Mikel Balenziaga
Encyclopedia
Mikel Balenziaga Oruesagasti (born 29 February 1988 in Zumarraga, Gipuzkoa) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Real Valladolid
as a left defender.
, playing some matches with its B team
in the third division
. However, in 2008–09, he switched to neighbours Athletic de Bilbao
.
Initially thought of as a member of Bilbao Athletic
, Balenziaga quickly beat competition from veterans Koikili
and Javier Casas to become the undisputed first-choice left back for the vast majority of the season, making his first-team debut on 14 September 2008 at Málaga CF
, a 0–0 draw. Another club graduate, Ander Iturraspe
, also made his first top flight
appearance in the match.
In July 2009, Athletic bought Xabier Castillo from neighbours Real Sociedad, and Balenziaga, seeing his first-team chances for the upcoming season
dim, accepted a loan move to CD Numancia
, freshly relegated.
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 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....
as a left defender.
Club career
Balenziaga started his football grooming at 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...
, playing some matches with its B team
Real Sociedad B
Real Sociedad de Fútbol B is a Spanish football club based in San Sebastián, in the autonomous community of Basque Country...
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...
. However, in 2008–09, he switched to neighbours 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...
.
Initially thought of as a member of Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
, Balenziaga quickly beat competition from veterans Koikili
Koikili Lertxundi
Koikili Lertxundi del Campo, simply Koikili , or Koi for short, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a left defender.-Football career:...
and Javier Casas to become the undisputed first-choice left back for the vast majority of the season, making his first-team debut on 14 September 2008 at Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
, a 0–0 draw. Another club graduate, Ander Iturraspe
Ander Iturraspe
Ander Iturraspe Derteano is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, as a defensive midfielder.-Club career:...
, also made his first top flight
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...
appearance in the match.
In July 2009, Athletic bought Xabier Castillo from neighbours Real Sociedad, and Balenziaga, seeing his first-team chances for the upcoming season
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;"|...
dim, accepted a loan move to CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
, freshly relegated.