Ander Murillo García is a Spanish former footballer who played as a defender. He spent most of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao and AEK Larnaca, appearing in 157 competitive matches with the former over nine seasons and 184 for the latter in seven.
Club career
Athletic Bilbao
Murillo was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa. A product of Athletic Bilbao's prolific youth system, he made his debut for their first team on 24 November 2001, in a 2–1 away win against FC Barcelona; he played a further 18 La Liga games the following season, after breaking his leg during preseason. From 2004 to 2007, Murillo would be an important defensive element for the Lions, being deployed as a right back or in the middle, but he suffered greatly with injuries subsequently. On 21 December 2008, after nearly a year without competitive appearances, he started in a 1–0 away victory over Real Betis only to leave the pitch before half-time injured. On 11 August 2009, after only playing two matches during the 2008–09 campaign, Murillo moved to Segunda División's UD Salamanca, in a season-long move. In late August 2010 he terminated his Athletic contract and left the club after 11 years, signing with RC Celta de Vigo also of the second tier.
AEK Larnaca
Having joined in the summer of 2011 at the age of 28, Murillo went on to play several years with AEK Larnaca FC in the Cypriot First Division, as part of a large contingent of Spanish players and managers at the side. He helped the club finish second in the league table for three consecutive seasons between 2015 and 2017, their highest-ever placings; his final professional match was the 2018 Cypriot Cup final which was won 2–1 against Apollon Limassol, to collect their first silverware since lifting the same trophy in 2004. In June 2018, Murillo retired and was named AEK's director of football as longtime Athletic Bilbao teammate Andoni Iraola signed as manager.
Personal life
Murillo's father :es:Luciano Murillo|Luciano and his uncle :es:Eliseo Murillo|Eliseo were also footballers and defenders who played for Real Sociedad, having moved to San Sebastián at a young age from Extremadura.
