About José Artetxe
Lived 1930 – 2016 (aged 85). José Artetxe was a Spanish association football player.
José Luis Artetxe Muguire (28 June 1930 – 19 March 2016) was a Spanish footballer who played as a striker.
Club career Born in Algorta, Biscay, Artetxe joined Athletic Bilbao in 1950 from neighbouring CD Getxo. He went on to spend the remainder of his 16-year career with the former, making his La Liga debut on 10 September in a 4–0 home win against Atlético Madrid.
In the 1955–56 season, Artetxe contributed 24 games and 15 goals to help the team to win the sixth league championship in their history. During his spell at the San Mamés Stadium he appeared in 346 competitive matches and scored 133 goals, also claiming three Copa del Generalísimo trophies (scoring in the 1956 edition, a 2–1 victory over Atlético Madrid); several years after his retirement at the age or 35, he still ranked amongst his main club's all-time scorers.
International career Artetxe earned six caps for Spain in five years. His debut came on 17 March 1954 in a 2–2 draw against Turkey for the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where he scored the game's first goal in Rome; it was already the third match between the two countries, and the opposition would eventually reach the finals in Switzerland after a drawing of lots.
Personal life and death Artetxe died in his hometown on 19 March 2016, aged 85. His son, also named José Luis, worked for sports newspaper Diario AS.
Honours Athletic Bilbao La Liga: 1955–56 Copa del Generalísimo: 1955, 1956, 1958 Copa Eva Duarte: 1950
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Important facts
People in José Artetxe's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped José Artetxe's
Frequently asked questions
Who was José Artetxe?
Spanish footballer (1930–2016)
When was José Artetxe born?
José Artetxe was born on 28 June 1930 in Getxo.
When did José Artetxe die?
José Artetxe died on 19 March 2016 in Algorta.
What was José Artetxe's occupation?
José Artetxe was an association football player.
What nationality was José Artetxe?
José Artetxe was Spanish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). José Artetxe. https://biography.guide/jose-artetxe/
MLA: "José Artetxe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jose-artetxe/.
Chicago: "José Artetxe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jose-artetxe/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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