Israel (footballer)

Israel David Bascón Gigato (born 16 March 1987), known simply as Israel, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a right midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Bascón and the second or maternal family name is Gigato.
Israel
Personal information
Full name Israel David Bascón Gigato
Date of birth (1987-03-16) 16 March 1987
Place of birth Utrera, Spain
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2002–2004 Betis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2010 Betis B 87 (8)
2004–2011 Betis 38 (1)
2006–2007 → Mérida (loan) 17 (0)
2011–2013 Xerez 44 (3)
2013 → Veria (loan) 0 (0)
2013–2016 Albacete 20 (0)
Total 206 (12)
National team
2003 Spain U16 3 (0)
2005 Spain U17 3 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Most of his professional career, which was bothered by physical problems, was spent at Betis.

Club career

Betis

Israel was born in Utrera, Province of Seville. A product of Real Betis's youth system, he made his debut for the first team against Real Sociedad, on 4 December 2004 (nine minutes, 0–1 away loss).[1] During that season he made a further seven La Liga appearances, adding three in the Copa del Rey where he scored his first goal for the Andalusians, against CD Mirandés.[2]

Israel played again in just eight league matches in the following campaign, all but one as a substitute. He also appeared in both European competitions, coming from the bench against Liverpool and R.S.C. Anderlecht in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[3][4]

During the 2006 off-season, in August, vastly underplayed at Betis due to the presence of Joaquín in his position,[5] Israel spent time at Chelsea on trial after a move to Real Madrid Castilla failed to materialise.[6] Nothing came of it, however, and the player then left for Mérida UD on a loan deal.

Shortly after, Israel was involved a serious car accident where he broke a collar bone and suffered several contusions. After that he returned to Betis, still being registered mainly for the club's reserves which competed in the third division.[7][5]

Israel scored his second competitive goal for Betis on 19 September 2010, heading from a Miguel Lopes cross past Real Valladolid's Jacobo in a 2–1 home win.[8] He contributed with 21 games – only four starts however, 644 minutes of action – during the season, as the Verdiblancos returned to the top level after two years out.

Xerez

In the following seasons, Israel continued to compete in division two, with Xerez CD. On 11 February 2013, he joined Superleague Greece's Veria F.C. on loan until June.[9]

Albacete

On 13 August 2013, Israel signed a one-year contract with third-tier team Albacete Balompié.[10] In November 2016, after undergoing three knee surgeries in only two years, the 29-year-old retired from football.[11]

References
  1. Sólo un detalle de calidad de Kovacevic (Only one display of skill by Kovacevic); El País, 5 December 2004 (in Spanish)
  2. Copa del Rey – Third round, first leg; Soccer Spain, 12 January 2005
  3. Liverpool 0–0 Real Betis; BBC Sport, 23 November 2005
  4. El Betis se despide de la Champions con otra derrota (Betis say goodbye to Champions with another loss); Sport, 7 December 2005 (in Spanish)
  5. Israel: "Ojalá sea la cantera la que suba al Betis" (Israel: "Hopefully it will be the youth system who promotes Betis"); El Correo de Andalucía, 14 October 2010 (in Spanish)
  6. Henry: Cole can go but Cesc must stay; Buzzle, 12 August 2006
  7. El último tren de Israel (Israel's last train); Diario de Sevilla, 22 September 2010 (in Spanish)
  8. El Betis remonta el tanto de un ex sevillista para seguir en lo más alto (Betis come from behind after former sevillista goal to stay on top); Marca, 19 September 2010 (in Spanish)
  9. Βέροια: Πήρε δανεικό τον Ίσραελ από τη Χερέθ (Veria: Israel loan from Xerez confirmed) Archived 2013-02-04 at the Wayback Machine; Inspor, 31 January 2013 (in Greek)
  10. Israel llega al Albacete (Israel arrives at Albacete); Estadio Deportivo, 13 August 2013 (in Spanish)
  11. Israel Bascón dice adiós al futbol (Israel Bascón says goodbye to football); Mundo Deportivo, 18 November 2016 (in Spanish)
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