Asier Riesgo Unamuno
Encyclopedia
Asier Riesgo Unamuno is a Spanish
footballer who plays for CA Osasuna
as a goalkeeper.
's youth ranks, Riesgo made his professional debuts with neighbour side SD Eibar
, in the second division
, where he would play during one 1/2 seasons, being recalled in March 2004 due to an injury to first-choice Sander Westerveld
. In the dying stages of 2003–04, he made his top level
debut, playing against Deportivo Alavés
on 19 May.
After Westerveld was waived in the summer, Riesgo became the Basque
outfit's starter, but would have to battle with newly signed Chile
an Claudio Bravo in 2006–07. With Bravo as the first-choice, Real was eventually relegated.
In 2007–08, however, Riesgo played in all 42 league contests, although the club did not achieve a top flight return. In August 2008, he was loaned to Recreativo de Huelva
for €
350.000, with Real keeping a re-buy option for 4.300.000 and not having to pay the player's wages.
An undisputed starter throughout the season, Riesgo stopped two penalty kick
s on 4 January 2009, helping league strugglers Recre beat CD Numancia
at home, 3–1. On 11 April, he became the first to ever deny Lionel Messi
a penalty, clawing the Argentine's
effort out of the air as he saw his side bow down to a 2–0 defeat against FC Barcelona
. Eventually, Recreativo dropped down a level, with Riesgo playing in all 38 matches.
In December 2009, Riesgo served a trial at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur
- as potential cover for their injured goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini
, lost for the season after a motorcycle
accident. Upon his return, he found himself third-choice at Real Sociedad, only appearing in one match, as starter Claudio Bravo was severely injured and the backup Eñaut Zubikarai
had been sent off
against Córdoba CF
- he totalled seven matches and 630 minutes, as the club returned to the first division
after three years.
On 18 June 2010, Riesgo - whose contract with Real Sociedad had expired - signed for Navarre
se neighbours CA Osasuna
, for three years.
Spain U20
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 CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
as a goalkeeper.
Football career
A product of Real SociedadReal 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...
's youth ranks, Riesgo made his professional debuts with neighbour side SD Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
, in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, where he would play during one 1/2 seasons, being recalled in March 2004 due to an injury to first-choice Sander Westerveld
Sander Westerveld
Sander Westerveld is a Dutch professional football goalkeeper. He left Sparta Rotterdam at the end of the 2007–08 Eredivisie season to play for Monza, and is currently playing for South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town....
. In the dying stages of 2003–04, he made his top level
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...
debut, playing against Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
on 19 May.
After Westerveld was waived in the summer, Riesgo became 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....
outfit's starter, but would have to battle with newly signed Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an Claudio Bravo in 2006–07. With Bravo as the first-choice, Real was eventually relegated.
In 2007–08, however, Riesgo played in all 42 league contests, although the club did not achieve a top flight return. In August 2008, he was loaned to Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
350.000, with Real keeping a re-buy option for 4.300.000 and not having to pay the player's wages.
An undisputed starter throughout the season, Riesgo stopped two penalty kick
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...
s on 4 January 2009, helping league strugglers Recre beat CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
at home, 3–1. On 11 April, he became the first to ever deny Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
a penalty, clawing the Argentine's
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
effort out of the air as he saw his side bow down to a 2–0 defeat 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....
. Eventually, Recreativo dropped down a level, with Riesgo playing in all 38 matches.
In December 2009, Riesgo served a trial at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- as potential cover for their injured goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini is an Italian goalkeeper who currently plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. In his 10 years at Chelsea he established himself as one of England's best goalkeepers before injury and the arrival of Petr Cech displaced him as first-choice...
, lost for the season after a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
accident. Upon his return, he found himself third-choice at Real Sociedad, only appearing in one match, as starter Claudio Bravo was severely injured and the backup Eñaut Zubikarai
Eñaut Zubikarai
Eñaut Zubikarai Goñi is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Sociedad as a goalkeeper.-External links:* ** *...
had been sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
against Córdoba CF
Córdoba CF
Córdoba Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Córdoba, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1954, it plays in Segunda División, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Arcángel, with a capacity of 18,280 seats....
- he totalled seven matches and 630 minutes, as the club returned to the first division
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
after three years.
On 18 June 2010, Riesgo - whose contract with Real Sociedad had expired - signed for Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
se neighbours CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
, for three years.
Honours
Spain U19- UEFA U-19 ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: 20022002 UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe 2002 UEFA Under-19 Championship was held in Norway between 21 July and 28 July 2002. The top three finishers in each group qualified for the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. Players born on or after 1 January 1983 were eligible to participate in this competition.It was the first tournament...
Spain U20
- FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
: Runner-up 20032003 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipThe 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...