Juan Arza
Encyclopedia
Juan Arza Iñigo was a Spanish
football forward and manager.
He spent the majority of his career with Sevilla
, appearing in 414 official games over the course of 16 La Liga
seasons (207 goals, best-ever in the club's history), and also managed his main team on several occasions.
, Arza's first club was hometown's CD Izarra
. He moved to neighbouring Deportivo Alavés
(Basque Country
) subsequently, then to CD Málaga
, staying for a season with the latter team.
In 1943, aged 20, Arza continued in Andalusia
and joined Sevilla FC
, where he had his most enduring and successful spell, scoring an hat-trick
on his official debut, a 5–2 home win against CE Sabadell FC on 26 September, and netting 57 in his first four seasons combined - in 1946, the club won its first ever La Liga
championship, with the player contributing with 14.
Dubbed El Niño de Oro ("The Golden Boy"), Arza scored a career-best 29 goals in the 1954–55 season, good enough for his first and only Pichichi Trophy. After only seven games in 1959–60, the 36-year old left Sevilla to join Atlético Almería, and retired a year later. He went on to coach his main team as an interim on several occasions, not being able to prevent top flight relegation in 1967–68, after 12 games in charge; he also worked with the club as match delegate in the 80's and 90's and, as a coach, was also namely in charge of Celta de Vigo
(five separate seasons, four in the top division).
. His debut was on 2 March 1947 against the Republic of Ireland
, in a 2–3 loss at Dublin.
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...
football forward and manager.
He spent the majority of his career with Sevilla
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...
, appearing in 414 official games over the course of 16 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...
seasons (207 goals, best-ever in the club's history), and also managed his main team on several occasions.
Club career
Born in Estella-Lizarra, NavarreNavarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Arza's first club was hometown's CD Izarra
CD Izarra
Club Deportivo Izarra is a Spanish football team based in Estella-Lizarra, in the autonomous community of Navarre. Founded in 1924, it plays in Tercera División - Group 15, holding home matches at Estadio Merkatondoa, with a capacity of 3,500 seats....
. He moved to neighbouring 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....
(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....
) subsequently, then to CD Málaga
CD Málaga
Club Deportivo Málaga was a Spanish football club based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It played twenty seasons in La Liga, before being dissolved in 1992....
, staying for a season with the latter team.
In 1943, aged 20, Arza continued in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
and joined 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...
, where he had his most enduring and successful spell, scoring an hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
on his official debut, a 5–2 home win against CE Sabadell FC on 26 September, and netting 57 in his first four seasons combined - in 1946, the club won its first ever 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...
championship, with the player contributing with 14.
Dubbed El Niño de Oro ("The Golden Boy"), Arza scored a career-best 29 goals in the 1954–55 season, good enough for his first and only Pichichi Trophy. After only seven games in 1959–60, the 36-year old left Sevilla to join Atlético Almería, and retired a year later. He went on to coach his main team as an interim on several occasions, not being able to prevent top flight relegation in 1967–68, after 12 games in charge; he also worked with the club as match delegate in the 80's and 90's and, as a coach, was also namely in charge of Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
(five separate seasons, four in the top division).
International career
Arza made two appearances for Spain in five years, in as many friendliesExhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
. His debut was on 2 March 1947 against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, in a 2–3 loss at Dublin.
Club
Sevilla- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1945–46 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe 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 ....
: 1947–48