Aritz Aduriz: A late rise to the top

By Jake Cole | Apr 7, 2016

BILBAO, SPAIN - APRIL 03: Aritz Aduriz of Athletic Club reacts during the La Liga match between Athletic Club Bilbao and Granada CF at San Mames Stadium on April 3, 2016 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) /

The Spanish national team and La Liga are known for having some of the world best players and from a young age the potential is visible. However, for Aritz Aduriz it has been a slightly different scenario.

No doubt about it that the tall striker has scored goals wherever he has been, but has been often overlooked for the national team due to being similar ages to the likes of Fernando Torres and David Villa. However, his form this season has shown that he is finally started showing his best football and it is being recognised from all across Europe and even by Spain manager, Vicente Del Bosque.

The Athletic Bilbao striker has been in fine form this season and has been vital during their successful season and Europa league campaign. In Bilbao’s route to the quarter-final against Sevilla in the Europa League, Aduriz has scored eight goals in eight games and has contributed with three assists as well. This particular form may be the reason why he is finally being recognised around Europe.

As well as some good form in Europe, he has also been on fire in the league, with 17 league goals and six assists in La Liga, as they try to fight for a European place for next season. Is the late rise from Aduriz due to a lack of opportunity or has he just not shown his potential until now?

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After a few years at different clubs in La Liga, where he always scored goals, but he was never first choice striker and he must have felt very hard done by. Previous spells at Mallorca, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao had all provided him with goals, but he would never cement his place as first choice striker. However, this season he has been vital to a lot of success that Bilbao have had in the league and in Europe.

Since the departure of Fernando Llorente to Juventus, he has managed to cement his place as a starter for Athletic Bilbao and also has since hit the 100 goal mark for the club. He has also won his first trophy with Bilbao after netting a hat-trick against Barcelona

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With the performances he was showing it was obviously hard for Vicente Del Bosque to ignore him. However, his recent call up to the national team wasn’t his first. Six years ago he was called up to the team for the Euro 2012 qualifiers after an impressive start to his Valencia career. However, this proved to be his only cap for Spain until now.

After his impressive from this season he was called up to the recent Spain squad for friendlies against Italy and Romania, he bagged his first international goal in the 1-1 draw with Italy. Hopefully this will get kick-start his international career, as the 35 year-old is edging towards the end of his career.

A return to Europa League action for Aduriz tonight against Spanish opposition, Sevilla and as they look to progress to the semi-final they will be looking for Aduriz to fire in some goals.

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He is certainly a latecomer in the footballing world and might just be Spain’s answer to their striker problems at this summers European Championships in France. He can play in a couple of different positions up top which will only have a positive effect on his claim for a spot in Spain’s final 23 man squad this summer.