Gaizka Garitano Aguirre
Encyclopedia
Gaizka Garitano Aguirre (born 9 July 1975 in Bilbao
, Basque Country
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a midfielder
.
, Garitano, nephew of another famed club midfielder, Ander Garitano
, would however never make it past the club's B-team
, serving loans with modest outfits. In 1999, he joined Segunda División B
side CD Ourense
.
Garitano finally settled at SD Eibar
in Segunda División
(his second club spell) and, in 2004–05, as club captain, led the Basque
side into a fourth league place, with chances of an historical La Liga
promotion until the last matchday.
Incidentally, Garitano would make his first top flight appearances with Real Sociedad
, his debut coming on 27 August 2005, in a 0–3 away derby
loss (he was already aged 30). After three seasons as an important first team member, he joined neighbours Deportivo Alavés
, retiring in June 2009 at 34, after the club's demotion into the third division.
Immediately after hanging up his boots, having appeared in 315 matches (with 37 goals) in Spain's second level, Garitano moved into coaching, serving as assistant at also freshly relegated Eibar.
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Basque Country
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....
) is a retired Spanish
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 played as a 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...
.
Football career
Grown through the ranks of Athletic Club 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...
, Garitano, nephew of another famed club midfielder, Ander Garitano
Ander Garitano
Ander Garitano Urquizu is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a left midfielder, and a current coach.His career as a player - almost entirely spent in La Liga - was solely associated with two clubs, Athletic Bilbao and Real Zaragoza.-Football career:Born in Derio, Biscay, Garitano began his...
, would however never make it past the club's B-team
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
, serving loans with modest outfits. In 1999, he joined Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
side CD Ourense
CD Ourense
Club Deportivo Ourense, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ourense, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1952, it plays in Tercera División - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio O Couto, which has a capacity of 5,625....
.
Garitano finally settled at 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 Segunda División
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:...
(his second club spell) and, in 2004–05, as club captain, led 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....
side into a fourth league place, with chances of an historical 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...
promotion until the last matchday.
Incidentally, Garitano would make his first top flight appearances with 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...
, his debut coming on 27 August 2005, in a 0–3 away derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
loss (he was already aged 30). After three seasons as an important first team member, he joined neighbours 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....
, retiring in June 2009 at 34, after the club's demotion into the third division.
Immediately after hanging up his boots, having appeared in 315 matches (with 37 goals) in Spain's second level, Garitano moved into coaching, serving as assistant at also freshly relegated Eibar.