Iñaki Descarga
Encyclopedia
Iñaki Descarga Retegui (born 25 August 1976 in Irun
, Basque Country
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Real Unión
in the Spanish third division
.
Mainly a central defender, he can also operate as right back.
(then in the second division
) and a season with neighbours SD Eibar
(same category), Descarga played eight seasons with Levante UD
, where he would be one of the side's most influential players and club captain, helping it achieve two promotions to the top level
. Descarga's first match in the competition came on 13 November 2004, in a 0–1 loss at Deportivo de La Coruña
, with Levante being relegated
on the last matchday.
Following the Valencian Community
's outfit severe financial crisis during 2007–08, Descarga was one of many players who would leave, joining Legia Warszawa
in August 2008. There, he teamed up with another Osasuna graduate, Iñaki Astiz
.
Descarga made his Legia debut on 2 September 2008 in a match against Polonia Warsaw (1–1). In the Polish top division, he first appeared on the 13th, against Arka Gdynia
(2–2).
In July 2009, Descarga signed with his first club, Real Unión
of Irun
, freshly promoted to level two. On 20 June 2010, as the club was immediately relegated back
, he helped seal the team's fate, netting in his own net
in a 0–2 home loss against neighbours Real Sociedad
(last matchday).
. The Basque
team won 2–0 and Celta de Vigo
was instead relegated.
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Real Unión
Real Unión
Real Unión Club de Irún, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Irun, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the province of Gipuzkoa, near the border with France...
in the Spanish third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
.
Mainly a central defender, he can also operate as right back.
Football career
After an insignificant stint with CA OsasunaCA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
(then in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
) and a season with neighbours SD Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
(same category), Descarga played eight seasons with Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, where he would be one of the side's most influential players and club captain, helping it achieve two promotions to the top level
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. Descarga's first match in the competition came on 13 November 2004, in a 0–1 loss at Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, with Levante being relegated
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
on the last matchday.
Following the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
's outfit severe financial crisis during 2007–08, Descarga was one of many players who would leave, joining Legia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March 1916 in the area of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions...
in August 2008. There, he teamed up with another Osasuna graduate, Iñaki Astiz
Iñaki Astiz Ventura
Iñaki Astiz Ventura is a Spanish footballer who plays for Legia Warszawa in the Polish first division, as a defender.-Club:...
.
Descarga made his Legia debut on 2 September 2008 in a match against Polonia Warsaw (1–1). In the Polish top division, he first appeared on the 13th, against Arka Gdynia
Arka Gdynia
Morski Związkowy Klub Sportowy Arka Gdynia is a Polish professional football club, based in Gdynia, Poland, that plays in the Polish 1 Liga. The club was founded as Klub Sportowy Gdynia in 1929. Its activities were interrupted between 1939–1945 due to the German occupation of Poland...
(2–2).
In July 2009, Descarga signed with his first club, Real Unión
Real Unión
Real Unión Club de Irún, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Irun, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the province of Gipuzkoa, near the border with France...
of Irun
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
, freshly promoted to level two. On 20 June 2010, as the club was immediately relegated back
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
, he helped seal the team's fate, netting in his own net
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
in a 0–2 home loss against neighbours Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
(last matchday).
Match-fixing controversy
On 3 December 2008, Spanish regional TV channel Popular TV del Mediterráneo released a recording of a telephone conversation between Levante's president, Julio Romero, and club defender Descarga, in which the latter admitted that a certain number of his teammates had accepted a bribe to lose a 17 June 2007 match against Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
. The Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
team won 2–0 and Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
was instead relegated.