Zigor Aranalde

Zigor Aranalde Sarasola (born 28 February 1973) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left back.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Aranalde and the second or maternal family name is Sarasola.

Zigor Aranalde
Personal information
Full name Zigor Aranalde Sarasola
Date of birth (1973-02-28) 28 February 1973
Place of birth Ibarra, Spain
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1992 Hernani 33 (3)
1992–1994 Eibar 45 (1)
1994–1996 Atlético Marbella 56 (0)
1996–1997 Sevilla 22 (0)
1997–1999 Albacete 51 (2)
1999–2000 Logroñés 39 (1)
2000–2005 Walsall 195 (5)
2005 Sheffield Wednesday 2 (0)
2005–2008 Carlisle United 109 (6)
2008–2009 Almansa
2009–2010 La Gineta
Total 552 (18)
National team
Basque Country
Teams managed
2011–2013 Albacete (assistant)
2018–2019 Watford (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Early years

Born in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, Aranalde began his career at lowly CD Hernani, going on to spend eight of his nine professional seasons in his country in Segunda División.

In 1996–97, he was first-choice at Sevilla FC in La Liga but the Andalusians finished third from the bottom so they were relegated.

England

Aranalde joined Football League Second Division club Walsall on a two-year contract, just before the start of 2000–01.[1] He spent just under five seasons at the Bescot Stadium, winning promotion via the play-off final in his first year and being a regular member until he was surprisingly released by manager Paul Merson, in March 2005; he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday immediately following his release, but was sent off in only his second game for the side and never appeared for them again.[2]

In the summer of 2005, Aranalde signed for Carlisle United,[3] who went on to win the championship and promote from League Two. He scored five goals during the course of the campaign, and was part of a squad which included two other former Walsall players, striker Karl Hawley and future Preston North End manager Paul Simpson; on 1 October he netted Bristol Rovers' 5000th ever goal in a 1–3 loss, in his own net.[4]

On 16 May 2008, it was announced that Aranalde was being released from Carlisle alongside Paul Arnison and Grant Carson.[5] Two years later, after playing some amateur football in his country,[6] he returned to England in April 2010 when he was named chief scout at Brighton & Hove Albion in League One.[7] He subsequently held scouting positions at West Bromwich Albion and was on the coaching staff at Albacete.[8]

In January 2018 Aranalde was named assistant coach at Premier League side Watford, following the appointment of new head coach Javi Gracia.[8] Aranalde, Gracia and the rest of the staff, was fired on 8 September 2019.[9]

Honours
Walsall
Carlisle
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References
  1. Walsall sign Spaniard; BBC Sport, 10 August 2000
  2. Owls not contesting Aranalde card; BBC Sport, 5 April 2005
  3. Carlisle sign Spaniard Aranalde; BBC Sport, 5 July 2005
  4. Carlisle 1–3 Bristol Rovers; BBC Sport, 1 October 2005
  5. Ward releases three at Carlisle; BBC Sport, 16 May 2008
  6. La Gineta está a punto de cerrar la contratación de Zigor Aranalde (La Gineta about to close Zigor Aranalde deal); El Digital, 16 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  7. Brighton appoint Zigor Aranalde as new chief scout; BBC Sport, 14 April 2010
  8. "Coaching Staff Confirmed". Watford F.C. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  9. Watford fired head coach Javi Gracia amid fears Spaniard had 'gone flat', telegraph.co.uk, 8 September 2019
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