Andoni Iraola
Encyclopedia
Andoni Iraola Sagarna is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao
in La Liga
, as a defender
or midfielder
.
Combative and with good passing skills, he operates on the right flank, and spent his entire professional career with Athletic Bilbao
.
famed youth system, Lezama
, Iraola made his debuts with the first team in the 2003–04 season, becoming an instant first-choice, while often taking Athletic's penalties
and free kicks
. On 30 August 2003, he made his first La Liga
appearance, starting in a 0–1 home loss against FC Barcelona
.
During his spell, Iraola never played in less than 30 league matches, while also helping the Basque
qualify for the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, and finish second in the 2009 domestic cup
; as former club legend, Aitor Larrazábal
, he too contributed with goals, scoring at least once in every season.
On 28 January 2007, Iraola scored twice in a 2–0 away win against neighbours Real Sociedad
, who were finally relegated. Athletic narrowly avoided a drop, ranking in 17th position.
coach Vicente del Bosque
for a friendly with Denmark
, alongside teammate Fernando Amorebieta
. He entered the pitch in the final 15 minutes of the 3–0 away success, subbing in for Sergio Ramos
.
On 29 March 2011, after nearly one 1/2 years without playing for the national team, Iraola started in a 3–1 win against Lithuania
in Kaunas
for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Combative and with good passing skills, he operates on the right flank, and spent his entire professional career with Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
.
Club career
A product of Athletic de BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
famed youth system, Lezama
Lezama
Lezama is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It is home to the training headquarters of the football team Athletic Bilbao, and is accessible by bus - BizkaiBus - from Bilbao.-External links:*...
, Iraola made his debuts with the first team in the 2003–04 season, becoming an instant first-choice, while often taking Athletic's penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
and free kicks
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
. On 30 August 2003, he made his first La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
appearance, starting in a 0–1 home loss against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
During his spell, Iraola never played in less than 30 league matches, while also helping the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
qualify for the 2004–05 UEFA Cup, and finish second in the 2009 domestic cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
; as former club legend, Aitor Larrazábal
Aitor Larrazábal
Aitor Larrazábal Bilbao is a retired Spanish footballer who played solely for Athletic de Bilbao....
, he too contributed with goals, scoring at least once in every season.
On 28 January 2007, Iraola scored twice in a 2–0 away win against neighbours Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, who were finally relegated. Athletic narrowly avoided a drop, ranking in 17th position.
International career
On 20 August 2008, Iraola was called by new SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
coach Vicente del Bosque
Vicente Del Bosque
Vicente del Bosque González, 1st Marquis of Del Bosque is a former Spanish footballer He is currently the manager of the Spanish national football team. After taking over from Luis Aragonés who had led Spain to European success in Euro 2008, Del Bosque went on to manage the national team to the...
for a friendly with Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
, alongside teammate Fernando Amorebieta
Fernando Amorebieta
Fernando Gabriel Amorebieta Mardaras is a Venezuelan footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao as a central defender....
. He entered the pitch in the final 15 minutes of the 3–0 away success, subbing in for Sergio Ramos
Sérgio Ramos
Sérgio Bruno Antunes Selores Ramos is a Portuguese basketball player.He measures 2.00 metres and plays as a Forward . He announced the end of his international career, after Portugal's exit from the EuroBasket 2007...
.
On 29 March 2011, after nearly one 1/2 years without playing for the national team, Iraola started in a 3–1 win against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
.