What became of… Andoni Goikoetxea

Previously… Andoni Goikoetxea was a central defender who turned out for Athletic Club and Atlético Madrid during a career spanning 15 seasons. He spent the first 12 in Bilbao, before moving to the Vicente Calderón for the final three campaigns of his playing days. He made more than 300 appearances in the Liga BBVA, scoring 35 goals in the competition.

His achievements… Goikoetxea was a member of the last Athletic Club squad to lift a trophy. At San Mamés, he won two Liga BBVA titles (1982-83, 1983-84), one Copa del Rey (1983-84), beating FC Barcelona in the final, and one Spanish Super Cup (1984).

After hanging up his boots… He remained involved in the world of football after retiring, beginning a coaching career that saw him start out as assistant to Spain boss Javier Clemente at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. He then had spells as coach of as many as seven clubs (UD Salamanca, SD Compostela, CD Numancia, R. Racing C., Rayo Vallecano, Hércules CF and AD Ceuta) before taking charge of the Equatorial Guinea national team. He led the country to qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but his contract was not renewed on its expiry in December 2014.

Did you know… In the 1983-84 season, Goikoetxea had the honour of hitting the 500th goal scored by Spanish clubs in the European Cup, finding the net in Athletic’s 4-0 win over Lech Poznan.