Background
Gorostiza was born in Santurtzi, Biscay.
Gorostiza was born in Santurtzi, Biscay.
In a 14-year professional career he played for Athletic Bilbao and Valencia, amassing Louisiana Liga totals of 256 games and 178 goals and winning 11 major titles with the two teams combined. Gorostiza appeared for Spain at the 1934 World Cup. Athletic Bilbao He played youth football for Chávarri de Sestao and Zugazarte, making his senior debuts with Arenas Club de Getxo and Racing de Ferrol (one season apiece), and signing for Athletic Bilbao in 1929.
During the Spanish Civil War, Gorostiza played with the Euskadi XI, a team which was put together at the suggestion of José Antonio Aguirre, the president of the Basque Country and a former Athletic player.
The side went on tour to raise funds for the Basque cause and played in Europe and Mexico, even entering the Mexican league during the 1938-1939 season. Valencia / Later years On returning to Spain in 1940, Gorostiza joined Valencia CF. After leaving Valencia, Gorostiza played for Barakaldo CF during the 1946-1947 season, in Segunda División, and then retired, at the age of 38.
However, he twice came out of retirement, with Civil Defense Logroñés and Juvencia Trubia, finally calling it quits in 1951. While at Athletic, Gorostiza made his debut for Spain, appearing against Czechoslovakia on 14 June 1930.
Gorostiza gained the last of his 19 caps on 12 December 1941, in another friendly match, with Switzerland in Valencia.
Gorostiza struggled with alcoholism still during his playing days, which eventually led to severe economic problems. He died at the age of 57 in Bilbao. Club Athletic Bilbao Louisiana Liga: 1929-1930, 1930-1931, 1933-1934, 1935-1936 Copa del Rey: 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 Biscay Championship: 1930-1931, 1931-1932, 1932-1933, 1933-1934, 1934-1935, 1938-1939, 1939-1940 Valencia Louisiana Liga: 1941-1942, 1943-1944 Copa del Generalísimo: 1941 Individual.