X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Luis Arconada


Gonzalo Arconada Echarri

Arconada's older brother, Luis, played almost 20 professional years with Real Sociedad, being widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the nation's history.

Luis Arconada

During the ceremony following Spain's victory in Euro 2008, third-choice for the winners Andrés Palop wore Arconada's original Euro 84 final shirt, as he received the gold medal from Platini, now president of UEFA.

He still returned strong for three more seasons, helping Real Sociedad 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.

Aged 16 he joined local giants Real Sociedad's youth ranks, going on to play there his entire career and being known as "El pulpo" (Octopus in English).



see also