Rafael Alkorta

Having represented Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid during a 17-year professional career, he amassed La Liga totals of 370 matches and eight goals, winning three trophies with the latter club.Alkorta attracted the attention of Real Madrid, for whom he signed in the 1993–94 campaign (he was reluctant to make the move, but was persuaded due to Athletic's poor financial situation which was improved by the 350 million pesetas transfer fee).[2] During his spell at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium he formed a notable partnership with Fernando Hierro[3] for club and country, and accumulated more than 150 official appearances and two league titles.[9] In December 2018, following the election of Aitor Elizegi as the president of Athletic Bilbao, he was installed as the club's new sporting director, working with Andoni Ayarza[10][11] and replacing the long-serving José María Amorrortu.A fellow Athletic Bilbao youth graduate[13] (alongside José Félix Guerrero who also had a more famous sibling in the first team),[14] the younger Alkorta never made it past the reserves and played out his career in the Segunda División B.
Spanish namesurnameBilbaoCentre-backAthletic BilbaoBilbao AthleticReal MadridSpain U16Spain U18Spain U21Basque CountryOlympiacosMarseillefootballercentral defendersporting directorLa LigaWorld CupsSpain national teamBiscayAthletic Clubsecond teamSegunda DivisiónHoward Kendall1987–88 seasonReal Valladolidman marker1993–94 campaignpesetasSantiago Bernabéu StadiumFernando Hierro1997–98Aitor KarankaBasque2001–02YugoslaviaFIFA World CupsUEFA Euro 1996under-16under-18under-21 levelsBelgiumMíchelOlympiacos F.C.Olympique de MarseilleAitor ElizegiJosé María AmorrortumidfielderJosé Félix Guerreromore famous siblingSegunda División BCD Aurrerá de Vitoria1994–951996–97Supercopa de EspañaLowe, SidEl PaísDiario ASMundo DeportivoEl CorreoEl MundoSpain squad1990 FIFA World CupZubizarretaChendoJiménezAndrinúaSanchísVázquezPardezaQuiqueButragueñoFernandoVillarroyaAblanedoGórrizRobertoBakeroHierroRafa PazSalinasManoloOchotorenaSuárez1994 FIFA World CupFerrerCamarasaAbelardoGoikoetxeaGuerreroGuardiolaBegiristainCañizaresJuaneleCamineroMiñambresLuis EnriqueLopeteguiClementeLópezBelsuéAmaviscaDonatoAlfonsoManjarínMolina1998 FIFA World CupAranzábalMorientesAguileraCeladesEtxeberria