Iván Zarandona Esono (born 30 August 1980) is a sports agent and former footballer. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he also played as a central defender.
He spent the better part of his career in Spain, representing Valladolid at the professional level.
Born in Spain, Zarandona was a member of the Equatorial Guinea national team.
Club career Born in Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain, Zarandona spent the vast majority of his career in the lower leagues of that country, having a Segunda División stint with Real Valladolid in the 2004–05 season where he played less than half of the games.Iván Zarandona completa el centro del campo del Burgos CF (Iván Zarandona completes Burgos CF midfield); Diario de Burgos, 23 July 2015 (in Spanish)
Rarely settling with a club, he also represented CF Extremadura, CD Ferriolense, RCD Mallorca B, Real Betis B, Caravaca CF, Rayo Vallecano, Zamora CF, Real Murcia Imperial, UD Los Palacios, UD Pájara Playas de Jandía, CD Leganés, Real Jaén,El vallisoletano Iván Zarandona ficha por el Jaén (Valladolid's Iván Zarandona signs for Jaén); ABC, 15 August 2010 (in Spanish) CD Lugo, SD Noja and Burgos CF. In the Segunda División B, he totalled 309 matches for several teams.Canarias forma grupo (Canarias forms group) ; El Día, 23 August 2007 (in Spanish)
International career Zarandona played for the Spain under-18 teamMaldini, tenemos a Zarandona (Maldini, we have Zarandona); Gol en Butarque, 3 March 2009 (in Spanish) but, in June 2003, FIFA allowed him to change his national association. This rule originally applied only for under-21 players not yet capped for senior sides, but FIFA also allowed overage ones to apply until December 2004.
Zarandona started representing his "new nation", Equatorial Guinea, in October 2003, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification first round tie loss against Togo.Footballers step-out of 'Eel's' shadow; BBC Sport, 8 May 2007
Personal life Zarandona's father was Basque, and his mother was from Equatorial Guinea. His older brother Benjamín successfully represented Valladolid, Real Betis and the Spain under-21 team, before switching to Equatorial Guinea at senior level.La plaza donde Benjamín jugaba al "fútbol banco" (The square where Benjamín played "bench football"); El Día de Valladolid, 26 March 2016 (in Spanish)
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMallorca2001–02La Liga0010—10Betis B2002–03Segunda División B241——241Valladolid2004–05Segunda División15060—210Rayo Vallecano2005–06Segunda División B9220—112Zamora2005–06Segunda División B2000—20Pájara Playas2006–07Segunda División B19100102012007–08Segunda División B33200—332Total5220010533Leganés2008–09Segunda División B28300203032009–10Segunda División B32110—331Total6041020634Jaén2010–11Segunda División B32410—334Lugo2011–12Segunda División B1801050240Noja2012–13Segunda División B29120—3112013–14Segunda División B14100—141Total43220—452Hong Kong Rangers2013–14Hong Kong First Division League4020—602014–15Hong Kong Premier League6040—100Total10060—160Career total265162008029316
International Score and result list Equatorial Guinea's goal tally first, score column indicates score Zarandona goal. + International goal scored by Iván ZarandonaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 12 June 2016 Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin 1–1 1–2 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
References
External links