Imanol Idiakez
Spanish footballer and manager
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseba Imanol Idiakez Barkaiztegi (born 14 March 1972) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently manager of Segunda División club Cádiz.
_Imanol_Idiakez_(cropped).jpg)
|
Idiakez managing AEK Larnaca in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseba Imanol Idiakez Barkaiztegi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 March 1972[1] | ||
| Place of birth | San Sebastián, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cádiz (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Real Sociedad | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1993 | Real Sociedad B | 26 | (2) |
| 1993–1997 | Beasain | 93 | (10) |
| 1997–1999 | Avilés | 42 | (4) |
| 1999–2000 | Burgos | 16 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | Ciudad Murcia | 69 | (8) |
| 2004 | Linares | 16 | (1) |
| 2004–2005 | Girona | 26 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Reus | 34 | (3) |
| 2006–2007 | Burgos | 28 | (3) |
| Total | 350 | (31) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008–2010 | Real Sociedad B | ||
| 2011 | Poli Ejido | ||
| 2011–2012 | Guijuelo | ||
| 2012–2013 | Real Unión | ||
| 2013–2014 | Toledo | ||
| 2014–2016 | Lleida Esportiu | ||
| 2016–2018 | AEK Larnaca | ||
| 2018 | Real Zaragoza | ||
| 2019 | AEK Larnaca | ||
| 2020–2022 | Villarreal (assistant) | ||
| 2022–2023 | Leganés | ||
| 2023–2024 | Deportivo La Coruña | ||
| 2025–2026 | AEK Larnaca | ||
| 2026– | Cádiz | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Idiakez finished his development with Real Sociedad, making his senior debut with the reserves and also playing alongside his younger brother Iñigo.[2] After leaving Sanse, he joined neighbouring Beasain.[3]
Idiakez resumed his career mainly in the Segunda División B, representing Real Avilés, Burgos (two stints), Ciudad de Murcia – spending half a season in the Segunda División[4]– Linares, Girona and Reus, before retiring in 2007 at the age of 35 due to a serious injury.[5]
On 10 October 2001, while Ciudad were in the third division, they faced La Liga club Sevilla in the first round of the Copa del Rey. Idiakez scored twice in the 2–1 victory, once in his own net.[6]
Coaching career
Idiakez returned to Real Sociedad B after retiring, being appointed manager in the summer of 2008,[7] relegated from the third division in his first season but winning promotion in the second.[8] In March 2011, he signed with Polideportivo Ejido,[9] being in charge for eight matches and eventually leading the team to safety.[10][11]
In June 2011, Idiakez joined Guijuelo,[12] moving the following campaign to Real Unión[13] and Toledo on 3 July 2013, always in the third tier.[14] After taking Lleida Esportiu to the promotion play-offs in the same level in 2016, he moved abroad for the first time in his entire career, signing for two years at AEK Larnaca in the Cypriot First Division.[15]
Back to Spain, Idiakez was appointed manager of second division club Real Zaragoza on 18 June 2018,[16] being sacked on 21 October.[17] Shortly after, he replaced compatriot Andoni Iraola at the helm of his former side AEK.[18]
Idiakez joined Villarreal's staff under Unai Emery in July 2020.[19] He returned to head coaching duties on 6 June 2022, taking over from Mehdi Nafti at second-tier Leganés[20] and being dismissed in April 2023.[21]
On 1 July 2023, Idiakez signed for the Primera Federación's Deportivo de La Coruña.[22] He achieved promotion in his debut campaign on a return to the professional leagues four years later,[23] but was fired on 28 October 2024.[24]
Following a third spell at AEK Larnaca,[25] Idiakez returned to Spain on 22 April 2026, as Cádiz's third manager of the second-division season.[26]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 1 March 2026
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Real Sociedad B |  |
1 July 2008 | 3 June 2010 | 78 | 32 | 24 | 22 | 101 | 66 | +35 | 41.03 | [27] |
| Poli Ejido | |
22 March 2011 | 15 June 2011 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 25.00 | [28] |
| Guijuelo | |
15 June 2011 | 8 June 2012 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 42.11 | [29] |
| Real Unión | |
8 June 2012 | 3 July 2013 | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 53 | 39 | +14 | 36.84 | [30] |
| Toledo | |
3 July 2013 | 30 June 2014 | 43 | 19 | 13 | 11 | 56 | 40 | +16 | 44.19 | [31] |
| Lleida Esportiu | |
1 July 2014 | 26 June 2016 | 86 | 42 | 21 | 23 | 109 | 62 | +47 | 48.84 | [32] |
| AEK Larnaca |  |
26 June 2016 | 21 May 2018 | 100 | 61 | 23 | 16 | 202 | 91 | +111 | 61.00 | [33] |
| Real Zaragoza | |
18 June 2018 | 21 October 2018 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 25.00 | [34] |
| AEK Larnaca | |
15 January 2019 | 8 December 2019 | 37 | 19 | 13 | 5 | 65 | 34 | +31 | 51.35 | [33] |
| Leganés | |
6 June 2022 | 4 April 2023 | 35 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 28.57 | [35] |
| Deportivo La Coruña | |
1 July 2023 | 28 October 2024 | 54 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 86 | 49 | +37 | 50.00 | [36] |
| AEK Larnaca | |
31 May 2025 | 4 March 2026 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 64 | 39 | +25 | 50.00 | [33] |
| Total | 569 | 265 | 162 | 142 | 830 | 520 | +310 | 46.57 | — | |||
Honours
Manager
AEK Larnaca