Aritz Solabarrieta Explained

Aritz Solabarrieta
Fullname:Aritz Solabarrieta Aranzamendi
Birth Date:22 July 1983
Birth Place:Ondarroa, Spain
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1995–1996
Youthclubs1:Zubi Zahar
Youthyears2:1996–2001
Youthclubs2:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:2001–2002
Caps1:31
Goals1:4
Years2:2002–2004
Caps2:66
Goals2:5
Years3:2004–2006
Caps3:11
Goals3:0
Years4:2005–2006
Clubs4:Eibar (loan)
Caps4:27
Goals4:0
Years5:2007–2008
Caps5:48
Goals5:1
Years6:2008–2010
Caps6:70
Goals6:6
Years7:2010–2011
Caps7:36
Goals7:2
Years8:2011–2012
Caps8:29
Goals8:1
Years9:2012–2013
Caps9:36
Goals9:1
Years10:2013–2015
Totalcaps:354
Totalgoals:20
Nationalyears1:1999–2000
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2001
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2002
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2003
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2004
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0
Manageryears1:2016–2018
Managerclubs1:Athletic Bilbao (youth)
Manageryears2:2018
Managerclubs2:Basconia
Manageryears3:2018–2019
Managerclubs3:Bilbao Athletic
Manageryears4:2020–2021
Managerclubs4:Racing Santander

Aritz Solabarrieta Aranzamendi (born 22 July 1983) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a right midfielder, currently a manager.

Playing career

Club

Born in Ondarroa, Basque Country and a product of Athletic Bilbao's prolific youth ranks at Lezama, Solabarrieta played only one full season for its first team, 2004–05, helping with 11 matches as the Basque finished ninth. His La Liga debut came on 13 November 2004 in a 2–1 home win against Villarreal CF, as he came on as a substitute for Andoni Iraola in injury time.[1]

After a loan with neighbours SD Eibar of Segunda División, which ended in relegation, Solabarrieta was released by the Lions in December 2006 and resumed his career in the Segunda División B, starting with Atlético Madrid B. He retired in June 2015 at the age of nearly 32, after two years with amateurs CD Aurrerá Ondarroa in his hometown.[2]

International

Solabarrieta won 16 caps for Spain at youth level, including two for the under-21 side. His first appearance for the latter occurred on 17 August 2004, as he featured 22 minutes in a 1–1 friendly draw in France.[3]

Coaching career

After his playing days ended, Solabarrieta embarked on a career as a coach. In 2016, he was appointed as manager of Athletic Bilbao's Cadete A youth team.[4] The following year, he moved to control the Juvenil A squad.[5]

Due to a combination of a disappointing campaign for the CD Basconia farm team coached by Ander Alaña and Solabarrieta's good work with the youths, the two men swapped roles within the club's structure for 2018–19.[6] However, he was soon promoted again when Gaizka Garitano, coach of the reserve side, was selected to take the helm of the senior team in December 2018,[7] in turn leaving a vacancy at Athletic Bilbao B which Solabarrieta was nominated to fill.[8]

Solabarrieta signed as coach of third-tier Racing de Santander on 21 December 2020.[9]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
Basconia21 June 20184 December 2018 [10]
Bilbao Athletic4 December 201822 May 2019[11]
Racing Santander21 December 202026 May 2021[12]
Career total

Honours

Spain U17

2001

Spain U19

2002[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Urzaiz alivia con goles las urgencias del Athletic. Urzaiz softens Athletic's urgencies with goals. El Mundo. Spanish. 13 November 2004. 26 June 2017.
  2. News: Solabarrieta: "En Lezama siempre hay relevo". Solabarrieta: "There are always replacements at Lezama". El Correo. Javier. Beltrán. Spanish. 20 May 2020. 4 February 2021.
  3. News: La nueva etapa de Sáez, con tablas. Sáez's new era, all square. Mundo Deportivo. Spanish. 18 August 2004. 26 June 2017.
  4. Web site: Lezama organizational chart. Athletic Bilbao. 29 June 2016. 3 August 2017.
  5. Web site: Lezama technical chart. Athletic Bilbao. 8 June 2017. 3 August 2017.
  6. News: Solabarrieta sube al Basconia; Galiano, al Juvenil A y Alaña baja al Cadete B. Solabarrieta goes up to Basconia; Galiano, to Juvenile A and Alaña down to Cadet B. Mundo Deportivo. Ramón. Suso. Spanish. 21 June 2018. 5 December 2018.
  7. Web site: Replacement of Eduardo Berizzo. Athletic Bilbao. 4 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  8. Web site: Aritz Solabarrieta, Bilbao Athletic's coach. Athletic Bilbao. 4 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  9. News: Amorrortu se lleva a Solabarrieta al Racing. Amorrortu takes Solabarrieta to Racing. El Correo. Javier. Beltrán. Spanish. 21 December 2020. 4 February 2021.
  10. Web site: CD Basconia. Resultados Fútbol. Spanish. 6 December 2018.
  11. Web site: Solabarrieta: Aritz Solabarrieta Aranzamendi. BDFutbol. 11 December 2018.
  12. Web site: Solabarrieta: Aritz Solabarrieta Aranzamendi. BDFutbol. 5 February 2021.
  13. News: España vence a Alemania y se proclama campeona de Europa Sub-19. Spain beat Germany and are crowned Under-19 European champions. Diario AS. Spanish. 28 July 2002. 6 September 2018.