 2008–09, 2011–12 Supercopa de España runner-up: 2009 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2011–12 Alavés

Segunda División: 2015–16 Copa del Rey runner-up: 2016–17