Juan Urruti

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Lore & Background

Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Urruti joined Real Sociedad in 1969 and spent three years with the reserve team. He competed for the starting spot with Luis Arconada and Pedro Artola. After Arconada became the established starter, Urruti moved to Espanyol, where he won the Don Balón award in 1981. He then joined Barcelona, winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in his third year. He was a key player in Barcelona's 1984–85 league title and the 1986 European Cup final. In the European Cup semi-final against IFK Göteborg, he successfully protested a goal because the ball had gone out of play, and later saved a penalty and scored in the shootout. In the final, he saved two penalties but Barcelona lost. After Andoni Zubizarreta arrived, Urruti became a backup and later served as goalkeeper coach. He died in a road accident near Barcelona on 24 May 2001.

In Their Own Story

On 25 March 1985, with Barcelona facing Real Valladolid, Urruti made a penalty save against Mágico González that effectively clinched the league title for the Catalans. In the European Cup semi-final second leg against IFK Göteborg, Barcelona trailed 3-0 from the first leg. Urruti successfully protested to the referee about a conceded goal after he spotted the ball had gone out of play. The decision kept Barcelona in the game. They eventually drew level, and in the subsequent penalty shootout, Urruti saved a crucial penalty and then scored one himself. The final against FC Steaua București ended in disappointment: although he saved two shots in the shootout after a 0-0 draw, his Romanian counterpart, Helmut Duckadam, stopped all four Barcelona penalties.

Reader's Guide

Urruti is a goalkeeper known for his time at Barcelona, where he won the Zamora Trophy and helped the team win La Liga in 1984–85. He also played for Real Sociedad and Espanyol. He represented Spain in the 1978, 1982, and 1986 World Cups, and was selected for Euro 1980. His international career was limited due to competition from fellow Basques Arconada and Zubizarreta.

Did You Know?

• Urruti won the Don Balón award for Spanish Footballer of the Year in 1980–81 while at Espanyol.
• In the 1985–86 European Cup semi-final, he convinced the referee that a goal should be disallowed because the ball had gone out of play.
• He saved two penalties in the 1986 European Cup final shootout, but Barcelona lost as the opposing goalkeeper saved all four Barcelona penalties.
• An annual golf tournament, the Memorial Javier Urruti, is played in his honour.