| Zigor Aranalde | |
| Fullname: | Zigor Aranalde Sarasola |
| Birth Date: | 28 February 1973 |
| Birth Place: | Ibarra, Spain |
| Height: | 1.850NaN0 |
| Position: | Left-back |
| Years1: | 1991–1992 |
| Years2: | 1992–1994 |
| Years3: | 1994–1996 |
| Years4: | 1996–1997 |
| Years5: | 1997–1999 |
| Years6: | 1999–2000 |
| Years7: | 2000–2005 |
| Years8: | 2005 |
| Years9: | 2005–2008 |
| Years10: | 2008–2009 |
| Years11: | 2009–2010 |
| Clubs1: | Hernani |
| Clubs11: | La Gineta |
| Caps1: | 33 |
| Caps2: | 45 |
| Caps3: | 56 |
| Caps4: | 22 |
| Caps5: | 51 |
| Caps6: | 39 |
| Caps7: | 195 |
| Caps8: | 2 |
| Caps9: | 109 |
| Totalcaps: | 552 |
| Goals1: | 3 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 2 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Goals7: | 5 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Goals9: | 6 |
| Totalgoals: | 18 |
| Manageryears1: | 2011–2013 |
| Manageryears2: | 2018–2019 |
| Manageryears3: | 2020–2021 |
| Manageryears4: | 2021–2023 |
| Manageryears5: | 2023 |
| Managerclubs1: | Albacete (assistant) |
| Managerclubs2: | Watford (assistant) |
| Managerclubs3: | Valencia (assistant) |
| Managerclubs4: | Al Sadd (assistant) |
| Managerclubs5: | Leeds United (assistant) |
Zigor Aranalde Sarasola (born 28 February 1973) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.
Born in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, Aranalde began his career at lowly Hernani, going on to spend eight of his nine professional seasons in his country in the Segunda División.[1]
In 1996–97, he was first choice at Sevilla in La Liga, but the Andalusians finished third-bottom so they were relegated.[2]
Aranalde joined Football League Second Division club Walsall on a two-year contract, just before the start of 2000–01.[3] He spent just under five seasons at the Bescot Stadium, winning promotion via the play-off final in his first year and being a regular member until he was surprisingly released by manager Paul Merson, in March 2005; he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday immediately following his release, but was sent off in only his second game for the side and never appeared for them again.[4]
In the summer of 2005, Aranalde signed for Carlisle United,[5] who went on to win the championship and promote from League Two. He scored five goals during the campaign, and was part of a squad which included two other former Walsall players, striker Karl Hawley and future Preston North End manager Paul Simpson; on 1 October he netted Bristol Rovers' 5000th ever goal in a 1–3 loss, in his own net.[6]
On 16 May 2008, it was announced that Aranalde was being released from Carlisle alongside Paul Arnison and Grant Carson.[7] Two years later, after playing some amateur football in his country,[8] he returned to England in April 2010 when he was named chief scout at Brighton & Hove Albion in League One.[9] He subsequently held the same position at West Bromwich Albion, later being part of the coaching staff of Albacete.[10]
Aranalde was named assistant manager at Premier League team Watford in January 2018, following the appointment of his compatriot Javi Gracia.[10] Both were fired on 8 September 2019,[11] continuing to work together at Valencia,[12] Al Sadd[13] and Leeds United.[14]
Walsall
Carlisle United