José Ángel Iribar
Encyclopedia
José Ángel Iribar Cortajarena, nicknamed El Chopo ("the poplar
") (born 1 March 1943 in Zarautz
, Gipuzkoa), is a retired Spanish
football goalkeeper and manager
.
Having played almost exclusively for Athletic Bilbao
– during almost 20 years – he also represented the Spanish national team
for 12.
matches in his first professional season at Athletic de Bilbao
, Iribar proceeded to become the Basque
's undisputed starter for the following 16 seasons. His senior starts were made at lowly CD Baskonia
in 1961, when this team was still not the feeder club
. Baskonia eliminated Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Generalísimo
, and the keeper's stellar performance prompted his signing for a then record 1 million pesetas
.
At Athletic, Iribar profitted from injury to legendary Carmelo Cedrún in October 1963 and never looked back, going on to conquer two domestic cups
and finish second in the 1976–77 UEFA Cup, to Juventus FC
.
He retired in 1980 at 37, having played in 614 matches in all competitions, as another club great in the position, Andoni Zubizarreta
, would arrive at the club in the summer. During the 1970–71 season, he kept a clean sheet at ten successive home games (1,018 minutes), a record.
Subsequently, Iribar joined Athletic's coaching staff, taking charge of the goalkeepers. In 1983–84, he coached Bilbao Athletic
, the club's reserves, leading it to second place in the second division
, a best-ever, although the club was not eligible for promotion.
Iribar also managed the first team in the 1986–87 season – for the only time, the league had a second stage divided in three groups, and Athletic won the relegation one (ranking 13th overall). Since 1988 and for over two decades, he was in charge of the Basque Country national football team
.
on 11 March 1964, in the first leg of the 1964 European Nations' Cup's last qualifying stage, a 5–1 home win against Republic of Ireland
(7–1 aggregate). He was the starter for the final stages, and the nation emerged victorious on home soil.
Iribar also represented Spain at the 1966 FIFA World Cup
, playing all three group stage matches; he retained his position for a further 10 years, his last game coming on 24 April 1976, in a 1–1 against West Germany
for the unsuccessful UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying.
, Iribar and the opposing captain, Inaxio Kortabarria
, carried out the Ikurriña
, the Basque flag, and placed it ceremonially on the centre-circle. This was the first public display of the flag since the death of Francisco Franco
, but it was still illegal.
He subsequently became involved in Basque local politics, and was a founding member of the independentist coalition Herri Batasuna
.
Poplar
Populus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar , aspen, and cottonwood....
") (born 1 March 1943 in Zarautz
Zarautz
Zarautz is a coastal town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, northern Spain.The town is a popular tourist destination with the population swelling from its usual 22,812 to around 60,000 in summer. The Palace of Narros, located adjacent to Zarautz's 2.8 km long beach,...
, Gipuzkoa), 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...
football goalkeeper and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Having played almost exclusively 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...
– during almost 20 years – he also represented the Spanish national team
Spain 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...
for 12.
Club career
After only three La LigaLa 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...
matches in his first professional season at Athletic de 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...
, Iribar proceeded to become 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....
's undisputed starter for the following 16 seasons. His senior starts were made at lowly CD Baskonia
CD Baskonia
Club Deportivo Baskonia is a Spanish football club based in Basauri, Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de López Cortázar, with a 8,500-seat capacity.-History:Founded in 1913 as CD Basconia,...
in 1961, when this team was still not the feeder club
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
. Baskonia eliminated Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Generalísimo
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 ....
, and the keeper's stellar performance prompted his signing for a then record 1 million pesetas
Spanish peseta
The peseta was the currency of Spain between 1869 and 2002. Along with the French franc, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra .- Etymology :...
.
At Athletic, Iribar profitted from injury to legendary Carmelo Cedrún in October 1963 and never looked back, going on to conquer two domestic cups
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 ....
and finish second in the 1976–77 UEFA Cup, to Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
.
He retired in 1980 at 37, having played in 614 matches in all competitions, as another club great in the position, Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta
Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.The all-time most capped player for the Spanish national team for several years, he played with individual and team success for Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona , appearing in more than 950...
, would arrive at the club in the summer. During the 1970–71 season, he kept a clean sheet at ten successive home games (1,018 minutes), a record.
Subsequently, Iribar joined Athletic's coaching staff, taking charge of the goalkeepers. In 1983–84, he coached Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic
Bilbao Athletic is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country...
, the club's reserves, leading it to second place 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:...
, a best-ever, although the club was not eligible for promotion.
Iribar also managed the first team in the 1986–87 season – for the only time, the league had a second stage divided in three groups, and Athletic won the relegation one (ranking 13th overall). Since 1988 and for over two decades, he was in charge of the Basque Country national football team
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...
.
International career
Iribar made his debut 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...
on 11 March 1964, in the first leg of the 1964 European Nations' Cup's last qualifying stage, a 5–1 home win against Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
(7–1 aggregate). He was the starter for the final stages, and the nation emerged victorious on home soil.
Iribar also represented Spain at the 1966 FIFA World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
, playing all three group stage matches; he retained his position for a further 10 years, his last game coming on 24 April 1976, in a 1–1 against West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
for the unsuccessful UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying.
Club
Athletic Bilbao- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe 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 ....
: 1968–69, 1972–73; Runner-up 1965–66, 1966–67 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 1976–77
Country
- European Football ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
: 1964
Political views
On 5 December 1975, before a game against 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...
, Iribar and the opposing captain, Inaxio Kortabarria
Inaxio Kortabarria
Inaxio Kortabarría Abarrategi is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender.-Club career:...
, carried out the Ikurriña
Ikurriña
The ikurrina flag or ikurriña is a Basque symbol and the official flag of the Basque Country Autonomous Community of Spain.-Design:...
, the Basque flag, and placed it ceremonially on the centre-circle. This was the first public display of the flag since the death of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, but it was still illegal.
He subsequently became involved in Basque local politics, and was a founding member of the independentist coalition Herri Batasuna
Batasuna
Batasuna was a Basque nationalist political party based mainly in Spain, where it was outlawed in 2003, after a court ruling declared proven that the party was financing ETA with public money. Batasuna is included in the "European Union list of terrorist persons and organizations" as a component...
.
External links
- Athletic Bilbao profile
- BDFutbol player profile
- BDFutbol coach profile
- National team data
- International appearances at RSSSFRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics FoundationThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation is an international amateur organization dedicated to collecting statistics about association football...