Pablo Orbaiz


Pablo Orbaiz Lesaka is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
After starting out at Osasuna, he went on to play 11 years in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 318 competitive matches and scoring 13 goals.

Club career

Osasuna and Athletic

Born in Pamplona, Orbaiz began his career at his hometown club CA Osasuna, exclusively playing in the Segunda División with the team. He contributed 29 appearances and one goal in his final season, 1999–2000, as the Navarrese returned to La Liga after a six-year absence.
In summer 2000, Orbaiz signed for neighbours Athletic Bilbao, where he was a very important midfield element from the start; in the 2004–05 campaign he played 35 league matches and scored three goals, adding eight appearances in the UEFA [Europa League|UEFA Cup]. However, he also suffered serious knee injuries in 2002–03 and 2006–07.
In the 2009–10 season, Orbaiz continued to be first-choice when healthy. However, during one month, he was sent off twice for dangerous challenges – both of which resulted in two-match bans – at Villarreal CF and at home against Getafe CF.
For the following campaign, Orbaiz was promoted to team captain after the departures of Joseba Etxeberria and Francisco Yeste.

Later career

In late August 2011, after another season of regular use by manager Joaquín Caparrós – 26 games, 1,675 minutes – as Athletic once again qualified for the Europa League, the 32-year-old Orbaiz was loaned to Olympiacos F.C. in Greece, joining a host of compatriots at the Piraeus side including manager Ernesto Valverde. He won the domestic double and was able to realise his ambition of playing in the UEFA Champions League, making four group-stage appearances.
Orbaiz was subsequently released by Bilbao, signing a one-year contract with FC Rubin Kazan and reuniting with countryman and former Olympiacos teammate Iván Marcano. He retired in June 2015 at age 36, following a spell with amateurs CD Valle de Egüés.

International career

Orbaiz made his debut with Spain on 21 August 2002 in a testimonial match for Ferenc Puskás against Hungary, representing the nation on a further three occasions. Previously, he helped the under-20s to win the 1999 [FIFA World Youth Championship].

Honours

Athletic Bilbao
Olympiacos
Spain U20