Arzu (footballer)

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Arzu
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Arzu in 2008
Personal information
Full name Arturo García Muñoz
Date of birth (1981-03-17) 17 March 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Dos Hermanas, Spain
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Defensive midfielder / Centre back
Youth career
Betis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Betis B 33 (4)
2000–2011 Betis 270 (12)
2001–2002 → Córdoba (loan) 22 (1)
2011–2012 Gimnàstic 29 (0)
2012–2013 BEC Tero Sasana 16 (2)
Total 370 (19)
International career
2001 Spain U20 1 (0)
2002–2003 Spain U21 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

Arturo García Muñoz (born 17 March 1981), commonly known as Arzu, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder or a central defender.

He spent most of his professional career with Betis, appearing in 200 La Liga games over the course of seven seasons (12 years with the club overall, 317 official matches) and winning one Copa del Rey.

Club career

Betis

A product of Andalusian club Real Betis's youth system, Arzu was born in Dos Hermanas, Seville, and he played for its B-team during the 1999–2000 season, scoring twice in 19 league games. In the following campaign he made his debuts with the main squad who was playing in the second division – 16 matches, two goals – helping achieve promotion but subsequently staying in the category, being loaned to neighbours Córdoba CF.

In his first season in La Liga Arzu netted four times from 35 appearances, including one in the opener away to Deportivo de La Coruña on 1 September 2002 (4–2 win).[1] He added a further 60 league games in the following two years combined, as in 2004–05 Betis finished fourth.

During the 2005–06 campaign, Arzu appeared in eight European matches: four in the UEFA Champions League (scoring against Liverpool in a 1–2 group stage home loss[2]) and in the UEFA Cup. On 13 May 2006 he netted a crucial equalizer in a 1–1 draw at Atlético Madrid on the last matchday, with the Verdiblancos barely avoiding relegation.[3]

Still a defensive cornerstone in 2008–09, Arzu featured in 34 contests – mostly as a centre back – but Betis was relegated for the first time in nine years. In August 2011, after only taking part in 17 games as the side returned to the top level, he was released from his contract.[4]

Later years

In the penultimate day of the 2011 summer transfer window, Arzu signed with Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the second level.[5] On 7 May of the following year he rescinded his contract with the Catalans (who suffered relegation), by mutual consent.[6]

In August 2012, aged 31, Arzu moved abroad for the first time, joining Thai Premier League club BEC Tero Sasana FC.[7]

References

  1. ↑ El Betis arrolla al Depor con un fútbol de lujo (Betis crushes Depor with deluxe football); El Mundo, 2 September 2002 (Spanish)
  2. ↑ Real Betis 1–2 Liverpool; BBC Sport, 13 September 2005
  3. ↑ El Atlético despide la temporada con un justo empate ante el Betis (Atlético bids farewell to season with fair draw against Betis); Marca, 13 May 2006 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Arzu rescinde contrato (Arzu rescinds contract); Betis Web, 24 August 2011 (Spanish)
  5. ↑ Arzu dará experiencia a la medular del Nàstic (Arzu to provide experience in Nàstic's back sector); Marca, 30 August 2011 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ El Nàstic rescinde el contrato de Arzu (Nàstic rescinds Arzu's contract); Marca, 7 May 2012 (Spanish)
  7. ↑ Arzu, presentado con el Berc-Tero [sic] tailandés (Arzu, presented with Berc-Tero from Thailand); Manquepierda, August 2012 (Spanish)

External links

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