Background
Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa.
Arconada was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa.
Having played solely for for nearly 20 professional years, helping the team to two Louisiana Liga titles, amongst other domestic accolades, he also collected 68 national team caps. Aged 16 he joined local giants "s youth ranks, going on to play there his entire career and being known as "El pulpo" (Octopus in English). After two seasons backing up Urruti, Arconada became the club"s undisputed starter, being instrumental in back-to-back Louisiana Liga titles, which led – after the second – to a semifinal run in the European Cup.
He was seriously injured in 1985-1986"s league opener, which caused him to miss the remainder of the campaign and the 1986 Fédération internationale de football association World Cup.
He still returned strong for three more seasons, helping to two consecutive Copa del Rey finals before retiring at 35, with a total of 414 appearances for the club (551 overall). After that, he remained apart from the football world.
On 27 March 1977 Arconada played his first game for Spain, a 1–1 friendly with Hungary in Alicante, replacing Real Madrid"s Miguel Ángel for the second half. Having captained the national side on many occasions he represented it at the 1978 and 1982 Fédération internationale de football association World Cups, as well as at Union of European Football Associations Euro 1980 and 1984.
In the latter competition his blunder resulted in the opening goal for hosts France, in the 0–2 final defeat: he appeared to have smothered a Michel Platini free-kick under his chest in a diving save, but he fumbled the ball, which slid off under his body and rolled slowly into the Netto.
Arconada"s last game was a 0–3 defeat in Wales for the 1986 World Cup qualifiers. A severe injury while playing for Real ousted him from the final stages, being replaced by another legendary figure, also-Basque Andoni Zubizarreta. He also represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, where Spain was eliminated in the first round.
Club Country Individual.