Gaizka Mendieta
Mendieta was loaned to Barcelona for the 2002–03 season[18]– he started most of the fixtures, but the Catalans could only finish sixth[19]– and subsequently he moved to Middlesbrough,[20] choosing the Premier League club over offers from his homeland (Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao) due to a desire to play in England.[5] In his last two years, a string of injuries (including one which caused him to miss the 2006 UEFA Cup final)[4] and long spells of regaining match fitness relegated Mendieta to the substitutes bench.He made his senior debut on 27 March 1999, coming on as a substitute for Juan Carlos Valerón in a 9–0 rout of Austria for UEFA Euro 2000's qualifying stages;[28] he was included in the list of 22 for the competition in Belgium and the Netherlands, helping the national side to reach the last eight.[29] Despite his form slump at Lazio, Mendieta was picked for the squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring one goal in three matches for the eventual quarter-finalists, against South Africa (3–2 win).Fellow Bilbao-born Spain internationals Ander Herrera and Roberto Ríos had similar origins, learning their skills in the cities where their footballing fathers (Pedro and Eusebio respectively) were based professionally.[6][36] He was a fan of music, and in particular had a passion for DJing;[36] he also appeared on-stage at the Benicàssim festival in 2015 during a set by the band Los Planetas, whose song "Un buen día" referenced him in its lyrics.
Spanish namesurnameBilbaoMidfielderCastellónValencia BValenciaBarcelonaMiddlesbroughSpain U18Spain U20Spain U21Spain U23Basque CountryfootballUEFA European Under-21 Championship1996 Spain1994 FrancefootballerChampions LeagueLa LigaEuro 20002002 World CupCD CastellónSegunda Divisiónfull-backone seasonValencia CFpesetasthe reservesfirst-teamCádiz CF1995–961997–98 campaignClaudio Raniericentral midfieldwon his first trophyAtlético MadridCopa del ReyLevante UDFC BarcelonaReal Madridthe final1999–2000Héctor CúperSupercopa de Españareach the finalUEFA Champions League3–0 losswent to the finalthe following yearFC Bayern Munichpenalty shootoutpenaltySS LazioSerie APavel NedvědJuan Sebastián Verón2002–03 seasonCatalansPremier LeagueAthletic Bilbaofirst seasonFootball League CupTeesside2006 UEFA Cup finalsubstitutes benchGareth SouthgateReal SociedadMálaga CFtransfer windowLos Angeles GalaxyKeith LambEverton2007–08 campaignSpain under-21 teamUEFA European ChampionshipseniorJuan Carlos ValerónAustriaUEFA Euro 2000qualifying stages2002 FIFA World CupSouth AfricaBulgariaGranadaBasque Country regional teamSecret TournamentTerry GilliamLuís FigoThierry HenryHidetoshi NakataRoberto CarlosRonaldinhoRonaldoFrancesco TottiEric CantonapunditSky SportsAndrésgoalkeeperLekeitioBiscayyouth systemBasqueAnder HerreraRoberto RíosEusebioOlympic Games tournamentmiddle-distance runningBenicàssim festivalLos PlanetasRuud Gullit1991–921992–931993–941994–951996–971997–981998–992000–012001–022002–032003–042004–052005–06