Andoni Orbea Nespral

Club career Born in Barakaldo, Biscay, Urtubi grew in Athletic Bilbao's youth system, Lezama. He made his debut with the first team on 2 November 1980, playing two minutes in a 1–1 away draw against Sporting de Gijón in what would be his only La Liga appearance of the season. Upon his return, he wasted no time making an impact in the Lions main squad, totalling 13 goals in 62 games as the Basques won back-to-back national championships and claiming the double in the latter season. In the next league campaign the side finished in third position, with the player missing his first penalty ever, against Hércules CF, and manager Javier Clemente was also dismissed at the end of five highly successful years.

Urtubi continued to be an undisputed starter with the following coaches, José Ángel Iribar and Howard Kendall, with Athletic Bilbao finishing 13th and fourth, respectively, On 15 February 1989, during a cup match against Real Valladolid, he suffered a severe injury in his left knee (posterior cruciate ligament, external and internal meniscus) but eventually recovered fully, although he later suffered a relapse.

In 1989–90, manager Txetxu Rojo, a former Athletic player and assistant coach during Kendall's spell, suggested Urtubi gained match fitness with the reserves. After the player refused he would make no more official appearances, but saw his importance in the squad increase when Clemente returned in June 1990 as elections at the club brought a new chairman.

On 16 March 1991, following a 2–0 loss at CD Castellón – in the previous fixture, Athletic had lost 6–0 at home against FC Barcelona – Clemente was fired, in what was Urtubi's last match in the Spanish top division.

International career On 14 November 1984, Urtubi won the first of his two caps with Spain, starting in a 3–1 loss to Scotland for the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Glasgow.

HonoursAthletic Bilbao' La Liga: 1982–83, 1983–84 Copa del Rey: 1983–84 Supercopa de España: 1984