Iñigo Calderón
Encyclopedia
Iñigo Calderón Zapatería (born 4 January 1982) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion
in England
, as a right defender.
Prior to joining Brighton he played professionally for Alicante
and Alavés
.
, Álava
, Basque Country
, Calderón stated his professional career with Alicante CF
in Segunda División B
, achieving two first-place finishes and one third during his three-year spell, but seeing his team consecutively fail in the promotion play-offs.
In 2007, he moved to Deportivo Alavés
(he had already represented its C and B teams
early in his career), playing in two Segunda División
seasons – often serving as team captain – and suffering relegation in his second year.
On 7 January 2010, after a spell on trial, Calderón signed with Football League One
team Brighton & Hove Albion
on a contract until the end of the season
. He made his club debut nine days later, in a 2–1 win at Walsall
, and scored his first goal for the Seagulls in another away fixture (also 2–1 win), against Charlton Athletic
on 23 February.
Calderón's offer of a new contract at Brighton was withdrawn after he agreed to join League One rivals Southampton
in May 2010. However, on 10 June, the player signed a new three-year deal with Brighton, with manager
Gus Poyet claiming "Calde is a quality player and was always our first-choice right-back...".
Calderón scored eight goals in the 2010–11 season
, including a first-half strike in the 4–3 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge
that helped Albion secure promotion to the Championship
. He subsequently signed a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until 2014.
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 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, as a right defender.
Prior to joining Brighton he played professionally for Alicante
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
and Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
.
Club career
Born in Vitoria-GasteizVitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
, Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, 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....
, Calderón stated his professional career with Alicante CF
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
in Segunda División B
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...
, achieving two first-place finishes and one third during his three-year spell, but seeing his team consecutively fail in the promotion play-offs.
In 2007, he moved to Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
(he had already represented its C and B teams
Deportivo Alavés B
Deportivo Alavés B, S.A.D., usually known as Alavés B, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the autonomous community of Basque Country...
early in his career), playing in two Segunda División
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:...
seasons – often serving as team captain – and suffering relegation in his second year.
On 7 January 2010, after a spell on trial, Calderón signed with Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
on a contract until the end of the season
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
. He made his club debut nine days later, in a 2–1 win at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, and scored his first goal for the Seagulls in another away fixture (also 2–1 win), against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 23 February.
Calderón's offer of a new contract at Brighton was withdrawn after he agreed to join League One rivals Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in May 2010. However, on 10 June, the player signed a new three-year deal with Brighton, with manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
Gus Poyet claiming "Calde is a quality player and was always our first-choice right-back...".
Calderón scored eight goals in the 2010–11 season
2010–11 Football League One
The 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format...
, including a first-half strike in the 4–3 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
that helped Albion secure promotion to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He subsequently signed a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until 2014.
Team
- Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
:- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
: 2010–112010–11 Football League OneThe 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format...
- Football League One
Individual
- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
: PFA Team of the Year 2010–112010–11 Football League OneThe 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format...