Pablo Orbaiz

Pablo Orbaiz Lesaka (born 6 February 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Orbaiz and the second or maternal family name is Lesaka.
Pablo Orbaiz
Orbaiz as an Athletic Bilbao player (2008)
Personal information
Full name Pablo Orbaiz Lesaka
Date of birth (1979-02-06) 6 February 1979
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1985–1996 Osasuna[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1998 Osasuna B 27 (2)
1996–2000 Osasuna 69 (2)
2000–2012 Athletic Bilbao 263 (10)
2011–2012 → Olympiacos (loan) 24 (1)
2012–2013 Rubin Kazan 23 (0)
2013–2015 Valle de Egüés ? (3)
Total 406 (18)
International career
1997 Spain U17 5 (0)
1996–1998 Spain U18 15 (0)
1998–1999 Spain U20 12 (0)
1999–2001 Spain U21 14 (0)
2002–2005 Spain 4 (0)
2005 Navarre 1 (0)
2005–2007 Basque Country 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After starting out with Osasuna, he went on to play 11 years in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao,[3] appearing in a total of 318 competitive matches and scoring 13 goals.

Club career

Osasuna / Athletic

Born in Pamplona, Orbaiz began his career at hometown's CA Osasuna,[2] exclusively playing in the second division with the team and contributing with 29 appearances and one goal in his final season as the Navarrese returned to La Liga after a six-year absence.

After that he moved to neighbours Athletic Bilbao, where he was a very important midfield element from the start. In the 2004–05 campaign he played 35 league matches and scored three goals, adding eight appearances in the UEFA Cup. However, he also suffered very serious knee injuries in 2002–03 and 2006–07, only taking part in a combined 14 games.[4][5]

In the 2009–10 season, Orbaiz continued to be an automatic first-choice when healthy. However, during one month (February–March 2010), he was sent off twice for dangerous challenges – both of which resulted in two-match bans – at Villarreal CF (2–1 loss)[6] and at home against Getafe CF (2–2, he also scored the opener in the latter game).[7] For the following campaign he was promoted as team captain, after the departures of Joseba Etxeberria and Francisco Yeste.[8]

Later years

In late August 2011, after another season of regular use by manager Joaquín Caparrós – 26 games, 1,675 minutes – as Athletic once again qualified for the Europa League, 32-year-old Orbaiz was loaned to Olympiacos F.C. in Greece, joining a host of compatriots at the Piraeus club, including manager Ernesto Valverde.[9] He won the domestic double and was able to realise his ambition to play in the UEFA Champions League, making four group stage appearances.[3]

Orbaiz was released by Bilbao afterwards, signing for one season with FC Rubin Kazan and reuniting with compatriot and former Olympiacos teammate Iván Marcano.[10]

International career

Orbaiz made his debut with Spain on 21 August 2002 in a testimonial match for Ferenc Puskás against Hungary,[11] representing the nation in a further three matches. Previously, he helped the under-20s win the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.[12]

Honours

Club

Athletic Bilbao

Olympiacos

International
Spain U20

References
  1. "Orbaiz, Pablo Orbaiz Lesaka - Futbolista". www.bdfutbol.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  2. Ciordia, Fernando (9 April 2009). "A Orbaiz e Iraizoz sí les gusta el Reyno" [Orbaiz and Iraizoz sure do like Reyno] (in Spanish). Diario de Navarra. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. Orbaiz: "Jugar la Champions es un sueño para mí" (Orbaiz: "To play in the Champions League is a dream for me") Archived 23 July 2012 at archive.today; Deia, 1 September 2011 (in Spanish)
  4. Orbaiz out for season; Sky Sports, 9 January 2003
  5. Orbaiz blow for Bilbao; Sky Sports, 19 October 2006
  6. Drama as Villarreal defeat Bilbao; ESPN Soccernet, 13 February 2010
  7. Leon strikes late; ESPN Soccernet, 20 March 2010
  8. "Athletic Club has a new captain". The Offside. 25 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  9. Pablo Orbaiz loaned to Olympiacos Archived 10 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Athletic Bilbao, 30 August 2011
  10. "Pablo Orbais in "Rubin"". Rubin Kazan. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  11. "Poca luz para tanto estreno" [Too little light for so many premieres] (in Spanish). El País. 22 August 2002. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  12. "Qué fue de los campeones del mundo sub20" [What happened to the under-20 world champions] (in Spanish). Marca. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
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