Luis Arconada

Luis Arconada
Arconada in 2019
Personal information
Full name Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri
Date of birth (1954-06-26) 26 June 1954 (age 72)
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
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)
International career
1972 Spain U18 4 (0)
1976 Spain amateur 2 (0)
1977–1985 Spain 68 (0)
1979 Basque Country 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up1984 France
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri (born 26 June 1954) is a Spanish former professional 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.

Club career

Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa. Aged 16, he joined local giants Real Sociedad's youth ranks, going on to play his entire career there 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, Arconada fumbled a cross from Billy Hamilton of Northern Ireland, dropping the ball for Gerry Armstrong to score the only goal in Valencia and help his team to win the group. The action was subsequently immortalised by Northern Irish fans, leading to the "Arconada...Armstrong!" fanzine, so-named due to John Motson's live commentary in the match.

At the 1984 European Championships, Arconada's blunder resulted in the opening goal for hosts France in a 2–0 final loss: he appeared to have smothered a free kick from Michel Platini under his chest in a diving save, but the ball 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. He was also part of the squad at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, being 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 Segunda División B. For a few months in early 2006, he coached Real Sociedad's first team.

In 1992, Arconada became part of the board of directors at the Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles.

Honours

Real Sociedad

Spain

Individual

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Luis Arconada Echarri". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Snap shot: Arconada agony, France ecstasy". UEFA. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Arconada" [Real Sociedad legends – Arconada]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Luis Miguel Arconada Echarri – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
  5. ↑ Sanmartín C., Xabier (17 July 2010). "Pulpo eres, en 'polbo' te convertirás... y así te mueves" [Octopus you are, 'polbo' you shall become... and so you go]. El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Arconada, nuevo numero uno del fútbol español" [Arconada, new number one of Spanish football]. El País (in Spanish). 22 March 1980. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Villameriel, Ignacio (27 June 2024). "Arconada y los 37 cumpleaños de 48 horas" [Arconada and the 48-hour 37th birthdays]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Erkizia, Oier (20 April 2020). "El robo de Hamburgo cumple 37 años" [37th anniversary of the Hamburg robbery]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 Reizabal, Gorka (29 January 1986). "Arconada vuelve a los entrenamientos" [Arconada returns to training]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  10. ↑ Belastegui, Iñigo (21 March 2018). "Luis Arconada: "Este premio, 30 años después, es muy bonito"" [Luis Arconada: "This award, 30 years later, is quite beautiful"]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  11. 1 2 Icigar, Santiago (21 June 2013). "Luis Arconada: un cancerbero de leyenda para el recuerdo" [Luis Arconada: a legendary goalie for the ages] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  12. ↑ Ornat, Mario (26 June 2024). "La final de Platini y la "injusticia" con Arconada, vista 40 años después: "Le dije al árbitro que subiera a recoger la Copa"" [Platini's final and "being unfair" to Arconada, 40 years in the distance: "I told the referee to go lift the Cup himself"] (in Spanish). Relevo. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  13. ↑ De la Blanca, C. (9 July 2024). "El portero marcado por un error fatal" [The goalkeeper branded by a fatal mistake]. La Tribuna de Ciudad Real (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  14. ↑ Glynn, Niall (26 November 2022). "World Cup: How Northern Ireland caused a shock at Spain 1982". BBC News. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  15. ↑ Dabbs, Ryan (13 May 2023). "Gerry Armstrong's 1982 World Cup goal for Northern Ireland broke political barriers and Spanish hearts". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  16. ↑ Beacom, Steven (24 June 2022). ""Arconada… Armstrong!" How John Motson's call of 1982 World Cup heroics went down in Northern Ireland folklore". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  17. ↑ "Arconada...Armstrong!". YouTube. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Platini fires hosts France to EURO 1984 final glory against Spain". UEFA. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  19. ↑ Mentruit, Imma (13 April 2016). "1984: Los 'bleus' se coronan tras el error de Arconada" [1984: 'Bleus' crowned after Arconada's mistake]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  20. 1 2 Spinella, Vanni (6 June 2016). "EuroStorie: 1984, la "papera" di Arconada" [EuroStories: 1984, Arconada's "error"] (in Italian). Sky Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  21. ↑ Villalobos, Fran (7 June 2016). "France 1984: Platini the hero, Arconada the villain". Marca. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  22. ↑ Pérez de Rozas, Emilio (1 May 1985). "Gales, espectacular y potente, goleó a España" [Gales, spectacular and powerful, routed Spain]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "Arconada alucinó con el gesto de Palop" [Arconada went crazy with Palop's gesture]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 2 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "One gold, three silvers and 104 years of Spanish Olympic football". Royal Spanish Football Federation. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  25. ↑ Rodríguez, Alfredo (24 March 2015). "Casillas carrying the torch for his fellow keepers". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  26. ↑ Brown, Lucas (28 March 2007). "Spanish legends salute Casillas". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  27. ↑ "Real Sociedad '81: la Liga conquistata allo scadere" [Real Sociedad '81: the League captured in the final minutes] (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. 13 December 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  28. ↑ Clements, Chris (23 July 2012). "Spotlight Season: The Basque conquest of La Liga begins – 1980/81". El Centrocampista. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  29. ↑ Balagué, Guillem (5 February 2010). "Casillas names his top ten No1s". UEFA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  30. ↑ Ruiz, Marco (13 December 2017). "Manuel Almunia: "Kepa is good with his feet, like Luis Arconada"". Diario AS. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  31. ↑ "Luis Arconada saludó a Gonzalo sobre el césped" [Luis Arconada greeted Gonzalo on the pitch]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 14 October 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  32. ↑ Sanz, Elena (12 December 2009). "Arconada, el portero que cogió el tren empresarial tras colgar los guantes" [Arconada, the goalkeeper who jumped the entrepreneur train after hanging up his gloves]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  33. ↑ "Todos los porteros que se quedaron con el Premio Zamora" [All the goalkeepers that got the Zamora Trophy] (in Spanish). Goal. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  34. ↑ Mir, José (22 May 1980). "El equipo ideal del fútbol español" [The Spanish football's all-star team]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  35. ↑ Mir, José (4 May 1982). "El equipo ideal del fútbol español" [The Spanish football's all-star team]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  36. ↑ "Clasificación por puestos" [Ranking by positions]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 24 May 1988. Retrieved 12 November 2024.