Dani (footballer, born 1951)

1. Overview

Daniel Ruiz-Bazán Justa (born on 28 June 1951), commonly known as Dani, is a former Spanish footballer who primarily played as a striker. Standing at 67 in ^{(170 cm)} and weighing 161 lb ^{(73 kg)}, Dani was affectionately known by fans as El Gran Capitán_{The Great Captain}^Spanish and El Pequeño_{The Little One}^Spanish. Throughout his professional career, he dedicated himself almost exclusively to Athletic Bilbao, where he became an iconic figure, scoring 199 competitive goals over more than a decade with the first team. His unwavering loyalty and significant contributions were instrumental in the club's success, particularly during a period that saw them secure consecutive La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey victory. Beyond his prolific club career, Dani also proudly represented the Spain national team, showcasing his talent on the international stage in major tournaments.

2. Career

Dani's football career spanned from his youth development in the Basque Country to a distinguished professional tenure marked by significant contributions to Athletic Bilbao and appearances for the Spain national team. His journey demonstrates a steady progression, from foundational years in lower divisions to becoming a key player in Spanish football.

2.1. Club career

Dani's professional journey at the club level is largely defined by his deep connection with Athletic Bilbao, following formative years that laid the groundwork for his prolific career.

2.1.1. Early career

Born in Sopuerta, Biscay, Dani began his youth football development with various local clubs in the Basque Country. From 1968 to 1969, he played for his hometown club, Sopuerta. He then moved to CD Getxo for the 1969-1970 season, followed by a spell at Villosa from 1970 to 1971. In 1971, at the age of 20, he signed with Athletic Bilbao, initially spending one season with the reserve side, Bilbao Athletic, who were competing in the Tercera División, which was then the third tier of Spanish football.

To gain further experience, Dani was loaned out for two years to Barakaldo CF, a neighboring club playing in the Segunda División. His time with Barakaldo allowed him to hone his skills and prepare for the demands of top-flight football before his return to his parent club.

2.1.2. Athletic Bilbao

Dani returned to Athletic Bilbao in 1974, marking the beginning of his most significant and celebrated period in club football. His first La Liga match for the senior team occurred on 29 September 1974, an away fixture against Valencia CF, which Athletic lost 3-0. Following his debut, Dani quickly established himself as a consistent goalscorer, netting double-digit goals in nine of his next ten seasons with the club.

The 1976-77 season was particularly notable for Athletic Bilbao, as the club, often referred to as the Lions, achieved a third-place finish in the league. During this campaign, Dani was pivotal, contributing 29 goals across 46 official games as the team reached both the final of the UEFA Cup and the Copa del Rey final. Over his 12-year tenure at the historic San Mamés Stadium, he impressively surpassed the 20-goal mark in competitive matches on two separate occasions.

In the later years of his career, Dani played a crucial role in Athletic's triumphant period, helping the club secure back-to-back La Liga titles in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons. The 1983-84 season was particularly successful, as Athletic also won the Copa del Rey, achieving a rare domestic double. However, in the latter of these title-winning campaigns, Dani found himself playing a more peripheral role, making only 10 league appearances and scoring 3 goals. This shift was largely due to the emergence of a talented youth product from the club, Manuel Sarabia, who was six years his junior. Dani's playing time was further reduced after the first-team promotion of Julio Salinas, who was eleven years younger, signaling a generational transition within the squad.

Dani's impact on Athletic Bilbao extended to European competitions as well. His record of 11 goals in European competition stood as a club record for an impressive 25 years until it was surpassed by Fernando Llorente in 2012. Throughout his career, Dani was also renowned as a specialist in taking penalty kicks.

2.1.3. Retirement

Dani ultimately retired from professional football in June 1986, at the age of 35. He concluded his illustrious career with Athletic Bilbao having scored a total of 147 league goals from 302 appearances, in addition to his impressive overall competitive goal tally for the club.

3. Honours

Dani accumulated several significant titles and achievements during his career, primarily with his long-standing club, Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao

• La Liga: 1982-83, 1983-84
• Copa del Rey: 1983-84
• Supercopa de España: 1984
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1976-77