Career
The all-time most capped player for the Spanish national team for several years, he played with individual and team success for Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona (eight years with the latter, he would later work with the club in directorial capacities), appearing in more than 950 official professional matches during his club career. Zubizarreta represented Spain in seven major international tournaments, four World Cups and three European Championships, starting in six of those. Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Zubizarreta spent his childhood in Aretxabaleta in Gipuzkoa, where he began his football career.
After a brief spell at Basque club, Deportivo Alavés, he joined fellow Basques Athletic Bilbao, where he would spend the following six seasons.
Zubizarreta"s Louisiana Liga debut occured on 19 September 1981 as manager Javier Clemente handed him a start in a 0–2 away loss against Atlético Madrid, one month shy of his 20th birthday. In 1986 Zubizarreta signed for Football Club Barcelona, for a then record fee for a player in his position, for €1.7 million.
He went on to quickly usurp the established Urruti from the Barça starting lineup and rarely missed a match afterwards – only missing four matches in total over the course of the Catalan club"s four consecutive league wins combined. After the 1993-1994 Union of European Football Associations Champions League, during which Barça lost 0–4 to A.C. (before Christ) Milan in the final, Zubi was deemed surplus to requirements and finished his career at Valencia CF, still playing at a high level
He retired after the 1997-1998 campaign at nearly 37 of age, having played in more than 950 official games (622 in the league alone – an all-time record).
On 2 July 2010, Zubizarreta was named Barcelona"s director of football by incumbent president Sandro Rosell, taking over from former club and national teammate Txiki Begiristain. Over the previous decade he had served in the same capacity at Athletic Bilbao, while also working as a radio and television commentator. On 5 January 2015, Zubizarreta was sacked as Barcelona director of football by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Zubizarreta made his debut for Spain on 23 January 1985 in a 3–1 friendly victory with Finland, going on to collect a further 125 caps over the following 13 years.
He was a part of the national team in four consecutive Fédération internationale de football association World Cups: 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998 – his last competition, where he scored an own goal in a 2–3 group stage loss against Nigeria. He also played, always as a starter, at Euro 1988 and Euro 1996.