Andoni Elizondo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Andoni Elizondo

| image =

| fullname = Andoni Elizondo Mendiola

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|8|5|df=y}}

| birth_place = San Sebastián, Spain

| death_date = {{death date and age|1986|02|23|1932|8|5|df=y}}

| death_place = San Sebastián, Spain

| height =

| currentclub =

| position = Defender

| years1 = 1952–1964 | clubs1 = Real Sociedad | caps1 = 241 | goals1 =

| manageryears1 = 1966–1970 | managerclubs1 = Real Sociedad

| manageryears2 = 1971–1972 | managerclubs2 = Real Sociedad

| manageryears3 = 1974–1976 | managerclubs3 = Real Sociedad

| manageryears4 = 1979 | managerclubs4 = Basque Country

}}

Andoni Elizondo Mendiola (5 August 1932Date of birth is unclear as several sources indicate he was 52 years old when he died in 1986 - 23 February 1986[http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1986/02/24/MD19860224-016.pdf Fallecio Andoni Elizondo (Andoni Elizondo Died)]; El Mundo Deportivo, 24 February 1986 {{in lang|es}}[http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/noticias/2011-07-02/testamento-andoni-elizondo-20110702.html El testamento de Andoni Elizondo (Andoni Elizondo's will)]; El Diario Vasco, 2 July 2011 {{in lang|es}}) was a Spanish football defender and coach.

Playing career

A product of the academy system, he played for Real Sociedad between 1952 and 1964.[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j8207.html Elizondo as a player]; Bdfutbol.com His last two seasons were in the second level after suffering relegation in 1962. Elizondo played a total of 241 matches for Real Sociedad. He played a single game for his national team's B side in 1958 against Portugal.[http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1958/04/14/MD19580414-004.pdf Portugal(B),0-España(B),0]; El Mundo Deportivo, 13 April 1958 {{in lang|es}}

Coaching career

It was Elizondo himself who took Real Sociedad up in his first year in charge as a manager. Elizondo intermittently managed the club over the span of a decade that transformed the club. Under his reign Real Sociedad stabilized in the top division and played in the Uefa cup twice, in his last two seasons.[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/l/l8207.html Elizondo as a manager]; Bdfutbol.com This was the first time in the club's history it played in a European competition. He also took Real Sociedad to the semifinals of the Copa del Generalísimo twice, in 1969 and 1976. Elizondo coached the team for a total of 234 matches.

He was part of a managing team that in 1979 led the Basque Country in a friendly against Ireland.[http://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/16/deportes/303602404_850215.html Cuarenta años después, vuelve la selección de Euskadi (40 years later the Euskadi team is back)]; El País, 16 August 1979 {{in lang|es}}

His brother, Joseba, managed Real sociedad in 1961.[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/l/l8443.html Joseba Elizondo as a manager]; Bdfutbol.com