Gorka Iraizoz

Gorka Iraizoz Moreno (born 6 March 1981) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.

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

Gorka Iraizoz
Iraizoz before a game with Basque Country in 2011
Personal information
Full name Gorka Iraizoz Moreno
Date of birth (1981-03-06) 6 March 1981
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1998–1999 Chantrea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Basconia 20 (0)
2000–2001 Bilbao Athletic 0 (0)
2001 → Gernika (loan) 14 (0)
2001–2002 Gernika 36 (0)
2002–2004 Espanyol B 59 (0)
2004–2007 Espanyol 23 (0)
2004–2005 → Eibar (loan) 41 (0)
2007–2017 Athletic Bilbao 315 (0)
2017–2019 Girona 16 (0)
National team‡
2006– Basque Country 12 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 May 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 December 2016

He spent most of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 392 official games.[1] In La Liga he also represented Espanyol, winning the 2006 Copa del Rey with the club.

Club career

Early years / Espanyol

Iraizoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre and raised in nearby Ansoáin.[2][3] After beginning his football career with local team UDC Chantrea,[4] he moved to the Basque Country with Athletic Bilbao, serving stints with affiliates CD Basconia and Bilbao Athletic.[5]

Arriving at RCD Espanyol in July 2002, Iraizoz spent two seasons with its B-side, also having a loan spell at SD Eibar in the second division.[6] He made his La Liga debut on 21 December 2005, in a 2–1 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña.[7] He was Espanyol's second-choice behind Carlos Kameni for the 2006–07 season, but was the regular in the club's run to the final of the UEFA Cup,[8][9] notably excelling in the quarter-final second leg away to S.L. Benfica (0–0 draw, 3–2 on aggregate).[10][11]

During his time in Barcelona, Iraizoz learned to speak fluent Catalan.[6]

Athletic Bilbao

On 7 August 2007, Iraizoz signed for Athletic Bilbao for €4.6 million, returning to the club he spent one-and-a-half seasons with,[12] this time as the undisputed starter.[13] However, due to a severe injury, he was left out of the squad for the second part of the campaign,[14] and his place (and shirt number) was taken by 37-year-old Armando, signed from Cádiz CF until June 2008.

In the following years, Iraizoz rarely missed a league game for Athletic.[15] On 16 January 2010, his Player of the match performance helped the team hold on to its early home lead against Real Madrid, constantly denying Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo's efforts;[16][17] additionally, he was in goal during the 2009[18] and 2012 finals[19] of the Copa del Rey lost to FC Barcelona,[20] and also helped defeat that opponent 5–1 on aggregate in the 2015 Supercopa de España for his only accolade at the San Mamés Stadium.[21][22]

In the opening match of 2014–15, at Málaga CF, Iraizoz appeared to score a last-minute equaliser with a header, but the goal was disallowed, apparently incorrectly.[23] Having lost his starting place to Kepa Arrizabalaga, at the end of the 2016–17 season Athletic announced that the 36-year-old would be leaving the club at the end of his contract.[24][3]

Girona

On 14 June 2017, Iraizoz agreed to a two-year deal at Girona FC, promoted to the top flight for the first time ever.[25] He spent most of his spell at the Estadi Montilivi as backup to Yassine Bounou.[26][27]

At the end of the 2018–19 season, which ended in relegation, Iraizoz left the club.[28]

International career

Iraizoz never earned any caps for Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.[29]

Career statistics
As of match played on 1 July 2019
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bilbao Athletic 2000–01[30] Segunda División B 00———00
Gernika (loan) 2000–01[30] Segunda División B 140———140
Gernika 2001–02[30] Segunda División B 360———360
Total 500000000500
Espanyol B 2002–03[30] Segunda División B 290———290
2003–04[30] Segunda División B 300———300
Total 590000000590
Eibar 2004–05 Segunda División 4100000—410
Total 410000000410
Espanyol 2005–06[30] La Liga 210506[lower-alpha 1]0—320
2006–07[30] La Liga 202015[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0200
Total 2307021010520
Athletic Bilbao 2007–08[30] La Liga 13010——140
2008–09[30] La Liga 36090——450
2009–10[30] La Liga 3701012[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]0510
2010–11[30] La Liga 37040——410
2011–12[30] La Liga 3709015[lower-alpha 3]0—610
2012–13[30] La Liga 350—7[lower-alpha 3]0—420
2013–14[30] La Liga 330———330
2014–15[31] La Liga 340108[lower-alpha 4]0—430
2015–16[31] La Liga 370——2[lower-alpha 2]0390
2016–17[31] La Liga 1604030—230
Total 3150290450303920
Girona 2017–18[31] La Liga 9010——100
2018–19[31] La Liga 7060——130
Total 160700000230
Career total 5040430660406170
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Includes 1 Appearance in Supercopa de España
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Espanyol

Athletic Bilbao

References
  1. "Gorka Iraizoz batirá el récord de partidos en Primera de Unzué" [Gorka Iraizoz will break Unzué's record of games in Primera]. Noticias de Navarra (in Spanish). 22 April 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. Ciordia, Fernando (9 April 2009). "A Orbaiz e Iraizoz sí les gusta el Reyno" [Orbaiz and Iraizoz sure do like Reyno]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. "Iraizoz tocó la fibra de los athleticzales" [Iraizoz tugged the heartstrings of the Athletic fans] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. Garmendia, Xabier (8 February 2010). "El fértil vivero navarro del Athletic" [Athletic's fertile Navarrese nursery]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  5. "Mendilibar: "Iraizoz es el mejor portero que he tenido, y eso que le eché del Basconia"" [Mendilibar: "Iraizoz is the best goalkeeper I have ever had, and keep in mind I kicked him from Basconia"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  6. Iglesias, Quique (4 February 2006). "Un navarro que habla catalán, que aprendió de Iríbar y creció en Éibar" [A Navarrese who speaks Catalan, who learned from Iríbar and grew in Éibar]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  7. "El Espanyol alivia sus penas con dos zarpazos en Riazor" [Espanyol chase woes away with two blows at Riazor]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 21 December 2005. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  8. Iraizoz hoping for career highlight; UEFA, 26 April 2007
  9. Iraizoz 'knackered' but proud; UEFA, 17 May 2007
  10. Estepa, Javier (12 April 2007). "Un gran Iraizoz da el pase a las semifinales" [Great Iraizoz puts them through to the semi-finals]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  11. "El águila de Lisboa" [The eagle of Lisbon]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 13 April 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  12. Athletic swoop to capture Iraizoz; UEFA, 7 August 2007
  13. "FÚTBOL ATHLETIC. Iraizoz, a veces Superman, a veces Aranzubia" [FOOTBALL ATHLETIC. Iraizoz, sometimes Superman, sometimes Aranzubia]. El Correo (in Spanish). 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  14. Athletic lose Iraizoz for season; UEFA, 18 January 2008
  15. ""Con Aranzubia se tuvo menos paciencia que con Iraizoz"" ["People were less patient with Aranzubia than with Iraizoz"]. El Correo (in Spanish). 11 February 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  16. Llorente header sinks Real; ESPN Soccernet, 16 January 2010
  17. Lowe, Sid (18 January 2010). "Real Madrid repelled as Gorka Iraizoz emulates the Squid". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  18. Melero, Delfín (13 May 2009). "El Barça se corona por aplastamiento" [Barça crowned through crushing]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  19. Lowe, Sid (26 May 2012). "Barcelona end Guardiola era with Copa del Rey win over Athletic Bilbao". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  20. "Todas las finales de Copa entre Barça y Athletic Club" [All the Cup finals between Barça and Athletic Club]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 26 May 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  21. "Athletic Bilbao 4–0 Barcelona: Aduriz hits hat-trick in Supercopa shocker". Goal. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  22. "Barcelona lose Super Cup final to Athletic Bilbao". BBC Sport. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  23. "Malaga claim nervy win; Sevilla drop points to Valencia". Fox Sports. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  24. "Urrutia confirma que Iraizoz no seguirá en el Athletic la próxima temporada" [Urrutia confirms Iraizoz will not continue at Athletic the next season]. El Economista (in Spanish). 4 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  25. Giménez, Sara (14 June 2017). "Gorka Iraizoz, primer refuerzo del Girona" [Gorka Iraizoz, first Girona addition]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  26. Segura, Alejandro (24 October 2017). "Crónica de una suplencia anunciada" [Chronicle of a reserve foretold]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  27. "Iraizoz se deja ver de nuevo en LaLiga" [Iraizoz shows up in LaLiga again] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  28. Segura, Alejandro (28 May 2019). "Aleix García y Gorka Iraizoz se despiden del Girona" [Aleix García and Gorka Iraizoz say goodbye to Girona]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  29. "Catalunya 0–1 Euskal Selekzioa" [Catalonia 0–1 Basque XI] (in Spanish). Basque Football Federation. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  30. "Iraizoz: Gorka Iraizoz Moreno". BDFutbol. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  31. "Iraizoz". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  32. Astruells, Andrés (13 April 2006). "¡Increíble Espanyol!" [Incredible Espanyol!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  33. Atkin, John (17 May 2007). "Palop lauds perfect performance". UEFA. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  34. Atkin, John (9 May 2012). "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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