Place of birth Bilbao, Spain Name Rafael Alkorta 1978–1985 Athletic Bilbao Role Footballer | Years Team Height 1.78 m 1984–1987 Bilbao Athletic | |
 | ||
Full name Rafael Alkorta Martinez Date of birth (1968-09-16) 16 September 1968 (age 47) Similar People Joseba Etxeberria, Julen Guerrero, Julio Salinas, Jose Emilio Amavisca, Fernando Hierro | ||
La historia de rafael alkorta
Rafael Alkorta Martínez (born 16 September 1968) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a central defender.
Contents
- La historia de rafael alkorta
- Periodista Digital entrevista a Rafa Alkorta 13 de septiembre de 2011
- Club career
- International career
- Honours
- References
Having represented Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid during a 17-year professional career, he amassed La Liga totals of 370 games and eight goals, winning three major titles with the latter club.
Alkorta appeared in three World Cups with the Spanish national team, during the 1990s.
Periodista Digital entrevista a Rafa Alkorta - 13 de septiembre de 2011
Club career
Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Alkorta began playing as a child with local Athletic Club in 1978, and made his senior debut with the second team seven years later, making 40 appearances before being promoted by Howard Kendall to the senior side for the 1987–88 season, making his debut in a 0–1 away defeat against Real Valladolid on 24 October 1987. He subsequently played 172 La Liga games, and established himself as an outstanding man marker.
Alkorta attracted the attention of Real Madrid, for whom he signed in the 1993–94 campaign. At Real he formed a notable partnership with Fernando Hierro and, after more than 150 official appearances and two league titles, he returned to Athletic in 1997–98, helping the club finish second in the first season upon his return; he went on to feature regularly in the following years but, after only six matches in 2001–02, decided to retire from the game aged nearly 34.
International career
An international since 26 May 1990 (a 1–0 friendly away win with Yugoslavia), Alkorta gained 54 caps for Spain during the next eight years. He played in three FIFA World Cups – 1990, 1994 and 1998 – and UEFA Euro 1996, also representing the country at under-16, under-18 and under-21 levels.
In the first competition, in Italy, Alkorta played ten minutes in a 2–1 group stage win against Belgium, starting in a further 11 matches (ten complete) in the other senior tournaments combined.