Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta explained

Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta
Full Name:Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Etxeberria[1]
Birth Date:6 August 1993
Birth Place:Eibar, Spain
Height:1.75 m
Position:Central midfielder
Currentclub:Athletic Bilbao
Clubnumber:16
Youthyears1:2003–2011
Youthclubs1:Athletic Bilbao
Years1:2011
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2011–2013
Caps2:28
Goals2:0
Years3:2011–2016
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2013–2014
Clubs4:Mirandés (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Years5:2014–2015
Clubs5:Zaragoza (loan)
Caps5:37
Goals5:1
Years6:2015–2016
Clubs6:Leganés (loan)
Caps6:20
Goals6:1
Years7:2016–2017
Caps7:37
Goals7:2
Years8:2017–2018
Caps8:27
Goals8:1
Years9:2018–2019
Caps9:35
Goals9:2
Years10:2019–2023
Caps10:81
Goals10:0
Years11:2019–2020
Clubs11:Las Palmas (loan)
Caps11:33
Goals11:0
Years12:2023–
Caps12:29
Goals12:1
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2009
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2011
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2012
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:4 June 2024

Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Etxeberria (born 6 August 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays mainly as a central midfielder for Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

Born in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, Ruiz de Galarreta joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2003, aged 10.[2] On 14 December 2011, while still considered a youth squad player, he made his debut with the first team, coming on as a substitute for Borja Ekiza in the 88th minute of a 4–2 away loss against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in that season's UEFA Europa League;[3] during his first year, however, he almost exclusively played with the reserves in the Segunda División B.

Ruiz de Galarreta made his second appearance for the main squad on 2 August 2012, again in the Europa League but now against NK Slaven Belupo (27 minutes played, 3–1 home win).[4] He played his first La Liga game 17 days later, replacing Gaizka Toquero at half-time of an eventual 3–5 home defeat to Real Betis.[5]

During a match with the B side against Lleida Esportiu on 21 October 2012, Ruiz de Galarreta ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee, being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.[6] [7] For 2013–14 he was loaned to CD Mirandés of Segunda División,[8] where in a home game against CD Numancia on 27 October he suffered the same injury.[9] Previously, on 8 September, he scored his first goal as a senior, the only in the away victory over Real Madrid Castilla.[10]

The following years, Ruiz de Galarreta played with Real Zaragoza[11] and CD Leganés on loan,[12] helping the latter club to achieve a first-ever promotion to the top flight in 2016.[13] He continued to compete in the second division subsequently, representing Numancia,[14] FC Barcelona Atlètic and UD Las Palmas.[15]

On 2 September 2019, Ruiz de Galarreta signed a four-year contract with RCD Mallorca in the top tier, though it was agreed he would remain on loan at Las Palmas for the upcoming season.[16] He achieved another promotion with the former in 2020–21, contributing 29 appearances to this feat.[17]

Ruiz de Galarreta returned to his first club Athletic on 7 June 2023, on a two-year deal.[18]

International career

Ruiz de Galarreta started representing Spain at under-17 level, appearing in 2010 UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Romania[19] [20] and two friendlies with Portugal.[21] He also played for the under-18s and the under-19s.[22]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCopa del ReyContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bilbao Athletic2011–12Segunda División B250250
2012–13Segunda División B3030
Total280000000280
Athletic Bilbao2011–12La Liga00001010
2012–13La Liga30005080
2013–14La Liga000000
2014–15La Liga000000
2015–16La Liga000000
Total3000600090
Mirandés (loan)2013–14Segunda División11100111
Zaragoza (loan)2014–15Segunda División3711030411
Leganés (loan)2015–16Segunda División20121222
Numancia2016–17Segunda División37210382
Barcelona B2017–18Segunda División271271
Las Palmas2018–19Segunda División35200352
Mallorca2020–21Segunda División29010300
2021–22La Liga22040260
2022–23La Liga30020320
Total810700000880
Las Palmas (loan)2019–20Segunda División33000330
Athletic Bilbao2023–24La Liga29160351
Career total3419171603036710

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

2023–24[23]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ruiz de Galarreta. Diario AS. 22 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Galarreta, sobre su llegada al Athletic: "Cuando me avisaron me cambió la cara". Galarreta, on his arrival at Athletic: "I got turned upside down when they told me". Relevo. Patxo. De la Rica. es. 4 July 2023. 6 July 2023.
  3. News: El Athletic se deja ganar (4–2) en los diez últimos minutos ante el Paris Saint Germain. Athletic allow defeat (4–2) in last ten minutes against Paris Saint Germain. El Mundo. Sergio. Rodríguez Viñas. es. 14 December 2011. 6 July 2023.
  4. Web site: Athletic overcome Slaven 3–1. Football España. Dave. Redshaw. 3 August 2012. 6 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Betis fire five in eight-goal thriller. ESPN FC. 19 August 2012. 15 September 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140330032050/http://espnfc.com/en/report/348502/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888. 30 March 2014.
  6. Web site: Estado de los jugadores. Injury report. Athletic Bilbao. es. 22 October 2012. 22 October 2012.
  7. News: Galarreta se rompe el ligamento cruzado anterior. Galarreta ruptures anterior cruciate ligament. Marca. es. 22 October 2012. 22 October 2012.
  8. Web site: Ruiz de Galarreta cedido una temporada al Mirandés. Ruiz de Galarreta loaned to Mirandés for one season. Canal Athletic. es. 5 August 2013. 7 March 2014.
  9. News: La mala suerte se ceba con Galarreta. Bad luck haunts Galarreta. Marca. es. 28 October 2013. 7 March 2014.
  10. News: 0–1: El Mirandés se pone líder y saca punta a los problemas del Castilla. 0–1: Mirandés are now leaders and highlight Castilla's problems. Mundo Deportivo. es. 8 September 2013. 6 July 2023.
  11. News: El Zaragoza hace oficial la llegada de Ruiz de Galarreta y de Rubén González. Zaragoza confirm arrivals of Ruiz de Galarreta and Rubén González. Heraldo de Aragón. es. 12 August 2014. 6 July 2023.
  12. News: El Leganés logra la cesión de Ruiz de Galarreta. Leganés get Ruiz de Galarreta loan. La Vanguardia. es. 11 August 2015. 6 July 2023.
  13. News: Leganés y Lezama, una relación estable y duradera. Leganés and Lezama, stable and lasting relationship. Estadio Deportivo. es. 16 August 2018. 6 July 2023.
  14. Web site: Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, nuevo jugador del C.D Numancia. Iñigo Ruiz de Galarretea, new player of C.D. Numancia. CD Numancia. es. 12 July 2016. 12 July 2016.
  15. Web site: Galarreta, traspasado a la UD Las Palmas procedente del FC Barcelona. Galarreta, transferred to UD Las Palmas from FC Barcelona. UD Las Palmas. es. 7 August 2018. 8 August 2018.
  16. Web site: El RCD Mallorca ficha a Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta y se queda cedido en la UD Las Palmas. RCD Mallorca sign Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta and he remains on loan at UD Las Palmas. RCD Mallorca. es. 2 September 2019. 3 September 2019.
  17. News: Galarreta: ¿destino Bilbao?. Galarreta: Bilbao-bound?. Última Hora. Carlos. Román. es. 10 January 2023. 5 July 2023.
  18. Web site: Galarreta returns to Athletic Club. Athletic Bilbao. 7 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  19. News: España 6 Islas Feroe 0. Spain 6 Faroe Islands 0. Diario AS. es. 16 October 2009. 6 July 2023.
  20. News: La Sub17 cumple el trámite ante Rumanía. Under17s do their job against Romania. Marca. es. 21 October 2009. 6 July 2023.
  21. Web site: Convocatoria Sub 17 para el doble partido España .vs. Portugal en diciembre. Under 17 selection for double Spain .vs. Portugal match in December. Fútbol Balear. es. 26 November 2009. 5 July 2023.
  22. News: 0–3. Alcácer, Deulofeu y De Tomás firman la victoria de España. 0–3. Alcácer, Deulofeu and De Tomás sign Spanish win. Mundo Deportivo. es. 29 March 2012. 5 July 2023.
  23. News: Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, en directo: final de Copa del Rey 2024 Celebración del Athletic, campeón de Copa. Athletic 1–1 (4–2) Mallorca, live: 2024 King's Cup final Celebrations of Athletic, Cup champions. Diario AS. Mario. Reinoso del Real. es. 7 April 2024. 7 April 2024.