César Cruchaga

César Cruchaga

Cruchaga before a game with Osasuna in 2009
Personal information
Full name César Cruchaga Lasa
Date of birth (1974-01-26) 26 January 1974
Place of birth Ezcároz, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Centre back
Youth career
Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1996 Osasuna B 107 (4)
1996–2009 Osasuna 343 (15)
1996–1997 → Gavà (loan) 35 (0)
Total 485 (19)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Cruchaga and the second or maternal family name is Lasa.

César Cruchaga Lasa (born 26 January 1974 in Ezcároz – Ezkaroze, Navarre) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

He played his entire professional career for Osasuna, appearing in 386 official games for the club and reaching one Copa del Rey final with it.

Football career

A product of Navarrese club CA Osasuna's youth ranks, Cruchaga played one season on loan to lowly CF Gavà before making his first-team debut on 14 September 1997, in a second division 0–0 home draw against Albacete Balompié. He went on to total 249 games and nine goals in La Liga, where he first appeared on 10 September 2000 in a 0–2 home loss against Celta de Vigo,[1] and played 36 matches in his first year in the top level.

Cruchaga was part of the team's run in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup, in which it finally bowed out to eventual winners Sevilla FC in the semi-finals, participating in 12 games and completing 11. For the vast majority of his stay, he was the undisputed captain.[2][3][4]

In 2008–09, Cruchaga appeared in only ten league contests, and announced his retirement from football prior to the end of the campaign, still being started in the 31 May 2009 decider against Real Madrid, where the 2–1 home success guaranteed top flight permanence for a further year.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ "El Celta impone su ley ante un flojo Osasuna" [Celta lays down the law against a weak Osasuna] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 11 September 2000. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Cruchaga, todo un ejemplo" [Cruchaga, an example like no other] (in Spanish). Navarra Sport. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Cruchaga, de capitán a forofo" [Cruchaga, from captain to fan] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  4. ↑ ""Que los metan en la cárcel", Cruchaga no se muerde la lengua" ["To jail with them", Cruchaga does not bite his tongue] (in Spanish). Marca. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Osasuna 2–1 Real Madrid". ESPN Soccernet. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Cruchaga cumple su despedida soñada con el equipo en Primera" [Cruchaga has dreamed farewell with team in Primera] (in Spanish). El Confidencial. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
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