Iñigo Idiakez
Encyclopedia
Iñigo Idiákez Barkaiztegi (born 8 November 1973) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a midfielder
(occasionally forward).
During 13 years, he played for Real Sociedad
, with relative impact with the first team. At 30, he moved to England
, where he finished his career after having represented three teams, without however having played in the Premier League.
, Gipuzkoa. In 1989, he joined local Real Sociedad
's youth system, making his club debuts with the B team
, where he joined his older brother, Imanol. He first appeared with the main squad on 8 November 1992, on his 19th birthday, against Cádiz CF
in the first division
. Despite that early debut, he did not become a regular member of the first team squad until the 1994–95 season, playing nearly two full seasons with the reserves, by then operating in the third level
.
From 1994–95 on, Idiákez amassed a further eight league seasons, making 233 league appearances with 33 goals. During most of these seasons he was a regular substitute and, in 1998–99 and 2000–01, scored a career-best seven league goals.
At the end of the 2001–02 season, having finished his link with Real Sociedad, Idiákez signed with Real Oviedo
, who had just been relegated to the Spanish second division
, and were in a deep financial crisis. He only spent one season with the Asturias
side, and Oviedo finished the season penultimate, being relegated to the third division. They were then demoted one stage further because of financial ireegularities.
Idiákez then moved to another second division side, Madrid
's Rayo Vallecano
. Again, his new club finished second from the bottom and were relegated in 2003–04. After two unsuccessful seasons, his future appeared quite uncertain.
(then Derby County
manager) signed Idiákez up on a free transfer. He immediately adapted to the Football League Championship
, being named Player of the Season in his debut year, as Derby finished in fourth place, but failed to win promotion through the play-offs.
At Derby, Idiákez played in an advanced position and took most free kicks
and corners
. At the end of 2005–06, under managers Phil Brown (until January) and Terry Westley
, the team only finished in 20th position, narrowly avoiding relegation. He finished his spell at the club with 22 official goals in 96 matches.
On 31 August 2006, Idiákez was once again signed by Burley, moving to Southampton
for £
275,000. After only a handful of appearances for the Saints, in March 2007, he moved to Queens Park Rangers
on loan for a month, scoring once against Leicester City
in a 3–1 away win, and returned to Southampton one month later.
In the 2006–07 season play-off semi-final, on 15 May, Southampton played Derby County. After the tie finished 4–4 on aggregate after extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout, and Idiákez missed the crucial penalty, helping send his former club through to the final.
At the end of 2007–08, Southampton released Idiákez, who then underwent trials with Major League Soccer
side San Jose Earthquakes
and Bournemouth
, but was not offered a contract.
After his retirement as a player, Idiákez completed his coaching qualifications when he earned the UEFA Pro Licence.
at under-21 level
, and participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, appearing three times for the quarter-finalists
.
He also played in four friendly games for the Basque
representative side Euskadi
, scoring twice.
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...
(occasionally forward).
During 13 years, he played for 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...
, with relative impact with the first team. At 30, he moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he finished his career after having represented three teams, without however having played in the Premier League.
Spain
Idiákez was born in San SebastiánSan Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, Gipuzkoa. In 1989, he joined local 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...
's youth system, making his club debuts with the B team
Real Sociedad B
Real Sociedad de Fútbol B is a Spanish football club based in San Sebastián, in the autonomous community of Basque Country...
, where he joined his older brother, Imanol. He first appeared with the main squad on 8 November 1992, on his 19th birthday, against Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
in the first division
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...
. Despite that early debut, he did not become a regular member of the first team squad until the 1994–95 season, playing nearly two full seasons with the reserves, by then operating in the third level
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...
.
From 1994–95 on, Idiákez amassed a further eight league seasons, making 233 league appearances with 33 goals. During most of these seasons he was a regular substitute and, in 1998–99 and 2000–01, scored a career-best seven league goals.
At the end of the 2001–02 season, having finished his link with Real Sociedad, Idiákez signed with Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
, who had just been relegated to the Spanish 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:...
, and were in a deep financial crisis. He only spent one season with the Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
side, and Oviedo finished the season penultimate, being relegated to the third division. They were then demoted one stage further because of financial ireegularities.
Idiákez then moved to another second division side, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
's Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
. Again, his new club finished second from the bottom and were relegated in 2003–04. After two unsuccessful seasons, his future appeared quite uncertain.
England
In the summer of 2004, George BurleyGeorge Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
(then Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
manager) signed Idiákez up on a free transfer. He immediately adapted to the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, being named Player of the Season in his debut year, as Derby finished in fourth place, but failed to win promotion through the play-offs.
At Derby, Idiákez played in an advanced position and took most 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:...
and corners
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
. At the end of 2005–06, under managers Phil Brown (until January) and Terry Westley
Terry Westley
Terry Westley is an association football coach and manager. Until 2011 he was the Academy Director at Birmingham City.Westley previously worked at Rushden & Diamonds, Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic, Luton Town and Derby County. At these clubs he was responsible for developing young players, who...
, the team only finished in 20th position, narrowly avoiding relegation. He finished his spell at the club with 22 official goals in 96 matches.
On 31 August 2006, Idiákez was once again signed by Burley, moving to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
275,000. After only a handful of appearances for the Saints, in March 2007, he moved to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on loan for a month, scoring once against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in a 3–1 away win, and returned to Southampton one month later.
In the 2006–07 season play-off semi-final, on 15 May, Southampton played Derby County. After the tie finished 4–4 on aggregate after extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout, and Idiákez missed the crucial penalty, helping send his former club through to the final.
At the end of 2007–08, Southampton released Idiákez, who then underwent trials with Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
side San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
and Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, but was not offered a contract.
After his retirement as a player, Idiákez completed his coaching qualifications when he earned the UEFA Pro Licence.
International career
Idiákez played for 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...
at under-21 level
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
, and participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, appearing three times for the quarter-finalists
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
.
He also played in four friendly games for 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....
representative side Euskadi
Basque Country national football team
The Basque Country football team is considered the national team of the Basque Country greater region as selected players from the Basque Country Autonomous Community, the nearby Navarre and the Northern Basque Country in France play for it...
, scoring twice.
Honours
Spain U21- European Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: Runners-up 19961996 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1996, which spanned two years , had 44 entrants. After the quarter-finals stage, Spain were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....