Mikel_Oyarzabal

Mikel Oyarzabal

Mikel Oyarzabal

Spanish footballer (born 1997)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Oyarzabal and the second or maternal family name is Ugarte.

Mikel Oyarzabal Ugarte (born 21 April 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger or forward for La Liga club Real Sociedad, which he captains, and the Spain national team.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

He has spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, making over 300 appearances and scoring over 90 goals. He won the 2020 Copa del Rey with the club, scoring in the final.

Oyarzabal made his full debut for the Spain national team in 2016, representing the side at UEFA Euro 2020.

Club career

Born in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, Oyarzabal joined Real Sociedad's youth setup in 2011, aged 14.[2] While still a junior, he made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 November 2014, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 away win against SD Amorebieta in the Segunda División B.[3]

On 20 September 2015, Oyarzabal scored his first senior goals, scoring twice in a 5–0 away rout of CD Mensajero.[4] He made his first-team and La Liga debut on 25 October, replacing Carlos Vela in the dying minutes of a 4–0 victory at Levante UD.[5]

Oyarzabal scored his first goal for Real Sociedad on 8 February 2016 in a 5–0 away win over RCD Espanyol.[6] Six days later, shortly after having extended his contract until 2021,[7] he scored two goals to help defeat Granada CF 3–0 at the Anoeta Stadium.[8]

Oyarzabal with Real Sociedad, 2018

On 19 August 2016, Oyarzabal again renewed his contract until 2022.[9] He featured in all 38 league matches over the season,[10] as the San Sebastián-based team came sixth and returned to the UEFA Europa League after a two-year absence.

Oyarzabal made his European debut on 19 October 2017, scoring in a 6–0 thrashing of Macedonia's FK Vardar in the Europa League group stage;[11] his team made it to the last 32, with him scoring an own goal in a 4–3 aggregate loss to FC Red Bull Salzburg.[12] On the domestic front he scored 12 goals,[13] including two in a 5–0 win against Girona FC on 8 April 2018.[14]

On 5 October 2018, Oyarzabal scored his first goals since May of that year, two penalties in a 3–1 away victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby.[15] Athletic Bilbao had tried to sign him in the summer transfer window, but he had rejected their approach in favour of signing a new contract with Real Sociedad to run until 2024.[16]

In the 2019–20 Copa del Rey, Oyarzabal scored a penalty in each leg of a 3–1 aggregate defeat of CD Mirandés as his team reached the final for the first time since 1988.[17] On 10 July that year, he achieved his 50th goal for the club in a 3–2 home defeat against Granada,[18] and on 3 October while still 23 he scored a penalty in his 200th match in a 3–0 win over Getafe CF.[19]

On 3 April 2021, Oyarzabal scored the only goal of the delayed 2020 Copa del Rey final, also through a penalty, to help Real Sociedad clinch their first in 34 years after beating Athletic Bilbao.[20][21] In March 2022 he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during a training session, potentially ruling him out for the rest of that year.[22] He returned on 31 December as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win over CA Osasuna,[23] and two weeks later scored his first goal since his recovery to conclude a 3–1 victory against Athletic at the same venue; it was his sixth goal (four from the spot) in 14 games against the rivals.[24]

International career

Spain

Oyarzabal with Spain under-18s

Oyarzabal represented Spain at under-18,[25] under-19 and under-21 levels.[26] On 17 May 2016, aged 19, he was called up to the full squad for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[27] Twelve days later, he replaced Nolito (who had scored) at the hour mark of the 3–1 win.[28]

On 10 June 2019, Oyarzabal scored his first goal, in a 3–0 victory over Sweden in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.[29] In May 2021, he was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for the finals.[30] As a late substitute, he scored the last goal of a 5–3 extra time win against Croatia in the last 16.[31] In the following round, he scored the last attempt of a penalty shootout defeat of Switzerland (1–1 after 120 minutes).[32]

Oyarzabal was also selected for the Olympic team due to compete in Tokyo in 2021.[33] He scored three times for the runners-up, including once in the 2–1 final loss to Brazil.[34]

In the 2021 UEFA Nations League final against France on 10 October, Oyarzabal scored the opening goal of the match, although Spain ultimately suffered a 2–1 defeat.[35]

Basque Country

Oyarzabal has also featured for the unofficial Basque national team, scoring on his debut to cap a 3–1 win over Tunisia at the San Mamés Stadium on 30 December 2016.[36]

Personal life

Oyarzabal combined his early professional career with studying for a Business degree at the University of Deusto.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 April 2024[37]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. Includes appearance and goal in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
  3. Appearance(s) in Supercopa de España
  4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

    International

    As of match played 26 March 2024[38]
    More information National team, Year ...
    As of match played 16 November 2023. Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Oyarzabal goal.[38]
    More information No., Date ...

    Honours

    Real Sociedad

    Spain U21

    Spain U23

    Spain

    Individual

    References

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      "Mikel Oyarzabal Ugarte". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
    2. [2]
      Vicente, Álvaro (1 June 2015). "Oiarzabal pide sitio en el primer equipo" [Oiarzabal asks for a place in the first team]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 October 2015.
    3. [3]
      "Gran triunfo del Sanse en Amorebieta (2–3)" [Great win from Sanse in Amorebieta (2–3)] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
    4. [4]
      "El Sanse lo borda en La Palma (0–5)" [Sanse excel in La Palma (0–5)] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
    5. [5]
      Ballesteros, Cristian (25 October 2015). "La Real coge aire y deja tocado a Alcaraz" [Real take a breather and leave Alcaraz hurting]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 October 2015.
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      "Vela and Reyes score in Real Sociedad win". Goal. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.[permanent dead link]
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      "Mikel Oyarzabal signs new deal with Real Sociedad". ESPN FC. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
    8. [8]
      "Mikel Oyarzabal double helps Real Sociedad see off Granada". ESPN FC. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
    9. [9]
      "Agreement to renew Mikel Oyarzabal's contract". Real Sociedad. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
    10. [10]
      Erkizia, Oier (3 July 2017). "Del Europeo a la biblioteca" [From the European championships to the library]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    11. [11]
      G. Gil, Aimara (19 October 2017). "Vardar 0 Real Sociedad 6: resumen, resultado y goles" [Vardar 0 Real Sociedad 6: report, result and goals]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 July 2018.
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      Mayo, Marc (15 February 2018). "Salzburg battle to draw at Real Sociedad". Marca. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
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      "Oyarzabal, de récord" [Record-man Oyarzabal] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
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      Barlow, Ruairidh (17 March 2022). "Mikel Oyarzabal's World Cup hopes in doubt after serious injury". Football España. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
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      Badallo, Óscar (31 December 2022). "Mikel Oyarzabal regresa 293 días después" [Mikel Oyarzabal returns 293 days later]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2023.
    24. [24]
      Ramajo, Roberto (15 January 2023). "El día en que Oyarzabal volvió a ver puerta tras la larga lesión" [The day that Oyarzabal got on the scoresheet again after a long injury]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 March 2023.
    25. [25]
      "Oyarzabal and Zubeldia with Spain's Under-18". Real Sociedad. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    26. [26]
      "Mikel Oyarzabal, with Spain's Under-19s". Real Sociedad. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    27. [27]
      "Mikel Oyarzabal called by Spain's senior side". Real Sociedad. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    28. [28]
      Campos, Tomás (29 May 2016). "Nolito endulza un duelo atípico" [Nolito sweetens an atypical duel]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2016.
    29. [29]
      "Spain 3–0 Sweden". BBC Sport. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
    30. [30]
      Westwood, James (25 May 2021). "Real Madrid captain Ramos left out of Spain squad for Euro 2020 but Laporte included after France switch". Goal. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
    31. [31]
      Sanders, Emma (28 June 2021). "Croatia 3–5 Spain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
    32. [32]
      "Euro 2020 Switzerland v Spain: Watch Mikel Oyarzabal's winning penalty as Spain beat Switzerland". BBC Sport. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
    33. [33]
      "Spain names six from Euro squad to Olympic roster". Sports Illustrated. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
    34. [34]
      Johnson, Jonathan (7 August 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Brazil defend gold medal, down Spain in extra time of men's soccer final". CBS Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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      "Mbappe, Benzema lead France over Spain in Nations League final". ESPN. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
    36. [36]
      Cuenca, Nika (30 December 2016). "Euskadi gana a Túnez, pero la afición muestra su desánimo" [Basque Country win against Tunisia, but the fans show their disapproval]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 July 2018.
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      "Mikel Oyarzabal". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
    38. [38]
      "Mikel Oyarzabal". European Football. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
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      "Mikel Oyarzabal named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for October". La Liga. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
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