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Francisco Javier González Urruticoechea (born November 17, 1952 in San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa - died May 24, 2001 in Barcelona), aka Urruti, was a Spanish/Basque footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

During his time at FC Barcelona (1981–88), he became a favourite of both fans and teammates. At a club well known for goalkeepers like Ricardo Zamora, Franz Platko, Juan Velasco and Antoni Ramallets, he became a legend. On May 24, 2001, Urruti, aged only 48, died after his car hit the central barrier of a ring road near Barcelona.^[1] An annual golf tournament, the Trofeo Javier Urruti, is played in his honour.

Club career

Urruti played as a junior with Lengokoak before joining Real Sociedad in 1969, spending three full years with the reserve team. For the next league seasons, he maintained an interesting battle for first-choice status with legendary Luis Arconada.

After Arconada finally settled, Urruti moved to RCD Español, where he won the Don Balón award in 1981 (Spanish Footballer of the Year),^[2] moving across the city after that season to join FC Barcelona.

In his third year, Urruti won the Zamora Trophy, while playing in all the matches safe one. Alongside the likes of Steve Archibald and Bernd Schuster, he was a prominent member of the team coached by Terry Venables, that won the league in 1984–85 and then reached the final of the European Cup in the following year. On March 25, 1985, in a game against Real Valladolid, his penalty save against Mágico González effectively clinched the title.

During the second leg of the European Cup semi-final against IFK Göteborg, Urruti successfully protested to the referee about a conceded goal after he spotted the ball had gone out of play. Barcelona were trailing 3–0 from the first-leg and the decision kept them in the game. They eventually drew level and in the subsequent penalty shootout, Urruti saved a crucial penalty and then scored one. The final against FC Steaua Bucureşti, however, was a major disappointment as, although he saved two in the shootout (after 0–0 in regulation), his Romanian counterpart, Helmuth Duckadam, saved all four.

After Andoni Zubizarreta, another Basque, arrived from Athletic Bilbao in 1986, he was pushed to the bench and only appeared in one league match in his final two seasons combined, later being the club's goalkeeper coach. On May 2001, he died in a road accident near Barcelona, at just 48.^[3]

International career

Urruti played five times for Spain in a two-year span, and was a member of the Spanish squads for the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, also being picked for Euro 1980.

His debut came in a friendly with Norway, on March 29, 1978, in Gijón. However, his struggles at the club level translated to the international front, as he was never able to replace fellow Basques Arconada and Zubizarreta. Urruti also played twice for the Basque Country national football team.

Honours

FC Barcelona

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1981–82
• Spanish League: 1984–85
• Spanish Cup: 1982–83, 1987–88
• Spanish Supercup: 1983
• Spanish League Cup: 1982–83, 1985–86

Individual

• Don Balón Award - Spanish Footballer of the Year: 1980–81
• Zamora Trophy: 1983–84

References

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• NationalFootballTeams data

Spain Squad Spain squad – 1978 FIFA World Cup 1 Arconada • 2 de la Cruz • 3 Uría • 4 Asensi • 5 Migueli • 6 Biosca • 7 Dani • 8 Juanito • 9 Quini • 10 Santillana • 11 Cardeñosa • 12 Guzmán • 13 Miguel Ángel • 14 Leal • 15 Marañón • 16 Olmo • 17 Marcelino • 18 Pirri • 19 Rexach • 20 Rubén Cano • 21 San José • 22 Urruti • Coach: Kubala Spain squad – UEFA Euro 1980 1 Arconada • 2 Alexanko • 3 Migueli • 4 Diego • 5 Uría • 6 Asensi • 7 Dani • 8 Cardeñosa • 9 Carrasco • 10 Quini • 11 del Bosque • 12 Juanito • 13 Urruti • 14 Gordillo • 15 Olmo • 16 Santillana • 17 Satrústegui • 18 Saura • 19 Cundi • 20 Tendillo • 21 Zamora • 22 Artola • Coach: Kubala Spain squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Arconada • 2 Camacho • 3 Gordillo • 4 Alonso • 5 Tendillo • 6 Alexanko • 7 Juanito • 8 Joaquín • 9 Satrústegui • 10 Zamora • 11 López Ufarte • 12 Urquiaga • 13 Jiménez • 14 Maceda • 15 Saura • 16 Sánchez • 17 Gallego • 18 Uralde • 19 Santillana • 20 Quini • 21 Urruti • 22 Miguel Ángel • Coach: Santamaría Spain squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Zubizarreta • 2 Tomás • 3 Camacho • 4 Maceda • 5 Víctor • 6 Gordillo • 7 Señor • 8 Goikoetxea • 9 Butragueño • 10 Carrasco • 11 Julio Alberto • 12 Setién • 13 Urruti • 14 Gallego • 15 Chendo • 16 Rincón • 17 Francisco • 18 Calderé • 19 Salinas • 20 Eloy • 21 Míchel • 22 Ablanedo • Coach: Muñoz

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Agustín Rodríguez	Zamora Trophy 1983–84	Succeeded by Juan Carlos Ablanedo