Periko Alonso

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Periko Alonso

| image = Periko Alonso.jpg

| image_size = 180px

| caption = Alonso in 1981

| full_name = Miguel Ángel Alonso Oyarbide{{cite web|url=https://www.realsociedad.eus/en/historical-file/player/26|title=Miguel Ángel Alonso Oyarbide|publisher=Real Sociedad|access-date=14 April 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|2|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tolosa, Spain

| height = 1.76 m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Tolosa

| years1 = 1974–1977 | clubs1 = San Sebastián | caps1 = 86 | goals1 = 40

| years2 = 1977–1982 | clubs2 = Real Sociedad | caps2 = 152 | goals2 = 25

| years3 = 1982–1985 | clubs3 = Barcelona | caps3 = 54 | goals3 = 5

| years4 = 1985–1988 | clubs4 = Sabadell | caps4 = 103 | goals4 = 17

| totalcaps = 395 | totalgoals = 87

| nationalyears1 = 1981 | nationalteam1 = Spain B | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 1980–1982 | nationalteam2 = Spain | nationalcaps2 = 20 | nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 1979 | nationalteam3 = Basque Country | nationalcaps3 = 1 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1988–1989 | managerclubs1 = Tolosa

| manageryears2 = 1989–1992 | managerclubs2 = San Sebastián

| manageryears3 = 1993–1995 | managerclubs3 = Beasain

| manageryears4 = 1995–1998 | managerclubs4 = Eibar

| manageryears5 = 1998–1999 | managerclubs5 = Hércules

| manageryears6 = 2000 | managerclubs6 = Real Sociedad

}}

Miguel Ángel 'Periko' Alonso Oyarbide (born 1 February 1953) is a Spanish former football midfielder. He was also a manager.

He played mainly for Real Sociedad (five years) and Barcelona (three) in his professional career, achieving La Liga totals of 273 matches and 42 goals in ten seasons.{{cite news|url=http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/leyendas/periko-alonso.html|title=Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Periko Alonso|trans-title=Real Sociedad legends – Periko Alonso|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|language=es|access-date=25 April 2017}}

A Spanish international for two years, Alonso represented the country at the 1982 World Cup.

Playing career

Born in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, Alonso played professionally for Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Sabadell. With the first, he was instrumental in back-to-back La Liga conquests (averaging 32 games and five goals in those seasons and not starting only once), and won 19 of his 20 caps for Spain in the process; his debut came on 24 September 1980 in a friendly with Hungary (2–2), in Budapest.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1980/09/25/pagina-2/1056979/pdf.html|title=2–2: Empate justo en partido versallesco|trans-title=2–2: Fair draw in versaillescque match|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=J. J.|last=Castillo|language=es|date=25 September 1980|access-date=29 January 2018}}

In 1982–83, having retired from the national team following the unsuccessful home World Cup campaign, Alonso joined Barcelona,{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1982/05/25/deportes/391125612_850215.html|title=A 'Perico' Alonso le llegó un poco tarde la fama|trans-title=Fame came to 'Perico' Alonso a little late|newspaper=El País|first=Ignacio|last=Alonso|language=es|date=25 May 1982|access-date=29 January 2018}} being used relatively little during most of his spell. He won the league in his final year, but only appeared twice, eventually retiring in 1988 with Barça neighbours Sabadell, helping the club achieve promotion from Segunda División in his first season and scoring 12 goals – a career-best – in his second, as the modest Catalans ranked 17th after the first 34 matches, but eventually managed to avoid a drop after finishing third in their relegation group in the second stage.{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/2016/01/26/real-sociedad/596899-periko-alonso-el-exito-tardio.html|title=Periko Alonso, el éxito tardío|trans-title=Periko Alonso, a late success|publisher=Vavel|first=Giovanni|last=Batista Rodríguez|language=es|date=26 January 2016|access-date=9 August 2019}}

=International goals=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"

! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

18 November 1981

Stadion ŁKS, Łódź, Poland

2–3

Friendly{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1981/11/19/MD19811119-003.pdf|title=2–3: España remontó a Polonia en un final alucinante|trans-title=2–3: Spain came back from behind against Poland in mind-blowing finale|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Gzregorz|last=Stanski|language=es|date=19 November 1981|access-date=30 May 2016}}

Coaching career

Alonso started working as a manager immediately after retiring, mainly in the Basque Country. In 2000, after an unsuccessful spell at Hércules (second division, relegation),{{cite news|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140531/futbol/hercules-desciende-a-segunda-b-por-tercera-vez-en-su-historia_54408556645.html|title=Hércules desciende a Segunda B por tercera vez en su historia|trans-title=Hércules relegated to Segunda B for the third time in their history|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=31 May 2014|access-date=22 May 2024}} he had a chance to coach Real Sociedad but only lasted ten games, retiring from the sport subsequently.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/12/23/deportes/977526002_850215.html|title=Periko Alonso abandona la Real Sociedad y el oficio de entrenador|trans-title=Periko Alonso quits Real Sociedad and coaching|newspaper=El País|first=Eduardo|last=Ortiz de Arri|language=es|date=23 December 2000|access-date=9 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2009/08/21/deportes/1250810889_850215.html|title=Que fue del... Periko Alonso|trans-title=What happened to... Periko Alonso|publisher=Cadena SER|first=Virginia|last=Griñán|language=es|date=20 August 2009|access-date=22 May 2024}}

Personal life

Alonso's sons, Mikel and Xabi, were also footballers and midfielders. Both followed in their father's footsteps representing Real Sociedad, and the latter also played with great success for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the Spain national team.{{cite news|url=http://www.publico.es/deportes/247572/el-pasado-azulgrana-de-alonso|title=El pasado azulgrana de Alonso|trans-title=Alonso's azulgrana past|newspaper=Público|first=Alfredo|last=Varona|language=es|date=2 September 2009|access-date=30 July 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.diariovasco.com/v/20100227/deportes/mas-futbol/mikel-versus-xabi-tenerife-20100227.html|title=Mikel versus Xabi en Tenerife|trans-title=Mikel versus Xabi in Tenerife|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|first=Jon|last=Astrain|language=es|date=27 February 2010|access-date=30 July 2012}}

Honours

Real Sociedad

La Liga: 1980–81, 1981–82

Barcelona

La Liga: 1984–85
Copa del Rey: 1982–83
Supercopa de España: 1983
Copa de la Liga: 1983{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanleagcuphist.html|title=Spain – List of League Cup Finals 1983–1986|publisher=RSSSF|first=Raúl|last=Torre|access-date=22 May 2024}}