[2] Best known for his physical strength and aerial ability,[3] the unsuccessful youth graduate at Real Madrid went on to represent seven other teams during his extensive professional career, mainly Athletic Bilbao where he spent 11 years.

Born in Tudela, Navarre, Urzaiz began his professional career at Real Madrid's reserves, joining the youth system from local Tudelano in 1985[6] and making his debut in the Segunda División four years later.

[11] The following campaign, Urzaiz joined Espanyol for 35 million pesetas[6] and exploded as a first-rate attacking player, netting 13 league goals for a side that eventually finished fourth,[12][13] including a hat-trick against his former club Rayo Vallecano for a 4–2 home victory on 14 April 1996.

[7] Urzaiz scored in double figures in six of his campaigns at the San Mamés Stadium,[15] but the emergence of youth graduate Fernando Llorente – even taller at 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) – prompted his exit in July 2007;[16] he still featured in 35 competitive games in his final year, coincidentally also his age by its end, but only completed the 90 minutes in six of them.

Over the next three years he made only three more appearances and failed to score, but emerged as the hero as Spain qualified for UEFA Euro 2000, netting six times in three games – this included two against Austria and a hat-trick against Cyprus.