David Zurutuza


David Zurutuza Veillet is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
He spent his entire professional career contracted to Real Sociedad, with whom he made more than 300 appearances across over a decade, and was also loaned to Eibar in Segunda División.

Early years

Zurutuza was born in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France to a French mother and a Spanish father, with the family returning to the latter's native Basque Country shortly after. He also holds French citizenship.

Club career

Zurutuza joined Real Sociedad's youth system after starting his football career in Deba, Gipuzkoa. In the 2007–08 season, he was loaned to neighbours SD Eibar of the second division.
Zurutuza spent the following campaign with Real's B-team in the third level, suffering relegation. On 23 November 2008 he made his debut for the main squad, playing ten minutes as a substitute for Necati Ateş in a 1–0 home win against SD Huesca.
In 2009–10, Zurutuza contributed with four goals in 28 games as Real Sociedad returned to La Liga after a three-year absence. He continued to be first-choice in the next season, making his debut in the competition on 29 August 2010 in a 1–0 home victory over Villarreal CF, and scoring his first goal on 28 November in a 3–1 away defeat of Sporting de Gijón; he only missed two league matches as the club managed to retain its division status.
On 31 August 2014, in the second matchday of the new season, Zurutuza put on a Player of the match performance at home against Real Madrid, his brace helping Real Sociedad come from 0–2 behind to win the game 4–2. Five years later, on 14 September, he made his 300th appearance against Atlético Madrid.
On 19 July 2020, aged 34, Zurutuza retired from football.

Career statistics

Club