Markel Bergara


Markel Bergara Larrañaga is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He spent the better part of his career with Real Sociedad, appearing in 212 competitive matches and scoring four goals. In La Liga, he also represented Getafe.

Club career

Real Sociedad

Bergara was born in Elgoibar, Gipuzkoa. A Real Sociedad youth graduate, he started his professional career on loan, having season-long spells in the second division with SD Eibar and UD Vecindario, both ended in relegation.
On 4 September 2007, Bergara made his first-team debut for Real, appearing in a 0–1 away defeat against UD Las Palmas for the Copa del Rey. He only played four times in the league in his first year, also in the second level.
Bergara appeared in 19 games in 2009–10 as the Basques returned to La Liga after a three-year absence, as champions. He made his debut in the competition on 13 September 2010 in a 2–2 away draw against UD Almería, and finished the campaign with exactly the same number of appearances as the club retained its division status, albeit in 491 more minutes of play.
Bergara contributed with 28 matches in 2012–13, as the Txuriurdin finished fourth and returned to the UEFA Champions League after more than a decade. He scored his first goal as a professional on 24 March 2014, but in a 3–4 loss at Almería.
Bergara missed the vast majority of the 2016–17 season, due to an ankle injury.

Getafe

On 18 July 2017, Bergara was loaned to fellow top level side Getafe CF for one year. He managed to net four times in only his first 14 appearances, but in December he suffered another serious physical ailment, this time in the knee.
On 27 June 2018, Getafe signed Bergara permanently. In January 2020, not being able to overcome his injury problems, he announced his retirement at the age of 33.

Honours

Club

Real Sociedad
Spain U19