Roberto López Ufarte
Encyclopedia
Roberto López Ufarte is a former Spanish
footballer, who played as a forward.
Nicknamed The little devil, most of his career was spent at Real Sociedad
. His parents (from Catalonia
and Andalusia
) moved abroad in search of work, and returned to Irun
(Basque Country
) when their son was eight.
Ufarte went on to spend 12 professional seasons with Real Sociedad
, and represented Spain
at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
.
's youth ranks, after making his early footballing efforts at neighbours
Real Unión
, López Ufarte made his first division
debuts in 1975–76 (30 November 1975, in a 0–2 derby
loss at Athletic Bilbao
). From then on, he became an essential first-team member, scoring 16 goals in 63 matches in the side's back-to-back league titles combined.
Ufarte left the Basque outfit in 1987, after another solid season: 33 matches, 10 goals in the league, and the domestic cup
. He scored 101 goals in 363 games (128-474 overall).
After one season with Atlético Madrid (third-place), López Ufarte closed his career at Real Betis
, where he also struggled with knee injuries and saw his club drop down a level, at 31. He then acted as assistant manager to several coaches at his first professional club.
, from 1977 to 1982. His debut came on 21 September, scoring in 2–1 friendly win in Switzerland
.
Ufarte appeared for the nation at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
, on home ground, playing his last match in a 1–2 second group stage loss against West Germany.
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 played as a forward.
Nicknamed The little devil, most of his career was spent 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...
. His parents (from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and 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...
) moved abroad in search of work, and returned to Irun
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
(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....
) when their son was eight.
Ufarte went on to spend 12 professional seasons with 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 represented Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
.
Club career
A product of 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 ranks, after making his early footballing efforts at neighbours
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....
Real Unión
Real Unión
Real Unión Club de Irún, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Irun, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the province of Gipuzkoa, near the border with France...
, López Ufarte made his first division
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...
debuts in 1975–76 (30 November 1975, in a 0–2 derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
loss at 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...
). From then on, he became an essential first-team member, scoring 16 goals in 63 matches in the side's back-to-back league titles combined.
Ufarte left the Basque outfit in 1987, after another solid season: 33 matches, 10 goals in the league, and the domestic cup
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 scored 101 goals in 363 games (128-474 overall).
After one season with Atlético Madrid (third-place), López Ufarte closed his career at Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, where he also struggled with knee injuries and saw his club drop down a level, at 31. He then acted as assistant manager to several coaches at his first professional club.
International career
López Ufarte gained 15 caps for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, from 1977 to 1982. His debut came on 21 September, scoring in 2–1 friendly win in Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
.
Ufarte appeared for the nation at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, on home ground, playing his last match in a 1–2 second group stage loss against West Germany.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 21 September 1977 | Wankdorf Wankdorf Stadium The Wankdorf Stadium was a football stadium in the Wankdorf quarter of Bern, Switzerland, and the former home of Swiss club BSC Young Boys. It was built in 1925, and as well as serving as a club stadium, it hosted several important matches, including the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final, the 1961... , Bern, Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly Exhibition 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... |
|
| 2. | 14 October 1981 | Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain 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... |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly Exhibition 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... |
|
| 3. | 14 October 1981 | Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly Exhibition 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... |
|
| 4. | 18 November 1981 | Stadion ŁKS, Łódź, Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
0–1 | 2–3 | Friendly Exhibition 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... |
|
| 5. | 16 June 1982 | Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain 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... |
1–1 | 1–1 | 1982 FIFA World Cup |
Honours
Real Sociedad- 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...
: 1980–81, 1981–82 - 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 ....
: 1986–87 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19831983 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1983 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 26 October and 30 November 1983. It contested by FC Barcelona, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1982–83, and Athletic Bilbao, who won the 1982–83 Spanish League.-First leg:...