Lorenzo Juarros García
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Juarros García (born 7 October 1966), aka Loren, is a retired Spanish
professional footballer who played as either a central defender or striker.
In a professional career which spanned nearly twenty years, he represented mainly Real Sociedad
, amassing official totals of 411 games and 41 goals in 14 seasons.
Loren also played for Athletic Bilbao
, being the most expensive Spanish player at the time of his transfer.
, Province of Burgos, Loren joined Real Sociedad
from amateurs Tolosa CF
, also in the Basque Country
. On 9 September 1984, one month shy of his 18th birthday, he made his first-team - and La Liga
- debut, in a 0–1 home loss against CD Málaga
, as a central defender, the position in which he started his career; this was due a strike
by the professional footballers in the country, with most teams having to resort to fielding youth players.
After only four league games in his first two seasons combined, Loren became an undisputed starter for the Gipuzkoa side, helping it to the 1987 Copa del Rey
- he did not play the final against Atlético Madrid due to injury, however. In 1987–88, already reconverted as a striker by Welsh
manager John Toshack
, he scored a career-best 11 games in 36 games, as the club finished second to Real Madrid
.
, who paid 300 million pesetas
for his services, a record for a national player. He later confessed that, had Athletic not paid the full extent of his clause, he would not have made the move, which would be the first of several controversial transfer negotiations between the two clubs.
Loren made his official debut for the Lions on 2 September 1989, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against his former team. He underperformed overall during his two-season stint, only netting four times in his second year.
Loren then signed for Real Burgos CF
in his native region, who rose from the ashes of Burgos CF
. He scored seven goals in his first season as the club finished a best-ever ninth in the top level, being relegated in the following campaign.
with Real Madrid. Again under Toshack, he returned to the stopper position, often partnering another youth graduate, José Antonio Pikabea
, during his second spell, and never appearing in less than 27 league games in the following seven seasons.
After only eight games in 2001–02, Loren retired from football at almost 36, having appeared in 482 top division games over the course of 18 seasons (54 goals). He remained with Real Sociedad in the following years, as its director of football
.
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...
professional footballer who played as either a central defender or striker.
In a professional career which spanned nearly twenty years, he represented mainly 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...
, amassing official totals of 411 games and 41 goals in 14 seasons.
Loren also played 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...
, being the most expensive Spanish player at the time of his transfer.
Real Sociedad
Born in Mambrillas de LaraMambrillas de Lara
Mambrillas de Lara is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 69 inhabitants....
, Province of Burgos, Loren joined 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...
from amateurs Tolosa CF
Tolosa CF
Tolosa Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Tolosa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1922, it plays in División de Honor de Guipúzcoa, holding home games at Estadio Beratzubi, with a capacity of 3,000 seats....
, also in the 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....
. On 9 September 1984, one month shy of his 18th birthday, he made his first-team - and 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, in a 0–1 home loss against 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....
, as a central defender, the position in which he started his career; this was due a strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
by the professional footballers in the country, with most teams having to resort to fielding youth players.
After only four league games in his first two seasons combined, Loren became an undisputed starter for the Gipuzkoa side, helping it to the 1987 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 ....
- he did not play the final against Atlético Madrid due to injury, however. In 1987–88, already reconverted as a striker by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
manager John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
, he scored a career-best 11 games in 36 games, as the club finished second to Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
.
Athletic / Burgos
In the 1989 summer, Loren signed for Real Sociedad rivals Athletic BilbaoAthletic 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...
, who paid 300 million pesetas
Spanish peseta
The peseta was the currency of Spain between 1869 and 2002. Along with the French franc, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra .- Etymology :...
for his services, a record for a national player. He later confessed that, had Athletic not paid the full extent of his clause, he would not have made the move, which would be the first of several controversial transfer negotiations between the two clubs.
Loren made his official debut for the Lions on 2 September 1989, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against his former team. He underperformed overall during his two-season stint, only netting four times in his second year.
Loren then signed for Real Burgos CF
Real Burgos CF
Real Burgos Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1973, it ceased to compete in 1996 and returned in 2011, holding home games at Estadio El Plantío, with a 14,000-seat capacity.-History:Burgos CF was founded in 1936,...
in his native region, who rose from the ashes of Burgos CF
Burgos CF
Burgos Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1936 and refounded in 1994, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2, holding home matches at the Estadio El Plantío, with a capacity of 14,000.-History:Burgos CF...
. He scored seven goals in his first season as the club finished a best-ever ninth in the top level, being relegated in the following campaign.
Return to Real Sociedad
In the 1993 off-season, 26-year old Loren returned to Real Sociedad. On 13 August, he scored the first goal in the new Anoeta Stadium, in a friendlyExhibition 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...
with Real Madrid. Again under Toshack, he returned to the stopper position, often partnering another youth graduate, José Antonio Pikabea
José Antonio Pikabea
José Antonio Pikabea Larrarte is a retired Spanish professional footballer who played as a central defender.-Football career:...
, during his second spell, and never appearing in less than 27 league games in the following seven seasons.
After only eight games in 2001–02, Loren retired from football at almost 36, having appeared in 482 top division games over the course of 18 seasons (54 goals). He remained with Real Sociedad in the following years, as its director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
.