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Ander Garitano

Spanish footballer and manager From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ander Garitano Urkizu (born 26 February 1969) is a Spanish former professional football left midfielder and manager.

Full name Ander Garitano Urkizu
Date of birth (1969-02-26) 26 February 1969 (age 57)
Place of birth Derio, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Ander Garitano
Personal information
Full name Ander Garitano Urkizu
Date of birth (1969-02-26) 26 February 1969 (age 57)
Place of birth Derio, Spain
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Midfielder
Youth career
Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1988 Bilbao Athletic 67 (15)
1988–1996 Athletic Bilbao 234 (35)
1996–2002 Zaragoza 147 (15)
Total 448 (65)
International career
1984–1985 Spain U16 9 (3)
1986 Spain U18 2 (1)
1989–1990 Spain U21 5 (0)
Managerial career
2002–2008 Zaragoza (youth)
2008 Zaragoza
2008–2009 Zaragoza (youth)
2009–2010 Zaragoza B
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
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His career as a player – spent almost entirely in La Liga – was solely associated with two clubs, Athletic Bilbao and Zaragoza.

Playing career

Born in Derio, Biscay, Garitano began his professional career at local powerhouse Athletic Bilbao. After appearing twice in the closing stages of 1987–88 he quickly imposed himself as a first-choice player with good free kick skills, scoring 35 La Liga goals over nine seasons; on 12 March 1988, two weeks after his 19th birthday, he made his official debut, starting in a 5–0 away loss against Real Madrid.[1]

Garitano signed for Real Zaragoza in 1996, and played there until his retirement in six years later. He was still regularly used in the Aragonese side's victorious run in the 2000–01 Copa del Rey,[2] and finally retired the following summer at 33 – Zaragoza suffered top-flight relegation – with more than 500 competitive matches to his credit; from 1986 to 1988 he played 61 games for Athletic Bilbao B, with that team in the Segunda División.[3]

Coaching career

Subsequently, Garitano moved into coaching, first taking charge of Zaragoza's youth teams.[4] In mid-January 2008 he replaced the dismissed Víctor Fernández,[5] first appearing in a Spanish Cup round-of-16 tie against Racing de Santander, a 4–2 loss (5–3 on aggregate).[6]

Just two days after his only league game, a 3–1 home win over Real Murcia, Garitano quit the job, quoting a lack of commitment.[7] The club would have a further two managers until the end of the campaign, which ended in relegation.[8]

Garitano returned to Zaragoza for 2008–09, now as a youth coach.[4] However, in late 2009, he moved to the reserves following José Aurelio Gay's promotion to the main squad.[9]

Personal life

Garitano was the younger brother of Angel Garitano (also known as 'Ondarru') who served for many years as assistant to Mané at managerial appointments including Deportivo Alavés and Athletic Bilbao,[10][11] and the uncle of another footballer (and midfielder), Gaizka Garitano whom, after unsuccessfully graduating from Athletic's academy, went on to represent, among others, neighbours SD Eibar, Real Sociedad and Alavés.[12][11] They were distantly related to Juan Urquizu who also served Athletic as player and manager.[10] However, the Basque player and manager Asier Garitano is no relation.[13]

Career statistics

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[a] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bilbao Athletic 1985–86 4040
1986–87 344344
1987–88 279279
1988–89 2222
Total 67150000006715
Athletic Bilbao 1987–88 200020
1988–89 2344020294
1989–90 36542407
1990–91 30452356
1991–92 297733610
1992–93 27320293
1993–94 26630296
1994–95 3543060444
1995–96 26250312
Total 23435337800027542
Zaragoza 1996–97 37330403
1997–98 187532310
1998–99 19110201
1999–00 30451355
2000–01 1907020280
2001–02 240103000280
Total 14715224500017419
Career total 4486555111300051676
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Honours

References

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