1. Aritz Aduriz spent most of his career with Athletic Bilbao, scoring 172 goals across all competitions for the team over three spells.
20 Facts About Aritz Aduriz
1. 2.
Aritz Aduriz surpassed a century of goals in La Liga, in which he additionally represented Mallorca and Valencia.
3.
Aritz Aduriz appeared for the former at Euro 2016, at the age of 35.
4.
Aritz Aduriz excelled at the latter as a child, finishing runner-up in the junior national championship.
5.
Aritz Aduriz became part of the famed Lezama youth system at Athletic Bilbao, although he was already 19 when he arrived from amateurs CD Aurrera de Vitoria.
6.
Aritz Aduriz was overshadowed by the younger Fernando Llorente in the following campaign, but still managed to net seven times in 33 league appearances.
7.
On 4 August 2008, Aritz Aduriz became the first player to score at the Colchester Community Stadium, in a friendly match with Colchester United.
8.
Aritz Aduriz was sold to RCD Mallorca on the 23rd, signing a four-year contract.
9.
Aritz Aduriz still managed to finish his first season as a Che with 14 competitive goals, including two in their campaign in the UEFA Champions League, one in each of the games against Bursaspor.
10.
Aritz Aduriz quickly profited from Llorente's shaky contractual situation to become first-choice, and finished his first season in his second spell with 18 official goals, 14 in the league.
11.
Llorente left for Juventus FC in summer 2013, and Aritz Aduriz was made the starter by new manager Ernesto Valverde.
12.
Aritz Aduriz was the La Liga Player of the Month for March 2016 after scoring three goals, becoming the first Athletic player to win the award since its introduction in 2013.
13.
Aritz Aduriz renewed his contract with Athletic once more in November 2017, this time to run until summer 2019.
14.
Aritz Aduriz was named the league's Player of the Month for the second time, winning the January 2018 award after showing good sportsmanship during a derby against Eibar: he fell in the penalty area going for a loose ball between two defenders, but immediately signalled to the referee and the supporters that no foul should be awarded.
15.
Aritz Aduriz had a stoppage-time penalty saved in a match away to previous employers Mallorca four weeks later, and injuries then caused him to miss three months of matches over that winter.
16.
On 20 May 2020, Aritz Aduriz announced his retirement as a professional footballer.
17.
Six years later, at the age of 35, Aritz Aduriz was recalled by manager Vicente del Bosque for friendlies with Italy and Romania.
18.
Aritz Aduriz made two substitute appearances in the group stage, always replacing Juventus' Alvaro Morata in the second half.
19.
Aritz Aduriz scored braces in victories over FIFA members Estonia, Bolivia and Peru.
20.
Aritz Aduriz was known for his aerial ability and first touch.