Oyarzabal joins Real Sociedad's legendary XI as he equals Urreisti's appearance record
The Real Sociedad captain will make his 416th appearance for the club against Barcelona, cementing his place among the Basque side's all-time greats.
Mikel Oyarzabal is set to write another chapter in his remarkable Real Sociedad story this Sunday, equalling Dioni Urreisti’s tally of 416 appearances and securing his spot in the club’s all-time legendary XI.
A decade of dedication
It’s been nearly three months since Oyarzabal celebrated the tenth anniversary of his debut for La Real, which came back on October 25, 2015. Since that day, the talismanic forward has steadily accumulated appearances, passing milestone after milestone. This season he’s already surpassed the 400-game mark, leaving notable names like Antoine Griezmann, Asier Illarramendi and Agustín Aranzabal in his wake.
The current La Real number 10 has also overtaken club legends such as Santi Idígoras, Peio Uralde and Jesús Mari Satrústegui in the all-time appearance list. Proper Bobby Dazzler, that.
The legendary XI
With Oyarzabal replacing Urreisti, the club’s all-time legendary XI (based on appearances) now looks something like this in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
- GK: Arconada (551 appearances)
- Defence: Fuentes (495), Gajate (469), Kortabarria (442), Gorriz (559)
- Midfield: Larrañaga (589), Aramburu (427)
- Attack: Xabi Prieto (532), Zamora (588), López Ufarte (488)
- Striker: Oyarzabal (416)
That’s some serious talent right there – the cream of the crop from throughout La Real’s storied history.
Eyes on the future
While personal milestones are nice, Oyarzabal’s immediate focus will be on helping his team secure three vital points against Barcelona. The Basque side are uncomfortably close to the relegation zone and need results quickly.
The captain will be particularly keen to bounce back after Tuesday’s emotional rollercoaster, where he missed a penalty in extra time but later converted in the decisive shootout.
Oyarzabal’s next target will be breaking into the club’s top ten appearance makers, with Mikel Aramburu’s 427 games the next milestone in his sights. At his current trajectory, that record should fall before the season’s end.
For a local lad who’s always put the team first, this latest achievement will surely bring a touch of pride – even if he’d swap it in a heartbeat for three points against Barça on Sunday.