Iban Zubiaurre

Zubiaurre was born in Mendaro, Gipuzkoa. After making his Real Sociedad first-team debut during the 2004–05 season, he achieved notoriety as a result of a lawsuit in which his first club prevented him from playing for Athletic Bilbao for 14 months, due to an alleged contractual dispute in his transfer between the two Basque sides. Zubiaurre, who represented Real Sociedad at youth level, was introduced as a new Athletic Bilbao player in 2005 by the latter's president Fernando Lamikiz, despite still being under contract. He was without the legal ability to terminate it, having a year left to run and a buyout clause of €33 million (the former had activated a one-season optional extension to the deal, while the latter asserted that he was a free agent). Real insisted that Athletic pay the entire amount, with the player not being allowed to play professional football during the subsequent legal battle; SCD Durango, a regional side, requested to field him but were denied permission. Fifteen 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 campaign. He was presented 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, appearing against Atlético Madrid as a substitute in a 1–0 away defeat. That was his only game of the season, in which his team avoided relegation…

Spain U19

UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2002