Rafael Iriondo
Encyclopedia
Rafael Iriondo Aurtenechea (born 24 October 1919 in Guernica, Biscay
, Basque Country
) is a retired Spanish
football forward and manager
.
giants Athletic Bilbao
in 1940, from Atletico Tetuán. He made his La Liga
debut on 29 September, in a 2–2 draw at Valencia CF
and, during his 13-year spell with the club, would form an historic offensive partnership with Agustín Gaínza
, José Luis Panizo and Telmo Zarra, helping Athletic to the 1942–43 league and four domestic cups
.
After 328 official games for Bilbao (115 goals), Iriondo moved to another team in the region, Barakaldo CF
, in 1953. After a couple of months, however, he returned to the first division and joined Real Sociedad
, retiring at the end of the 1954–55 season.
Iriondo started coaching immediately after retiring, with modest SD Indautxu
, then in the second division
. He continued in the region with Deportivo Alavés
and Barakaldo
In the 1968–69 season, Iriondo returned to Athletic Bilbao as head coach, helping the club to the 11th place in the league, and the season's Copa del Rey. He would also manage the team for two full seasons in the mid-70's, interspersed with stints at RCD Español
, Real Zaragoza
and Real Sociedad
.
Iriondo's last coaching job was with Real Betis
: he led the Andalusia
ns to the 1977 Spanish Cup, but suffered top flight relegation in the following season. After 15 matches at Rayo Vallecano
in 1980 (meeting the same fate), he returned to Betis for one final season in 1981–82, being one of three managers to help the team finish sixth in the first division.
for Spain
in as many friendlies
, his debut coming on 23 June 1946, in a 0–1 loss with the Republic of Ireland
, in Madrid
. This was the first national team game attended by general
Francisco Franco
.
Seven months later, in Lisbon
, he scored against Portugal
, who won 4–1.
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, 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...
football forward 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:...
.
Club career
Iriondo arrived at BasqueBasque 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....
giants 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 1940, from Atletico Tetuán. He made his 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...
debut on 29 September, in a 2–2 draw at Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
and, during his 13-year spell with the club, would form an historic offensive partnership with Agustín Gaínza
Agustín Gaínza
Agustín Gaínza Vicandi was a Spanish/Basque footballer and coach born in Basauri, Vizcaya. Also known as Piru. He played as a left sided winger or forward for Atlético Bilbao and Spain. Between 1940 and 1959 he made 381 La Liga appearances, scoring 120 goals...
, José Luis Panizo and Telmo Zarra, helping Athletic to the 1942–43 league and four 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 ....
.
After 328 official games for Bilbao (115 goals), Iriondo moved to another team in the region, Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo CF
Barakaldo Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Barakaldo, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Founded in 1917, it plays in Tercera División - Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre, with a capacity of 7,960 seats.-Club names:*Baracaldo Football-Club —...
, in 1953. After a couple of months, however, he returned to the first division and joined 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...
, retiring at the end of the 1954–55 season.
Iriondo started coaching immediately after retiring, with modest SD Indautxu
SD Indautxu
Sociedad Deportiva Indautxu is a Spanish football club based in Bilbao, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1924, it currently plays in División de Honor, holding home games at Campo Iparralde....
, then 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:...
. He continued in the region with 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....
and Barakaldo
In the 1968–69 season, Iriondo returned to Athletic Bilbao as head coach, helping the club to the 11th place in the league, and the season's Copa del Rey. He would also manage the team for two full seasons in the mid-70's, interspersed with stints at RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
and 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...
.
Iriondo's last coaching job was with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
: he led the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns to the 1977 Spanish Cup, but suffered top flight relegation in the following season. After 15 matches at 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...
in 1980 (meeting the same fate), he returned to Betis for one final season in 1981–82, being one of three managers to help the team finish sixth in the first division.
International career
Iriondo gained two capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Spain
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...
in as many friendlies
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
, his debut coming on 23 June 1946, in a 0–1 loss with the 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....
, in 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...
. This was the first national team game attended by general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
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...
.
Seven months later, in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, he scored against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, who won 4–1.
Player
- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1942–43 - 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 ....
: 1942–43, 1943–44, 1944–45, 1949–50 - Spanish SupercupCopa Eva DuarteThe Copa Eva Duarte was a Spanish football tournament organized by the RFEF and contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Generalísimo. In 1940, it had the name of Copa de Campeones, and was not played again until 1945, when the ambassador of Argentina, due to the good relations with the...
: 1950