Igor Zubeldia – Real Sociedad’s midfield anchor

Real Sociedad have a great lineage of midfielders being developed in their fabled academy as Xabi Alonso, Xabi Prieto, David Zurutuza and Asier Illaramendi all preceded the precocious Igor Zubeldia. During David Moyes’ tenure, he asked Jokin Aperribay to promote some youngsters from the youth academy for a pre-season training camp in Austria as Mikel Oyarzabal and Zubeldia were hand-picked for the Scottish manager. Both players have become crucial to the Basque side under three different managers while also joining the Spanish U21 side. Illaramendi casts a large shadow over Zubeldia but the youngster from Azkoitia is quietly emerging as a midfield pivote in his own right.

Zubeldia grew up a fan of Xabi Prieto and made it to the first team in time to play with his idol as he has made more than a half century of appearances for the club that he joined when he was 11. He is deployed next to another youth product in Illaramendi as the 21-year-old’s development has been aided by playing with the former Real Madrid midfielder. Zubeldia is regularly described as ‘Asier’s substitute’ by Real Sociedad fans and the local media in San Sebastian but with Illaramendi injured in recent times, he has shown that he can command the midfield on his own. Those labels do not phase the level-headed youngster as he is gradually growing into a reliable presence in the Anoeta.

In the defensive midfield position, simplicity is one of the most integral traits a young player could have as mistakes cost a premium. Zubeldia has mastered the art of simplicity as he instigates play with simple vertical passes while constantly holding his position and showing great anticipation to win possession. Real Sociedad have consistently looked to play the ball through high pressure areas as Zubeldia is adept at dropping in between his centre-backs, collecting possession and playing one or two-touch moves to covet the ball out of pressure. These well-rehearsed passing sequences have been a staple at the Anoeta since the appointment of Eusebio Sacristan as Zubeldia has developed as an integral build-up conduit at the club.

Zubeldia’s issues come with the fact that he is heavily right-footed and will sometimes take extra touches to ensure the ball is on his right which gifts opposition players the opportunity to win possession from him. Zubeldia is able to twist and turn out of pressure in some situations but has been faulted for losing possession in the early stages of Sociedad’s build-up. In tight situations, Sociedad will pass the ball to his right foot in order to expedite the process of moving the ball past the first wave of pressure. The young midfielder also helps himself by not holding the ball for too long and looking for a one or two touch move to set his body up for the simplest pass.

The competitive aspect of Illaramendi and Zubeldia’s midfield partnership should not overshadow how well they work in unison. Zubeldia dropping in between the centre-backs to demand possession allows Illaramendi to push higher up and work the ball in the higher areas of the pitch. This also allows Sociedad to have better press security as Zubeldia is talented at pushing up in the counter-press and recycling the ball well. In a match at home to Deportivo La Coruna last season, Zubeldia pushed up to win possession and play a through ball to Juanmi who squared an inch-perfect cross for Willian Jose to tap in a goal past unsuspecting defenders and the keeper. In the second half, Zubeldia then played his second key pass that led to a goal as he played a perfectly weighted diagonal to Willian Jose who played through Sergio Canales to round the keeper and score.

The product from Real Sociedad’s Zubieta-based training ground and academy faced a much sterner test against Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League. The opposition pressed ferociously and caused Zubeldia to lose the ball in some precarious positions as he was even targeted when he dropped into the box to receive the ball from the keeper, Geronimo Rulli. Zubeldia then distributed a pass to Alvaro Odriozola who drove into the box and struck it hard past Alexander Walke at his near post.

Teams have adjusted to Real Sociedad by specifically targeting Zubeldia as against Valencia, the opposition side played as a 4-4-2 but switched to a diamond to specifically mark the deepest lying midfielder. Real Betis used the same tactic when they faced Real Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey this season as the 21-year-old showed his lack of speed when he was outpaced by the 36-year-old Joaquin. It was also his worst game as a pivote because he was out passed by his counterpart William Carvalho. His and his team’s performance improved when Mikel Merino came on as Zubeldia was more confident in possession as Merino brought press resistance to the midfield by driving the ball forward.

Zubeldia’s influence on the game is not just not in the attacking phase as he thrives in winning back possession. He possesses the innate sense of dropping in-between the centre-backs during opposition attacks to win aerial duels from crosses while he can also push up from this position to put pressure on the ball when the opposition move play into the centre. He mostly wins the ball from interceptions due to his astute positional sense and his ability to cover short spaces to make timely challenges. Once he wins possession, he simply and calmly plays short passes, so his team can work the ball forward.

“Igor always brings us discipline and order. He is a player who complies 100% with what we need from him in that position and his discipline makes him always attentive to the coverage, always well placed, with intensity in the pressure and recovery actions. It brings a lot of balance in terms of offensive play by keeping the position very well,” said former Real Sociedad boss, Eusebio Sacristan to Naiz in March last year.

Zubeldia has a long-term deal to 2024 with a 50-million-euro release clause to keep him at the Anoeta for the immediate future as he continues to develop his game. He has put in some accomplished performances without his set of training wheels in Illaramendi as Real Sociedad continue to develop high-calibre players through their academy. He will only be turning 22 at the end of this month as he continues a long-line of efficient midfielders to don the blue and white of the Basque club.