Bittor Alkiza

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bittor Alkiza

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Bittor Alkiza Fernández

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|10|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = San Sebastián, Spain

| height = 1.69 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Mallorca (assistant)

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Real Sociedad

| years1 = 1989–1991 | clubs1 = San Sebastián | caps1 = 60 | goals1 = 10

| years2 = 1991–1994 | clubs2 = Real Sociedad | caps2 = 92 | goals2 = 11

| years3 = 1994–2003 | clubs3 = Athletic Bilbao | caps3 = 287 | goals3 = 8

| years4 = 2003–2005 | clubs4 = Real Sociedad | caps4 = 38 | goals4 = 0

| totalcaps = 477 | totalgoals = 29

| nationalyears1 = 1990 | nationalteam1 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 1990 | nationalteam2 = Spain U20 | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1998 | nationalteam3 = Spain | nationalcaps3 = 3 | nationalgoals3 = 1

| nationalyears4 = 1993–2002 | nationalteam4 = Basque Country | nationalcaps4 = 9 | nationalgoals4 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs1 = Real Sociedad (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2015–2018 | managerclubs2 = Numancia (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 2018–2024 | managerclubs3 = Osasuna (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2024– | managerclubs4 = Mallorca (assistant)

}}

Bittor Alkiza Fernández (born 26 October 1970) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played for both Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao as a midfielder.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.20minutos.es/quefuede/2009/08/17/quao-fue-de-alkiza/|title=Qué fue de… Alkiza|trans-title=What happened to… Alkiza|newspaper=20 minutos|first=Edu|last=Casado|language=Spanish|date=17 August 2009|accessdate=24 May 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/05/09/album-02/1399644404_476184.html|title=Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: jugadores en los dos bandos|trans-title=Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: players on both sides|newspaper=Diario AS|language=Spanish|date=9 May 2014|accessdate=13 July 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828143148/https://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/05/09/album-02/1399644404_476184.html|archive-date=28 August 2017}}

He amassed La Liga totals of 417 games and 19 goals over 14 seasons, and was also a Spain international in the late 90s.

Club career

Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Alkiza made his professional debut with local giants Real Sociedad, being promoted to the first team at only 20 and making 105 official appearances in his first three seasons. After an aborted transfer to Real Madrid, he eventually moved to Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao in 1994, for 220 million pesetas.{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-12-01/athletic-pagado-casi-millones-20101201.html|title=El Athletic ha pagado casi 15 millones a la Real en 21 años|trans-title=Athletic have paid almost 15 million to Real in 21 years|newspaper=El Correo|first=Juan Manuel|last=Mallo|language=Spanish|date=1 December 2010|accessdate=16 December 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/201507/02/otros-realistas-acabaron-athletic-20150702131210.html|title=Los otros realistas que acabaron en el Athletic|trans-title=The other realistas who ended up at Athletic|newspaper=El Correo|language=Spanish|date=2 July 2015|accessdate=16 December 2017}}

Alkiza was also first choice at the San Mamés Stadium, not scoring so often as the attacking duties in midfield were more often than not the task of future club great Julen Guerrero. In the 1997–98 campaign, he only missed one La Liga game – 3,146 minutes of action – as the side finished in second place and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. In the latter competition, even though Athletic ranked last in their group, they did draw 0–0 at home against Juventus FC, the finalists of the previous three editions, with him playing the full 90 minutes.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1998/10/22/pagina-16/405208/pdf.html|title=El Athletic hace más méritos|trans-title=Athletic deserved more|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Ramón|last=Suso|language=Spanish|date=22 October 1998|accessdate=23 October 2012}}

In summer 2003, after 328 competitive matches,{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2005/05/25/liga/1117039433.html|title=Alkiza deja el fútbol a final de temporada con 34 años|trans-title=Alkiza quits football at the end of the season at the age of 34|newspaper=El Mundo|language=Spanish|date=25 May 2005|accessdate=14 November 2020}} Alkiza returned to Real Sociedad who were due taking part in the season's Champions League.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2003/07/04/pagina-5/537985/pdf.html|title=Una década de operación renove|trans-title=One decade of Extreme Makeover|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=José Luis|last=Lorenzo|language=Spanish|date=4 July 2003|accessdate=14 November 2020}} At 33 his debut campaign was satisfactory, but he eventually retired from the game after not being able to heal a degenerative injury from early seasons.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2005/06/01/pagina-6/1350978/pdf.html|title='Makila' también para Karpin y Alkiza|trans-title='Makila' for Karpin and Alkiza as well|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=Spanish|date=1 June 2005|accessdate=23 October 2012}}

Alkiza later rejoined his last professional club, being charged with Real Sociedad's youth teams.{{cite news|url=http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/bittor-alkiza-sera-director-formacion/20110628dasdaiftb_18/Tes|title=Bittor Alkiza será director de formación hasta 2013|trans-title=Bittor Alkiza will be youth system coordinator until 2013|newspaper=Diario AS|language=Spanish|date=28 June 2011|accessdate=24 May 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20111001/athletic-bilbao/loren-para-urrutia-el-derbi-era-el-partido-mas-importante_54223626396.html|title=Loren: "Para Urrutia el derbi era el partido más importante"|trans-title=Loren: "To Urrutia the derby was the most important game"|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Xabier|last=Isasa|language=Spanish|date=1 October 2011|accessdate=13 November 2011}} He later worked as assistant to Jagoba Arrasate at that side,{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2013/06/10/primera/1370895798_194100.html|title=Lumbreras y Alkiza, ayudantes de Arrasate en la Real Sociedad|trans-title=Lumbreras and Alkiza, Arrasate assistants at Real Sociedad|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Roberto|last=Ramajo|language=Spanish|date=10 June 2013|accessdate=28 May 2024}} CD Numancia,{{cite news|url=https://www.noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus/reala/2015/06/13/jagoba-arrasate-ficha-numancia-4146309.html|title=Jagoba Arrasate ficha por el Numancia|trans-title=Jagoba Arrasate signs for Numancia|newspaper=Noticias de Gipuzkoa|language=Spanish|date=13 June 2015|accessdate=28 May 2024}} CA Osasuna{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/osasuna/2018/06/27/alkiza-osasuna-hay-sentimiento-fuerte-ayudar-598729-1027.html|title=Alkiza: "En Osasuna hay un sentimiento muy fuerte que nos va a ayudar"|trans-title=Alkiza: "There's a very strong feeling at Osasuna that's going to help us"|newspaper=Diario de Navarra|language=Spanish|date=27 June 2018|accessdate=28 May 2024}} and RCD Mallorca.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/mallorca/2024/05/27/66543d1ee2704ef47a8b45a2.html|title=Los motivos por los que Arrasate apuesta por el Mallorca: paz institucional y proyecto deportivo|trans-title=The reasons why Arrasate bets on Mallorca: institutional peace and sporting project|newspaper=Marca|first=Juan Miguel|last=Sánchez|language=Spanish|date=27 May 2024|accessdate=28 May 2024}}

International career

Alkiza played three times for Spain in a two-month span. His debut came on 23 September 1998 in a friendly with Russia, in Granada: he scored the match's only goal, netting from outside the area.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1998/09/24/pagina-2/406292/pdf.html|title=Camacho debuta con épica|trans-title=Camacho has epic debut|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Jesús|last=Galindo|language=Spanish|date=24 September 1998|accessdate=23 October 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1998/09/24/pagina-5/406295/pdf.html|title=Alkiza: "Me he sentido a gusto en el campo"|trans-title=Alkiza: "I felt comfortable on the pitch"|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Nicasio|last=García|language=Spanish|date=24 September 1998|accessdate=23 October 2012}}

=International goal=

:Score and result list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Alkiza goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ International goal scored by Bittor Alkiza
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1	23 September 1998	Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain	{{fb\|RUS}}	align="center"\|1–0	align="center"\|1–0	Friendly

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ International goal scored by Bittor Alkiza

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

23 September 1998

Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain

align="center"|1–0

Friendly

Style of play

Although his natural position was that of left midfielder, Alkiza could also play as a central one. He had a more than remarkable technique and a powerful mid-range shot coming in second line, combined with good passing and tackling abilities.

Personal life

Alkiza's father, Iñaki, also played for some years with Real Sociedad, later serving as the club's president.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2003/07/02/pagina-5/543592/pdf.html|title=Su padre ha sido el último en enterarse|trans-title=His father was last to know|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=José Luis|last=Lorenzo|language=Spanish|date=2 July 2003|accessdate=14 November 2020}} He was also a relatively important local politician.{{cite news|url=http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/noticias/201504/27/anoeta-tuvimos-pasar-porque-201504270624.html|title=Iñaki Alkiza: "Con Anoeta tuvimos que pasar por el aro, porque era eso o nada"|trans-title=Iñaki Alkiza: "We had to go through the hoop with Anoeta, it was either that or nothing"|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|first=Tito|last=Irazusta|language=Spanish|date=27 April 2015|accessdate=24 May 2016}}

He broke the "curse" that stated that players from Real would never succeed at Athletic (Loren, Luciano Iturrino or David Villabona).{{cite news|url=http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/noticias/201509/11/illarramendi-201509110809.html|title=Illarramendi no es el primero que vuelve a la Real Sociedad|trans-title=Illarramendi is not the first to return to Real Sociedad|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|first=Oier|last=Erkizia|language=Spanish|date=11 September 2015|accessdate=24 May 2016}}

Coach Javier Irureta, who managed him at Athletic in 1994–95, said of Alkiza: "I guarantee that if you pass him the ball he will not return a melon".{{cite news|url=http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/noticias/2010-02-06/pasas-balon-devolvera-melon-20100206.html|title="Si le pasas el balón no te devolverá un melón"|trans-title="If you pass him the ball he will not return a melon"|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|language=Spanish|date=6 February 2010|accessdate=24 May 2016}}