José Luis Astiazarán
Encyclopedia
José Luis Astiazarán Iriondo (born 31 October 1963 in San Sebastián
, Basque Country
) is a Spanish
lawyer
specializing in sport
and commercial and civil law, and the current president of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional.
's youth academy, but only appeared for its reserves
, the same happening at his following team, Basque
neighbours Athletic Bilbao
.
He also played for Sestao Sport Club
- also in his native region - appearing in a total of 43 Segunda División
games (four goals) during his short career, 14 for Bilbao Athletic
. In 1992, he returned to his first team, working with its board of directors position until 2001.
10 million worth of debt.
On 15 July 2005, Astiazarán was appointed president of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional
(Professional Football League), the body governing both La Liga
and the second division. Having earlier served as vice president
and member of the board of directors in the organization, he won the election unanimously, with all but three clubs - Real Sociedad, SD Eibar
and CA Osasuna
- showing him support. He was re-elected in April 2009 for another period of four years.
Astiazarán is a member of the European Professional Football Leagues
board of directors, and a member of the FIFA
Player's Status Committee sub-committee, which verifies the transfers of minor players. In mid-May 2009, he claimed 6+5 rule
wouldn't have a negative impact on Spanish football.
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, Basque Country
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....
) is a Spanish
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...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
specializing in sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
and commercial and civil law, and the current president of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional.
Football career
A forward, Astiazarán graduated from Real SociedadReal 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...
's youth academy, but only appeared for its reserves
Real Sociedad B
Real Sociedad de Fútbol B is a Spanish football club based in San Sebastián, in the autonomous community of Basque Country...
, the same happening at his following team, 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 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...
.
He also played for Sestao Sport Club
Sestao Sport Club
Sestao Sport Club was a Spanish football club based in Sestao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded it 1916, it held home matches at Campo Municipal de las Llanas, with a capacity of 8,900 seats.-History:...
- also in his native region - appearing in a total of 43 Segunda División
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:...
games (four goals) during his short career, 14 for Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
. In 1992, he returned to his first team, working with its board of directors position until 2001.
Law career
While still working with Real Sociedad as a director, Astiazarán also acted as legal adviser for athletes, companies and institutions in the sports sector. He became president of the club on 22 March 2001 and left the position in 2005, leaving the club in a poor sporting and economic situation - €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
10 million worth of debt.
On 15 July 2005, Astiazarán was appointed president of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional
Liga de Fútbol Profesional
The Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , more commonly known as the Liga de Fútbol Profesional is a national sports association responsible for administering the two professional football leagues in Spain - the Primera and Segunda División...
(Professional Football League), the body governing both 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...
and the second division. Having earlier served as vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
and member of the board of directors in the organization, he won the election unanimously, with all but three clubs - Real Sociedad, 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....
and CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
- showing him support. He was re-elected in April 2009 for another period of four years.
Astiazarán is a member of the European Professional Football Leagues
European Professional Football Leagues
European Professional Football Leagues is a sports organization within football , created in 1997, originally under the name Association of the European Union Premier Professional Football Leagues...
board of directors, and a member of the FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
Player's Status Committee sub-committee, which verifies the transfers of minor players. In mid-May 2009, he claimed 6+5 rule
6+5 rule
The 6+5 rule was a proposition for an association football rule adopted by FIFA during a meeting in May 2008- Definition :At the beginning of each match, each club must field at least six players eligible to play for the national team of the country of the club...
wouldn't have a negative impact on Spanish football.