José Orúe

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

José María Orúe Aranguren (17 March 1931 – 30 June 2007) was a Spanish footballer who played as a right defender.

He spent the vast majority of his professional career - which lasted 18 years - at Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 17 La Liga seasons and winning a total of four major trophies.

Club career

Orúe was born in Zorroza, a neighbourhood in Bilbao, Biscay. After starting his career at CD Getxo, the 19-year-old signed with Basque giants Athletic Bilbao, making his La Liga debut on 31 December 1950, in a 0–2 away loss against Atlético Madrid, in what would be his only appearance of the season.

After a loan to Barakaldo CF in the same region, in the second division, Orúe returned to Athletic to be an instrumental part of the sides that won one league and three Copa del Rey trophies in the 50's, including the double in the 1955–56 campaign, with the player contributing with 35 official games (one goal, in a 3–2 home win against Deportivo Alavés on 1 January 1956, his only as a professional).

Part of the team that was dubbed "The 11 villagers"- which also included the likes of Carmelo Cedrún, Canito, Jesús Garay and José María Maguregui - Orúe left Bilbao after 1967–68 at the age of 37. He appeared in 391 league games for his main club, fourth-most after José Ángel Iribar, Joseba Etxeberria and Txetxu Rojo (480 overall).

Orúe died on 30 June 2007 at the age of 76 in Bilbao, due to heart failure.

International career

Orúe gained three caps for the Spanish national team, over a three 1/2-year period. His international debut came on 8 November 1953, playing the entire 2–2 friendly with Sweden, in Bilbao.

Orúe's other two appearances arrived in 1957, against Holland (5–1 win, friendly) and Switzerland (2–2, in a 1958 FIFA World Cup qualifier).

Honours

• Spanish League: 1955–56
• Spanish Cup: 1954–55, 1955–56, 1957–58

External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Athletic Bilbao profile
• National team data (Spanish)