Mikel Lasa


Mikel Lasa Goikoetxea is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left back.
He played 267 La Liga matches over 13 seasons, representing Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
Lasa was part of the squad that won the Olympic gold medal in 1992.

Club career

Lasa was born in Legorreta, Gipuzkoa. He was a product of local Real Sociedad's youth academy, and made his La Liga debut not yet aged 18, as the Basque side was coached by John Toshack, during the 1988–89 season.
After delivering as a young talent, Lasa signed with Real Madrid for the 1991–92 campaign for approximately €1.7 million, seen as a replacement for ageing Rafael Gordillo. After struggling initially, barred by Francisco Villarroya, he eventually became the starter, also scoring in the club's 2–0 win in the 1993 Copa del Rey final against Real Zaragoza; however, he would be virtually absent from the lineups after the 1996 signing of Brazilian Roberto Carlos.
Lasa joined Real Sociedad's neighbours, Athletic Bilbao, in 1997–98, being an important first-team element as they achieved a runner-up place. He played very little in his final three seasons and retired altogether in 2004, after Segunda División spells with neighbours Real and Ciudad de Murcia.

International career

Lasa played twice for Spain in 1993, incidentally both matches being against Lithuania during the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He was also a member of the side that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics, in Barcelona.

Honours

Club

Real Madrid
Murcia
Spain U16
Spain U23
Spain U21