Mikel Oyarzabal Set to Make History with Real Sociedad

Mikel Oyarzabal is poised to make history this Sunday with Real Sociedad by playing in his 416th match, thereby equalling Dioni Urreisti’s record and securing the eleventh position in the club’s ranking of players with the most appearances in the txuriurdin jersey. This achievement places him alongside legends such as Arconada, Fuentes, Gajate, Kortabarria, Gorriz, Larrañaga, Aramburu, Xabi Prieto, Zamora, and López Ufarte.

Almost three months ago, Oyarzabal celebrated the tenth anniversary of his debut with Real Sociedad, which took place on October 25, 2015. Since then, he has consistently added to his match tally, reaching milestones of 100, 200, 300, and now 400 appearances this season. Throughout his career, he has surpassed notable names like Antoine Griezmann, Asier Illarramendi, and Agustín Aranzabal, as well as club legends such as Santi Idígoras, Peio Uralde, and Jesús Mari Satrústegui.

With Oyarzabal eyeing a spot in the top ten of the club’s historical appearances, currently held by Mikel Aramburu at 427 matches, he will first match Urreisti’s 416 appearances this Sunday and take his place in a highly esteemed starting lineup.

In a 1-4-2-3-1 formation utilized by coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, legendary goalkeeper Arconada (551 appearances) will lead the defense, featuring Fuentes (495), Gajate (469), Kortabarria (442), and Gorriz (559). Larrañaga (589) and Aramburu (427) will form a double pivot, with Xabi Prieto (532), Zamora (588), and López Ufarte (488) supporting the attack. From this Sunday, Oyarzabal will replace Dioni Urreisti at the forefront of the offense, marking an important milestone in his career.

As the current captain, Oyarzabal, much like the other club legends, has always prioritized team success over individual accolades. His desire to secure a victory against Barcelona is paramount, as it would help Real Sociedad distance themselves from the lower part of the league standings. Nevertheless, entering the historic lineup before making it into the top ten surely adds to his pride regarding his illustrious career, especially after the emotional highs and lows he experienced on Tuesday, when he missed a penalty in extra time but later scored in the decisive round.