Salva Iriarte Explained

Salva Iriarte
Fullname:Salvador Iriarte Montejo
Birth Date:2 April 1952
Birth Place:Beasain, Spain
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Beasain
Youthyears2:1968–1970
Youthclubs2:Real Sociedad
Years1:1970–1976
Years2:1976–1982
Caps2:94
Goals2:3
Manageryears1:1985–1989
Managerclubs1:Real Sociedad B
Manageryears2:1991–1994
Managerclubs2:Real Sociedad (assistant)
Manageryears3:1994–1995
Managerclubs3:Real Sociedad
Manageryears4:1997–2000
Managerclubs4:Real Sociedad B
Manageryears5:2004–2007
Managerclubs5:Wales (assistant)

Salvador "Salva" Iriarte Montejo (born 2 April 1952) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and was later a manager.

Career

Iriarte played in La Liga with Real Sociedad for several seasons after graduating from their youth system and spending a long period with the club's reserve team, but was unable to establish himself in the side. He was a barely-used squad member when La Real were league champions in 1981 and 1982, and at the end of the latter season he retired from playing to become a coach, aged 30.

Iriarte's managerial career was also closely associated with Real Sociedad, serving as assistant coach and then taking charge of the senior side for most of the 1994–95 season and the first part of 1995–96 (departing after a weak start in the league and a Copa del Rey elimination by lower-division CD Numancia) between two spells managing the B-team in the third tier. He also spent time as assistant manager of the Wales national team under John Toshack, having worked with him in the same role at Real Sociedad.

Personal life

Iriarte's son Gaizka was also a footballer, who appeared for their hometown club SD Beasain, but never reached the professional level.

Honours

1980–81, 1981–82