José Luis Astiazarán

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Astiazarán and the second or maternal family name is Iriondo.

José Luis Astiazarán
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President of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional
In office 15 July 2005 – 26 April 2013
Vice President	Javier Tebas
Preceded by	Pedro Tomás
Succeeded by	Javier Tebas
Personal details
Born	José Luis Astiazarán Iriondo (1963-10-31) 31 October 1963 Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Lawyer

José Luis Astiazarán Iriondo (born 31 October 1963) is a Spanish lawyer specializing in sport and commercial and civil law, and between 2005 and 2013 president of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional.

Football career

Astiazarán was born in Mexico City, Mexico to a Spanish couple of Basque descent, returning to his parents' region of birth shortly after. A forward, he graduated from Real Sociedad's youth academy but only represented its reserves as a senior, the same happening at his following team, Athletic Bilbao.

Astiazarán played professionally for Sestao Sport Club– also in his native region – and Bilbao Athletic, appearing in a total of 43 Segunda División games during his short career (four goals). In 1992 he returned to his first club, working with its board of directors until 2001.

Law career

While still working with Real Sociedad as a director, Astiazarán also acted as legal adviser for athletes, companies and institutions in the sports sector. He became president of the club on 22 March 2001 and left the position in 2005, leaving the club in a poor sporting and economic situation – €10 million worth of debt.

On 15 July 2005 Astiazarán was appointed president of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Professional Football League), the body governing both La Liga and the second division. Having earlier served as vice president and member of the board of directors in the organization, he won the election unanimously, with all but three clubs – Real Sociedad, SD Eibar and CA Osasuna – showing him support; he was re-elected in April 2009 for another period of four years, and in 2013 Javier Tebas took over as president after he did not present himself for reelection.

Astiazarán is a member of the European Professional Football Leagues board of directors, and a member of the FIFA Player's Status Committee sub-committee, which verifies the transfers of minor players. In mid-May 2009, he claimed the 6+5 rule wouldn't have a negative impact on Spanish football.

External links

• José Luis Astiazarán profile at BDFutbol
• Liga de Fútbol Profesional website (Spanish)
• El País profile (Spanish)