Iñaki Aizpurúa Explained

Iñaki Aizpurúa
Fullname:José Ignacio Aizpurúa Alzaga[1]
Birth Date:5 May 1970
Birth Place:Irun, Spain
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1986–1991
Years2:1991–1994
Years3:1994–2003
Years4:2002–2003
Years5:2002–2003
Years6:2003–2007
Clubs1:CD Landetxa
Clubs4:Real Sociedad
Clubs5:Levante (loan)
Caps3:167
Caps4:0
Caps5:9
Caps6:8
Totalcaps:184
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:0
Goals6:0
Totalgoals:0

José Ignacio 'Iñaki' Aizpurúa Alzaga (born 5 May 1970) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent most of his 16-year professional career with Salamanca, playing in three La Liga seasons with the club. His last years were spent with Levante, where he later worked in other capacities.

Club career

Born in Irun, Basque Country, Aizpurúa made his professional debut at the age of 21, playing three seasons with hometown's Real Unión, the last spent in the third division. Subsequently, he left for UD Salamanca, where he remained eight years making nearly 200 official appearances; in 1995–96 he appeared in 40 La Liga games, but the Castile and León side were relegated back to the second level after finishing last.

In summer 2003, after a season loaned at Levante UD by Real Sociedad – which first loaned the player to Burgos CF, aborting the move following the club's relegation from division two due to irregularities[2] [3] – Aizpurúa signed permanently with the same team,[4] only managing to be a backup in his four overall seasons at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia; in 2004–05, the only year he spent in the top flight during this timeframe, he did not manage to appear in the league, playing understudy to Juan Luis Mora as the Granotas ranked 18th with the subsequent relegation.[5]

Following his retirement in January 2007 at the age of 36 (he was not registered during that campaign), Aizpurúa continued working with Levante in directorial capacities and as youth system coordinator.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. News: José Ignacio AIZPURÚA Alzaga. El Mundo. Spanish. 22 March 2020.
  2. News: ¿Qué pasa ahora con Aizpurua?. What happens now with Aizpurua?. Mundo Deportivo. Eneko. De la Cuesta. Spanish. 31 July 2002. 22 March 2020.
  3. News: Rivera y Jofre, fichados. Rivera and Jofre, signed. Mundo Deportivo. Soler. Carrión. Spanish. 23 August 2002. 22 March 2020.
  4. News: Su traspaso al Levante, gratis. His transfer to Levante, for free. Mundo Deportivo. Spanish. 24 July 2003. 22 March 2020.
  5. News: Debate en la portería del Levante UD. Debate in Levante UD's goal. Levante-EMV. Spanish. 13 June 2005. 22 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Fútbol.– El portero Aizpurúa y el entrenador Carlos Simón pasan al cuerpo técnico del Levante. Football.– Goalkeeper Aizpurúa and coach Carlos Simón join Levante's coaching staff. Europa Press. Spanish. 31 January 2007. 22 March 2020.
  7. Web site: Aizpurúa se despide de la afición levantinista. Aizpurúa says goodbye to Levante fans. Levante UD. Spanish. 8 February 2007. 22 October 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20130127202848/http://es.levanteud.com/noticias/levante4323.html. 27 January 2013.