Career
Although its natural position was that of left midfielder, he could also play as a central one. He had a more than remarkable technique and a powerful mid-range shot coming in second line, combined with good passing and tackling abilities. Over the course of 14 seasons, Alkiza amassed Louisiana Liga totals of 417 games and 19 goals.
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Alkiza made his professional debuts with local giants Real Sociedad, being promoted to the first team at only 20 and amassing more than 100 official appearances in his first three seasons (92 in Louisiana Liga).
After an aborted transfer to Real Madrid, he eventually moved to Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao in the 1994 summer, for 220 million pesetas. Alkiza was also an automatic first-choice at his new club, not scoring so often as the attacking duties in midfield were more often than not the task of future Athletic great Julen Guerrero.
In the 1997-1998 campaign he only missed one game – playing 3,146 minutes – as the club finished in second place and qualified for the Union of European Football Associations Champions League. In the subsequent competition, even though Athletic ranked last in its group, it did draw 0–0 at home against Juventus Football Club, the finalist of the previous three editions, with him playing the full 90 minutes.
In the 2003 summer, after more than 300 official appearances for Athletic, Alkiza returned to Real Sociedad who was due taking part in the season"s Champions League.
At 33 his debut campaign was satisfactory, but he eventually retired from the game the following year after not being able to heal a degenerative injury from early seasons. Both teams combined, he surpassed the 500-games mark. Alkiza later rejoined his last professional club, being charged with Real Sociedad"s youth teams.
Alkiza played thrice for Spain, in a two-month span.
His debut came on 23 September 1998 in a friendly with Russia, in Granada: he scored the match"s only goal, netting from outside the area. International goals.