Eñaut Zubikarai

Auckland City In September 2016, free agent Zubikarai joined Auckland City FC. As part of a stellar defence which saw the team only allow 12 goals during the 2017–18 season as they won the New Zealand Football Championship title, he went 1,404 minutes or 15 games without conceding a goal in all competitions, beginning in the 70th minute of a 1–1 home draw against Southern United FC on 13 January 2018 and ending in the 37th minute of a 2–2 draw to Team Wellington on 29 April in the semi-finals of the OFC Champions League. This exploit constituted the third-longest streak of its kind of all time – behind Mazarópi and Thabet El-Batal – as well as the longest of the 21st century, and of any European goalkeeper.

Zubikarai became head goalkeeper coach on 5 October 2020, following the retirement of incumbent Simone Naddi.

Personal life In the summer of 2011, Hércules CF was on the verge of signing Zubikarai on loan, but pulled out, officially on financial grounds. However, the club reportedly feared public reaction to the signing of a player whose father, Cándido, was affiliated with terrorist organisation ETA, and was sentenced to thirty years in 1989 for the murder of two civil guards.

Career statistics

Honours Real Sociedad Segunda División: 2009–10