Martin Zubimendi: The coach's midfielder and a 'complete' player

马丁·苏维门迪：教练心中的中场，一位“全面”的球员

Dermot Corrigan July 21, 2025 12:11 pm

Arsenal's new signing Martin Zubimendi might have been a surfer or a top chess player, but instead he became one of the most sought after holding midfielders in European football.

阿森纳的新援马丁·苏维门迪本可能成为一名冲浪者或顶级国际象棋棋手，但他最终成为了欧洲足坛最炙手可热的防守型中场之一。

The 26-year-old's list of admirers and suitors as he emerged and progressed at Real Sociedad is impressive. Former Barcelona playmaker Xavi wanted him in 2023 when he was head coach at Camp Nou. Liverpool thought they had him last year. Real Madrid's new head coach, Xabi Alonso, played a big role in shaping Zubimendi's game --- and a reunion seemed possible to some at the Bernabeu.

这位26岁球员在皇家社会崭露头角并成长的过程中，其仰慕者和追求者名单令人印象深刻。前巴塞罗那中场核心哈维在2023年担任诺坎普主教练时就想要他。利物浦去年曾以为已经得到了他。皇家马德里新任主教练哈维·阿隆索在塑造苏维门迪的球风方面扮演了重要角色——因此在伯纳乌，一些人认为重聚是可能的。

But Mikel Arteta pushed hardest to get Zubimendi and on July 6, Arsenal confirmed they would pay a fee of around €65million (£55.8m; $76.6m) to get their man.

但米克尔·阿尔特塔为得到苏维门迪付出了最大努力，7月6日，阿森纳确认将支付约6500万欧元（5580万英镑）来得到他们的目标。

This is the story of his rise and why he was so in demand.

这就是他崛起的故事以及他如此抢手的原因。

Though many have admired and looked into the signing of Zubimendi, it is telling that it is the former Spanish midfielders-turned-coaches mentioned above who have rated him so highly.

尽管许多人都欣赏并关注过签下苏维门迪的可能性，但值得注意的是，正是上述提到的那些由西班牙中场球员转型而来的教练们对他评价如此之高。

According to former Leeds United, Malaga and Valencia coach Javi Gracia, it is because of Zubimendi's specific mix of attributes, on and off the ball.

根据前利兹联、马拉加和瓦伦西亚教练哈维·格拉西亚的说法，这是因为苏维门迪在控球和无球状态下所具备的特质的独特结合。

"As a 'medio-centro', you think about what the whole team needs, and as coaches we often especially like players who have characteristics that we had ourselves," Gracia tells The Athletic. Gracia himself played holding midfield for La Real in the 1990s, and has closely followed Zubimendi's development at Anoeta.

“作为一名‘中场核心’，你会考虑整支球队需要什么，作为教练，我们通常特别喜欢那些拥有我们自身曾经拥有特点的球员，”格拉西亚告诉《The Athletic》。格拉西亚本人在1990年代就曾为皇家社会踢防守中场，并密切关注了苏维门迪在阿诺埃塔球场的发展。

"For those who have been very top players --- like Mikel, Xabi and Xavi --- it can be hard to find players for their teams who can do what they used to do. Martin is a real team player, very honest, hardworking, generous and always committed, with quality in attack and defence."

“对于那些曾是顶级球员的人来说——比如米克尔（阿尔特塔）、哈维（阿隆索）和哈维——要为自己的球队找到能像他们过去那样踢球的球员可能很难。马丁是一个真正的团队型球员，非常诚实、勤奋、无私且始终投入，在攻防两端都有很高的质量。”

Zubimendi was born in February 1999 in San Sebastian's quiet and prosperous Ulia neighbourhood, close to both the beach and the mountains. His mother was a teacher, his father a university professor of physical education, who also coached in semi-pro regional Basque football. "Sport has always been like a religion in my house," Zubimendi told Diario Vasco in 2020.

苏维门迪出生于1999年2月，在圣塞巴斯蒂安宁静而富裕的乌里亚社区长大，那里靠近海滩和山脉。他的母亲是一名教师，父亲是大学体育教授，同时也执教于半职业的巴斯克地区足球队。“运动在我家一直像宗教一样，”苏维门迪在2020年告诉《巴斯克日报》。

After starting with his neighbourhood side Lengokoak, Zubimendi joined the city's highest profile youth team Antiguoko, where Arteta, Alonso, and current Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola also played as kids.

在从家乡球队伦戈科亚克起步后，苏维门迪加入了该市最负盛名的青年队安蒂古科，阿尔特塔、阿隆索以及现任伯恩茅斯主帅安多尼·伊劳拉小时候也曾在此效力。

Zubimendi played as Antiguoko's under-14s beat Brazilians Salvador de Bahia in the 2012 final of the prestigious Donosti Cup youth tournament at Real Sociedad's Anoeta Stadium.

在2012年于皇家社会阿诺埃塔球场举行的著名圣塞巴斯蒂安杯青年锦标赛决赛中，苏维门迪代表安蒂古科U14队出战并击败了巴西的萨尔瓦多·德·巴伊亚队。

By then, La Real had already shown interest, but Zubimendi did not immediately stand out as a future pro.

那时，皇家社会已经表现出兴趣，但苏维门迪并未立即展现出未来职业球员的潜质。

"Martin went to train with La Real for three years, as an 'external' player, but they did not sign him permanently," Antiguoko president Roberto Montiel tells The Athletic.

“马丁以‘外部’球员的身份去皇家社会训练了三年，但他们并没有正式签下他，”安蒂古科主席罗伯托·蒙蒂尔告诉《The Athletic》。

"At 'Cadete' level (under-15s), he made a leap forward. Some other clubs showed interest, and La Real signed him then."

“在‘Cadete’级别（U15）时，他实现了飞跃。其他一些俱乐部也表示了兴趣，皇家社会那时签下了他。”

At La Real's Zubieta academy, Zubimendi's progress was again steady rather than spectacular.

在皇家社会的祖比埃塔青训营，苏维门迪的进步再次是稳步而非惊人的。

He debuted at 18 for Real Sociedad's B team, then coached by Imanol Alguacil in the Segunda B (Spanish football's old semi-professional third tier), but others were on faster tracks to the first team. The summer of 2019 saw Alonso take over La Real's B team.

18岁时，他在皇家社会B队首次亮相，当时球队由伊马诺尔·阿尔瓜西尔在西乙B联赛（西班牙足球旧的三级半职业联赛）执教，但其他人进入一线队的道路更快。2019年夏天，阿隆索接手了皇家社会B队。

The former La Real, Liverpool and Madrid holding midfielder saw a lot of himself in Zubimendi --- similar position on the field, background and personality and spent a lot of time teaching him different aspects of the role.

这位曾在皇家社会、利物浦和皇马踢过防守中场的名宿在苏维门迪身上看到了很多自己的影子——相似的场上位置、背景和个性——并花了很多时间教导他这个角色的方方面面。

Sources close to both, requesting anonymity like all consulted for this article in order to speak openly, say Alonso saw Zubimendi almost as a "personal cause".

与两人关系密切的消息人士（如本文所有采访对象一样要求匿名以畅所欲言）表示，阿隆索几乎将苏维门迪视为一个“个人事业”。

"That (2019-20) was a key year for me, because I had not played many minutes before," Zubimendi told El Pais in 2023. "(Alonso) spent more time with me than others, because he wanted someone in that position who could do the things he liked to do."

“那（2019-20）对我来说是关键的一年，因为我之前上场时间不多，”苏维门迪在2023年告诉《国家报》。“（阿隆索）在我身上花的时间比其他人多，因为他希望在那个位置上的人能做他喜欢做的事情。”

After a year working with Alonso, Zubimendi was ready for the first team, which Alguacil now coached. When football returned following the break for Covid-19 in summer 2020, he won a starting spot as La Real finished the season strongly to qualify for the Europa League.

与阿隆索共事一年后，苏维门迪为一队做好了准备，当时的主教练正是阿尔瓜西尔。当足球在2020年夏天因新冠疫情停摆后回归时，他赢得了一个首发位置，皇家社会也强势结束赛季，获得了欧联杯资格。

The following season saw Zubimendi established at the base of the midfield alongside David Silva and Mikel Merino. La Real won the (delayed) 2020 Copa del Rey final against Basque rivals Athletic Club in March 2021.

接下来的赛季，苏维门迪与大卫·席尔瓦和米克尔·梅里诺一起在中场后方站稳了脚跟。2021年3月，皇家社会在（延期举行的）2020年国王杯决赛中击败了巴斯克对手毕尔巴鄂竞技队。

Zubimendi's form saw him start for Spain at that summer's Under-21 European Championship in Hungary and Slovenia (where they lost to Portugal in the semi-finals) and the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where they lost to Brazil in the final. Luis de la Fuente, who later became Spain's senior team head coach, led both those junior sides.

凭借出色的状态，苏维门迪在那个夏天为西班牙国青队在匈牙利和斯洛文尼亚举行的U21欧青赛（半决赛输给葡萄牙）以及东京奥运会（决赛输给巴西）首发。后来成为西班牙国家队主教练的路易斯·德拉富恩特执教了这两支青年队。

The following September, in 2022, Zubimendi was the chief organiser in the La Real team that won at Manchester United in the Europa League group stage.

接下来的2022年9月，苏维门迪是皇家社会队在欧联杯小组赛客场战胜曼联队时的核心组织者。

"Zubimendi developed in La Real playing most often in a 4-3-3, as the No 6, the deepest of the three midfielders," Gracia says. "In possession, a lot of the team's play passed through him --- sometimes he would drop between the centre-halves to help start moves. He also took up positions between the lines to take the ball.

“苏维门迪在皇家社会的成长过程中，最常踢4-3-3阵型中的6号位，即三名中场中位置最深的那个，”格拉西亚说。“在控球时，球队大量的进攻都经过他——有时他会回撤到中卫之间帮助发起进攻。他也会占据防线之间的位置来接球。”

"He linked the team's play together, kept it moving. Defensively, he could add solidity to the team's back line when necessary. A very complete player."

“他将球队的进攻串联起来，保持运转。在防守端，他能在必要时为球队的后防线增添稳固性。一位非常全面的球员。”

A new contract agreed in October 2022 set his release clause at €60m as other clubs circled. "Zubimendi is an extraordinary 'pivot'," Xavi told Sport in May 2023. "He controls the game, the moments, on and off the ball. He wins duels. He understands the model (of play) we like at Barca."

2022年10月达成的新合同将其解约金定为6000万欧元，当时其他俱乐部正虎视眈眈。“苏维门迪是一位非凡的‘拖后中场’，”哈维在2023年5月告诉《Sport》。“他控制比赛、掌控节奏，无论有球无球。他赢得对抗。他理解我们在巴萨喜欢的（比赛）模式。”

Barca's decision-makers viewed the release clause as too expensive for a pivot. La Real were delighted, and that autumn, Alguacil's team topped a Champions League group featuring Inter, Benfica and Red Bull Salzburg while conceding just two goals in six games.

巴萨的决策者认为对于一个拖后中场来说，这个解约金太贵了。皇家社会对此感到高兴，那年秋天，阿尔瓜西尔的球队在欧冠小组赛中力压国际米兰、本菲卡和萨尔茨堡红牛排名小组第一，六场比赛仅失两球。

Although they lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, it was still a tremendous achievement by a group of players, many of whom --- including Zubimendi, Mikel Oyarzabal, Robin Le Normand and Ander Barrenetxea --- had grown up together under Alguacil.

尽管他们在16强中输给了巴黎圣日耳曼，但这仍然是一群球员取得的巨大成就，其中许多人——包括苏维门迪、米克尔·奥亚萨瓦尔、罗宾·勒诺尔芒和安德·巴雷内切亚——都是在阿尔瓜西尔手下一起成长起来的。

Last summer, Zubimendi was part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024, coming off the bench when Manchester City's Rodri was injured in the first half of the final against England that Spain won 2-1. By that stage, it was Liverpool who were attempting to persuade him to leave home. Zubimendi thought long and hard before deciding to stay with his hometown club, leaving Liverpool feeling he had gone back on his word.

去年夏天，苏维门迪是西班牙赢得2024年欧洲杯冠军阵容的一员，在决赛对阵英格兰的上半场曼城的罗德里受伤后，他替补出场，西班牙最终2-1获胜。那时，是利物浦在试图说服他离开家乡。苏维门迪经过深思熟虑后决定留在他的家乡俱乐部，这让利物浦感觉他食言了。

"My philosophy is to do what I feel inside," Zubimendi told El Pais last October. "Every transfer window, different clubs are talked about, it's normal. I thought that maybe the best for me was to stay at my club, look for personal growth."

“我的哲学是遵从内心的感受，”苏维门迪去年十月告诉《国家报》。“每个转会窗口，都会有不同的俱乐部被提及，这很正常。我认为也许对我最好的选择是留在我的俱乐部，寻求个人成长。”

The Basque's connection to his home city is clear. His apartment in San Sebastian's fashionable Gros neighbourhood was a short walk from his parents' house and the Zurriola beach. "My friends surf, but I don't, I can't because of football," he told ABC in July 2024.

这位巴斯克球员与家乡城市的联系显而易见。他在圣塞巴斯蒂安时尚的格罗斯社区的公寓距离他父母的房子和苏里奥拉海滩只有很短的步行路程。“我的朋友们冲浪，但我不行，因为足球我不能冲浪，”他在2024年7月告诉《ABC报》。

Zubimendi has also been studying for a degree in physical activity and sports sciences at the University of Burgos. Growing up, he was the Gipuzkoa region's chess champion aged 11, and he still plays today.

苏维门迪还在布尔戈斯大学攻读体育活动和运动科学学位。成长过程中，他在11岁时就成为了吉普斯夸地区的国际象棋冠军，并且至今仍在玩棋。

"Chess gives me a lot of concentration, having things under control --- it has a lot in common with football, as just one slip can cost you dearly," he told Relevo during last summer's Euros.

“国际象棋让我更加专注，能掌控局面——它与足球有很多共同点，因为一个小小的失误就可能让你付出高昂代价，”他在去年夏天的欧洲杯期间告诉《Relevo》。

Real Sociedad's 2024-25 season brought a clear end-of-cycle feeling. Merino (to Arsenal) and Le Normand (to Atletico Madrid) were sold last summer. During the campaign, sporting director Roberto Olabe and coach Alguacil announced they were also leaving.

皇家社会的2024-25赛季带来了一种明显的周期结束感。梅里诺（转会阿森纳）和勒诺尔芒（转会马德里竞技）在去年夏天被出售。在赛季期间，体育总监罗伯托·奥拉贝和主教练阿尔瓜西尔也宣布即将离任。

It has long seemed clear that Zubimendi would also be on his way. Arsenal began actively pursuing a deal to sign him in January. Sources who know him say he believes he has proven he is ready to step up to the Premier League alongside regular appearances in the Champions League.

苏维门迪也将离开，这似乎早已明了。阿森纳在一月份开始积极追求签下他的交易。了解他的消息人士称，他相信自己已经证明准备好迎接英超联赛的挑战，同时也能稳定参加欧冠联赛。

Arteta was a driving force in persuading Zubimendi to come to London. As speculation intensified in May, cameras caught La Real's Basque coach Alguacil jokingly shouting instructions in English at Zubimendi ("intensity!") during one of their last training sessions together.

阿尔特塔是说服苏维门迪来到伦敦的主要推动力。随着五月份传闻加剧，摄像机捕捉到皇家社会的巴斯克教练阿尔瓜西尔在他们最后一次合练中，用英语对苏维门迪开玩笑地喊着指令（“强度！”）。

Then Real Madrid hired Alonso in late May, bringing a potential late complication. Madrid have lacked someone to control games from deep midfield since Toni Kroos' retirement in 2024. Zubimendi himself caused some suspense by predicting "a long summer" when asked about his future in early June.

随后，皇家马德里在五月底聘请了阿隆索，带来了潜在的后期变数。自托尼·克罗斯2024年退役后，皇马一直缺少一位能从后腰位置掌控比赛的人选。苏维门迪本人在六月初被问及未来时预言“这将是一个漫长的夏天”，这引起了一些悬念。

He again showed his quality while playing both Spain's Nations League games that month, scoring in the 2-2 draw against Portugal in the final. But although there is admiration at the Bernabeu for Zubimendi's game, the club hierarchy did not actively pursue his signature.

他在那个月代表西班牙参加的两场欧国联比赛中再次展现了实力，并在决赛对阵葡萄牙的2-2平局中打入一球。但尽管伯纳乌方面欣赏苏维门迪的比赛风格，俱乐部高层并未积极追求签下他。

Any doubts were ended when Zubimendi was in London on June 20 to meet Arsenal officials and complete the formalities of his transfer. It was announced on July 6 that the deal was completed and a five-year contract at the Emirates had been signed.

当苏维门迪于6月20日在伦敦会见阿森纳官员并完成转会手续时，一切疑虑都烟消云散。7月6日宣布交易完成，并在酋长球场签署了一份为期五年的合同。

"When Zubimendi has played regularly for the national team, he showed what he has been showing at La Real for many years," Gracia says.

“当苏维门迪在国家队稳定出场时，他展现出了多年来在皇家社会所展现的东西，”格拉西亚说。

"He has the physical capacity for the Premier League, where you need the legs to cover more distance. La Real's style was also to press very high, so I don't think he will have a problem in England."

“他有在英超联赛踢球的身体素质，在那里你需要有足够的体能覆盖更多距离。皇家社会的风格也是高压逼抢，所以我认为他在英格兰不会有问题。”