Mikel Labaka

Mikel Labaka Zurriarain (born 10 August 1980) is a Spanish professional football coach and former player who played as a central defender. He is currently the assistant manager of La Liga club Real Sociedad.

He amassed a total of 111 appearances and five goals over six seasons in La Liga, playing for Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano. He also played 111 games and scored eight goals in the Segunda División, in a 14-year professional career.

Club career
Born in Azpeitia, Basque Country, Labaka reached Real Sociedad's youth system at the age of 17. After playing three years with the reserves he made his professional debut with Real Unión (Segunda División B) and Ciudad de Murcia (Segunda División), spending one season with each club on loan.

On 24 October 2004, Labaka made his first-team – and La Liga – debut with Real Sociedad, in a 2–1 home win against RCD Mallorca, and finished his first season with 30 games and three goals to help the Txuriurdin to finish in 14th position. He only appeared in 11 league matches in 2006–07 as they suffered relegation for the first time in 40 years, but regained first-choice status the following campaigns.

In August 2011, the 31-year-old Labaka was deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Philippe Montanier, and left Real to sign for Rayo Vallecano, recently promoted to the top tier. He retired in June 2013, after two seasons as a backup.

Coaching career
Labaka was named assistant coach at his main club on 7 June 2016, after nearly two years in the same capacity with the B side.