Gaizka Toquero Pinedo
Encyclopedia
Gaizka Toquero Pinedo is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao
in La Liga
, mainly as a forward.
. After a brief youth spell at Real Sociedad
, and some seasons with both reserve teams of Deportivo Alavés
, he started playing professionally for SD Lemona
in 2006–07, later joining Basque
neighbours Sestao River Club
(both clubs were in the third division
).
While playing for Sestao, Athletic de Bilbao
showed interested in acquiring Toquero, whom eventually signed him in 2008. After not fitting coach Joaquín Caparrós
' plans to play for the rojiblancos, he was loaned to another Basque club, SD Eibar
, greatly due to new manager, Carlos Pouso, who had managed the player before.
After 15 matches in 2008–09's second level
, Toquero was re-called by Athletic on 1 January 2009, making his La Liga
debut six days later, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 home draw against RCD Espanyol
. He netted his first goal for the club on 4 March 2009, in a 3–0 Copa del Rey
home win against Sevilla FC
(4–2 on aggregate), which qualified Athletic to the final. There, he opened the score, albeit in a 1–4 loss to FC Barcelona
.
In 2009–10
, Toquero, blessed with few technical skills but a tremendous hard-worker, blossomed into a first division player. He started most of the campaign as an offensive complement to striker Fernando Llorente, and also found the net on several occasions (notably a double against Real Valladolid
on 7 March 2010, in a 2–0 home success).
Toquero once again was a regular starter for Athletic during the 2010–11 season
. On 30 January 2011, he opened his official goal account, scoring twice in a 2–0 away win against Atlético Madrid.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, mainly as a forward.
Club career
Toquero was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, ÁlavaÁlava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
. After a brief youth spell at Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, and some seasons with both reserve teams of Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, he started playing professionally for SD Lemona
SD Lemona
Sociedad Deportiva Lemona is a Spanish football team based in Lemoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1923, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 2, holding home matches at Estadio Arlonagusia, with a capacity of 5,000 seats....
in 2006–07, later joining Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
neighbours Sestao River Club
Sestao River Club
Sestao River Club is a Spanish football team based in Sestao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1996, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 2, holding home games at Estadio Las Llanas, with a capacity of 8,000 seats.-History:...
(both clubs were in the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
).
While playing for Sestao, Athletic de Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
showed interested in acquiring Toquero, whom eventually signed him in 2008. After not fitting coach Joaquín Caparrós
Joaquín Caparrós
Joaquín de Jesús Caparrós Camino is a Spanish football coach, currently in charge of RCD Mallorca.-Football career:Caparrós was born in Utrera, Province of Seville, Andalusia. After an obscure career as a player, he started coaching in his mid-20's, his first club being amateurs San José Obrero CF...
' plans to play for the rojiblancos, he was loaned to another Basque club, SD Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
, greatly due to new manager, Carlos Pouso, who had managed the player before.
After 15 matches in 2008–09's second level
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, Toquero was re-called by Athletic on 1 January 2009, making his La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut six days later, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 home draw against RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
. He netted his first goal for the club on 4 March 2009, in a 3–0 Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
home win against Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
(4–2 on aggregate), which qualified Athletic to the final. There, he opened the score, albeit in a 1–4 loss to FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
In 2009–10
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, Toquero, blessed with few technical skills but a tremendous hard-worker, blossomed into a first division player. He started most of the campaign as an offensive complement to striker Fernando Llorente, and also found the net on several occasions (notably a double against Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
on 7 March 2010, in a 2–0 home success).
Toquero once again was a regular starter for Athletic during the 2010–11 season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
. On 30 January 2011, he opened his official goal account, scoring twice in a 2–0 away win against Atlético Madrid.