Aitor Iruarrizaga Amarika(born 29 July 1968), known asAitor Iru,is a Spanish retiredfootballerwho played as agoalkeeper,and is the goalkeeping coach ofAthletic Bilbao.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aitor Iruarrizaga Amarika | ||
| Date of birth | 29 July 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Bilbao,Spain | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Athletic Bilbao(goalkeeping coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1991 | Barakaldo | 57 | (0) |
| 1991–1993 | Bilbao Athletic | 45 | (0) |
| 1993–1995 | Compostela | 75 | (0) |
| 1995–1996 | Mérida | 0 | (0) |
| 1996–1998 | Almería | 41 | (0) |
| 1998–2002 | SD Eibar | 47 | (0) |
| 2002–2006 | Amurrio | 18 | (0) |
| Total | 283 | (0) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008–2009 | Bilbao Athletic(goalkeeping coach) | ||
| 2011–2017 | Athletic Bilbao(goalkeeping coach) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Bilbao Athletic(goalkeeping coach) | ||
| 2018– | Athletic Bilbao(goalkeeping coach) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editIru was born inBilbaoin theprovinceofBiscay,in theBasque Country,and began his career with Biscayan clubBarakaldo.After two seasons with Barakaldo inSegunda División B,he joined local giantsAthletic Bilbaoin 1991. He spent two seasons playing forthe B teamin theSegunda División,but never appeared for the first team, and left to sign for second tier rivalsCompostelain 1993. Inhis first season,Compostela achieved promotion toLa Ligafor the first time in their history after winning aplayoff.He continued to be first choice in1994–95,making 37 top flight appearances as Compostela avoided relegation. He joined fellow first division clubMéridain the summer of 1995, but made only 4 appearances during hissole seasonwith the club, all in theCopa del Rey.[2]
Mérida were relegated in 1996, and Iru left the club that summer to sign forAlmeríain the Segunda División. He spent two seasons with Almería, inthe first of whichthey were relegated to Segunda División B. He joinedEibarin 1998, where he played in the second tier for four seasons before signing for Segunda División B sideAmurrioin 2002, where he finished his career.[2]
Coaching career
editIru returned toBilbao Athleticin 2008, becoming their goalkeeping coach,[3]a position he held forone season.He made another return to the club in 2011, this time becoming goalkeeping coach forthe first team,replacing Luis Llopis.[1][4]In July 2017,Cuco Ziganda,who had until then been coaching the B team, replacedErnesto Valverdeas Athletic manager.[5]Ziganda broughtImanol Etxeberriawith him as goalkeeping coach so he and Etxeberria swapped places, Iru returning to the B team.[6]
In December 2018, B team coachGaizka Garitanofollowed Ziganda's path by being promoted to first team manager, replacingEduardo Berizzo.[7][8]Like Ziganda, he chose to bring his goalkeeping coach with him, meaning Iru was promoted to the first team once again, replacing Carlos Kisluk.[1][9]As of March 2021, Iru remains in post,[1]now working underMarcelino,who replaced Garitano in January of that year.[10]
Personal life
editIru's son Ander is also a goalkeeper, who has played for Bilbao Athletic since 2016.[11][12]Ander was coached by his father during the latter's tenure as Bilbao Athletic goalkeeping coach in2017–18.Aitor's brotherPatxi Iru,older by almost six years, was also a goalkeeper, representing both Athletic Bilbao andOsasunainLa Liga.[13][14]Patxi's sonJonis amidfielder,[15]currently playing forHaro DeportivoinSegunda División B.[16]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barakaldo | 1989–90 | Segunda División B | 19 | 0 | – | – | 19 | 0 | ||
| 1990–91 | 38 | 0 | 6 | 0 | – | 44 | 0 | |||
| Total | 57 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 0 | ||
| Athletic Bilbao B | 1991–92 | Segunda División | 8 | 0 | – | – | 8 | 0 | ||
| 1992–93 | 37 | 0 | – | – | 37 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| Compostela | 1993–94 | Segunda División | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[1] | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | La Liga | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 41 | 0 | ||
| Total | 75 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 0 | ||
| Mérida | 1995–96 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | |
| Almería | 1996–97 | Segunda División | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 37 | 0 | |
| 1997–98 | Segunda División B | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| SD Eibar | 1998–99 | Segunda División | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 16 | 0 | |||
| 2000–01 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2001–02 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 9 | 0 | |||
| Total | 47 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | ||
| Amurrio | 2002–03 | Segunda División B | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 | 0 | |
| 2003–04 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 283 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 307 | 0 | ||
- 1.^Appearances in the1993–94 Segunda División promotion playoff
References
edit- ^abcd"Iru".worldfootball.net.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^abc"Iru".BDFutbol.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"El Athletic contrata a Aitor Iru para entrenar a los porteros del filial".El Correo.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Aitor Iru será el entrenador de porteros del Athletic".AS(in Spanish). 13 July 2011.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"José Ángel Ziganda, Athletic Club's new manager".Athletic Bilbao. 24 May 2017.Retrieved25 May2017.
- ^"Athletic. El nuevo nido de Kuko".Mundo Deportivo.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Replacement of Eduardo Berizzo".Athletic Bilbao. 4 December 2018.Retrieved4 December2018.
- ^Lowe, Sid (11 December 2018)."Athletic Bilbao would rather be relegated than compromise their values as battle at bottom looms".ESPN.Retrieved12 January2019.
- ^"Arranca la era Garitano en el Athletic".Mundo Deportivo.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Marcelino García Toral: Athletic Club's new head coach".Athletic Bilbao. 4 January 2021.Retrieved4 January2021.
- ^"Ander Iru".BDFutbol.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Jon Iru Busca Protagonismo en el Barakaldo".eldesmarque.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Iru".BDFutbol.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Es un partido para disfrutar"[It is a match to enjoy] (in Spanish). Diario Información. 17 May 2015.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Jon Iru:" Mi madre tuvo la culpa de que no fuera portero ""[Jon Iru: "My mother is to blame for me not being a goalie" ] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 24 February 2017.Retrieved12 March2021.
- ^"Jon Iru".BDFutbol.Retrieved12 March2021.
External links
edit- Aitor Iruat BDFutbol
- Aitor Iruat WorldFootball.net
- Aitor Iruarrizagaat Athletic Club Website Oficial