Born in
Gualeguay,
Entre Ríos, Burruchaga started playing in
1980 for
Arsenal de Sarandí in
Argentina's then second division. He contracted with
Independiente in
1982 and debuted in a victory against
Estudiantes de La Plata on 12 February. He was part of the team that won the
Metropolitano 1983, the
Copa Libertadores and the
Intercontinental Cup in 1984. He was then transferred to French team
Nantes, where he played for seven years. He also played one year for
Valenciennes, where he was involved in a
bribing scandal involving the French and European champions
Olympique de Marseille 'buying' a 1–0 league win at Valenciennes on 20 May 1993. Marseille midfielder
Jean-Jacques Eydelie and the club's general manager,
Jean-Pierre Bernès, had offered him money to throw the game. Burruchaga said he agreed but then changed his mind. He was subsequently given a suspended six-month jail sentence when judgment was delivered on 15 May 1995. He returned to
Argentina for his last spell in
Independiente, when he won a
Supercopa Sudamericana and a
Recopa Sudamericana both in 1995. He retired from professional football on 10 April 1998 in a match against
Vélez Sársfield. ==International career==