Iñaki Lafuente
Encyclopedia
Iñaki Lafuente Sancha is a Spanish
footballer, as a goalkeeper.
, the famed Athletic Bilbao
youth academy. He made his debuts with the first team in 1999–2000. Previously, he served two loans at modest Basque neighbours, adding another with Elche CF
three years later. He competed with Daniel Aranzubia
for Athletic's first-choice spot during several La Liga
seasons, appearing on 36 occasions in 2000–01, and adding 30 the following campaign.
In 2007–08, Lafuente was loaned to RCD Espanyol
, as Gorka Iraizoz
was sold in the opposite direction. At Espanyol, Lafuente backed up Carlos Kameni
. When the Cameroon
ian left for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, he stepped up, but retired injured in his second appearance.
In July 2008, Lafuente returned to Athletic Bilbao, where he was only third-choice. On 13 January 2009, due to Sporting de Gijón
starter Iván Cuéllar's serious ankle
injury, precisely in a match against Bilbao, he was loaned to the Asturias
side, until the end of the season. In his first start, Sporting were crushed 1–5 at Getafe CF
, on the 25th.
In July 2009, Lafuente was released by Athletic, ending a 16-year relationship. Late in that month, the 33-year old moved to CD Numancia
, freshly relegated into division two, and being solely used as a backup.
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, as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Lafuente was a graduate of LezamaLezama
Lezama is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It is home to the training headquarters of the football team Athletic Bilbao, and is accessible by bus - BizkaiBus - from Bilbao.-External links:*...
, the famed Athletic Bilbao
Athletic 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...
youth academy. He made his debuts with the first team in 1999–2000. Previously, he served two loans at modest Basque neighbours, adding another with Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
three years later. He competed with Daniel Aranzubia
Daniel Aranzubia
Daniel Aranzubia Aguado is a Spanish footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña in Segunda División, as a goalkeeper.-Athletic Bilbao:...
for Athletic's first-choice spot during several La Liga
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...
seasons, appearing on 36 occasions in 2000–01, and adding 30 the following campaign.
In 2007–08, Lafuente was loaned to RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, as Gorka Iraizoz
Gorka Iraizoz
Gorka Iraizoz Moreno is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish first division, as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Iraizoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre...
was sold in the opposite direction. At Espanyol, Lafuente backed up Carlos Kameni
Idriss Carlos Kameni
Idriss Carlos Kameni is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol in the Spanish first division, as a goalkeeper.-France:...
. When the Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian left for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, he stepped up, but retired injured in his second appearance.
In July 2008, Lafuente returned to Athletic Bilbao, where he was only third-choice. On 13 January 2009, due to Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
starter Iván Cuéllar's serious ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injury, precisely in a match against Bilbao, he was loaned to the Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
side, until the end of the season. In his first start, Sporting were crushed 1–5 at Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
, on the 25th.
In July 2009, Lafuente was released by Athletic, ending a 16-year relationship. Late in that month, the 33-year old moved to CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
, freshly relegated into division two, and being solely used as a backup.