Gaztelu

José Agustín Aranzábal Askasibar (23 July 1946 – 30 December 2020), known as Gaztelu, was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He spent his entire career with Real Sociedad, playing 308 competitive games and scoring 33 goals.

Club career Gaztelu was born in Bergara, Gipuzkoa. As a young child, he received his nickname, meaning "castle" in Basque, after a farm owned by his aunt. He signed with Real Sociedad in 1965 from his local club and, after just one season with the reserves, was promoted to the first team at the age of 20.

Gaztelu made his debut in La Liga on 8 October 1967, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 away draw against Sevilla FC. He scored his first goal in the competition on 17 November of the following year, in another draw (1–1, at Deportivo de La Coruña). In early 1970, whilst playing with the Spain under-23 team in Italy, he suffered a serious injury that sidelined him for nearly two years. as Real won their first ever national championship. In the process, he became the first player to achieve that feat as well as promotion from Segunda División in 1967, retiring at the end of the campaign at 35.

Personal life and death Gaztelu's son Agustín was also a footballer. A defender, he too played for Real Sociedad and Spain.

The former died in his hometown on 30 December 2020, aged 74.

Honours La Liga: 1980–81 Segunda División: 1966–67