Gorka Iraizoz Moreno (born 6 March 1981) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently a manager.
He spent most of his 20-year senior career with Athletic Bilbao, appearing in 392 official games. In La Liga he also represented Espanyol and Girona, winning the 2006 Copa del Rey with the first club.
Club career Early career and Espanyol Iraizoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre and raised in nearby Ansoáin. After beginning his football career with local club UDC Chantrea, he moved to the Basque Country with Athletic Bilbao, serving stints with affiliates CD Basconia and Bilbao Athletic.
Arriving at RCD Espanyol in July 2002, Iraizoz spent two seasons with its B side, also having a loan spell at SD Eibar in the Segunda División. He made his La Liga debut on 21 December 2005, in a 2–1 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña. He was second choice behind Carlos Kameni for the 2006–07 season, but was the regular in the team's run to the final of the UEFA Cup, notably excelling in the quarter-final second leg away to S.L. Benfica (0–0 draw, 3–2 on aggregate).
During his time in Barcelona, Iraizoz learned to speak fluent Catalan.
Athletic Bilbao On 7 August 2007, Iraizoz signed for Athletic Bilbao for €4.6 million, returning to the club he spent one-and-a-half seasons with, this time as the undisputed starter. However, due to a severe injury, he was left out of the squad for the second part of the campaign, and his place (and shirt number) was taken by 37-year-old Armando, signed from Cádiz CF until June 2008.
Iraizoz rarely missed a league game the following years. On 16 January 2010, his Player of the match performance helped the team hold on to its early home lead against Real Madrid, constantly denying Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo's efforts. Additionally, he was in goal during the 2009 and 2012 finals of the Copa del Rey lost to FC Barcelona, and also helped defeat that opponent 5–1 on aggregate in the 2015 Supercopa de España for his only accolade at the San Mamés Stadium.
In the opening match of 2014–15, at Málaga CF, Iraizoz appeared to score a last-minute equaliser with a header, but the goal was disallowed, apparently incorrectly. Having lost his starting place to Kepa Arrizabalaga, at the end of the 2016–17 season Athletic announced that the 36-year-old would be leaving the club at the end of his contract.
Girona On 14 June 2017, Iraizoz agreed to a two-year deal at Girona FC, promoted to the top flight for the first time ever. He spent most of his spell at the Estadi Montilivi as backup to Yassine Bounou.
Iraizoz left the club at the end of the 2018–19 campaign, which ended in relegation.
International career Iraizoz never earned any caps for Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.
Coaching career After retiring aged 38, Iraizoz later worked as manager of Barakaldo's youths, goalkeeper coach of its first team and assistant at Gernika Club and SD Logroñés under former Athletic player Aitor Larrazábal. After the latter became Gernika's sporting director in May 2024, he named him head coach at the Segunda Federación side; he avoided relegation in the last match of his sole season, then left.
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBilbao Athletic2000–01Segunda División B00———00Gernika (loan)2000–01Segunda División B140———140Gernika 2001–02Segunda División B360———360Espanyol B 2002–03Segunda División B290———2902003–04Segunda División B300———300Total590———590Espanyol2002–03La Liga0000——002003–04La Liga0000——002005–06La Liga2105060—3202006–07La Liga202015010200Total2307021010520Eibar (loan)2004–05Segunda División4100000—410Athletic Bilbao 2007–08La Liga13010——1402008–09La Liga36090——4502009–10La Liga37010120105102010–11La Liga37040——4102011–12La Liga37090150—6102012–13La Liga350—70—4202013–14La Liga330———3302014–15La Liga3401080—4302015–16La Liga370——203902016–17La Liga1604030—230Total3150290450303920Girona2017–18La Liga9010——1002018–19La Liga7060——130Total16070——230Career total5040430660406170
Honours Espanyol Copa del Rey: 2005–06 UEFA Cup runner-up: 2006–07
Athletic Bilbao Supercopa de España: 2015 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2011–12 Copa del Rey runner-up: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15
References
External links