Javier Irureta
Encyclopedia
Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano (born 1 April 1948), Irureta for short, is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a forward, and a current manager
.
Irureta had a distinguished playing career with both Atlético de Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao
, playing in 344 La Liga
games for both teams combined, and scoring 70 goals. Along with Adelardo, Luis Aragonés
and José Eulogio Gárate
, he was a prominent member of the successful Atlético teams of the early 1970s.
As a manager, he coached several Spanish top flight clubs, most notably Deportivo de La Coruña
. He is the only person to have coached both the two major Galician (Deportivo and Celta de Vigo
) and Basque
(Bilbao and Real Sociedad
) sides.
, Gipuzkoa. As a player, he made his senior debut for local team Real Unión
, in 1965. Two years later he helped it reach the second division
play-offs before joining Atlético Madrid later that year. During his time at Atlético he was part of a team that won two La Liga
titles and a domestic cup
.
The Colchoneros also reached the European Cup final in 1973–74. After the winners, FC Bayern Munich
, declined to participate in the Intercontinental Cup
, Atlético, as runners-up, were invited instead. Facing Club Atlético Independiente
of Argentina
, the side won 2–1 on aggregate, with Irureta scoring one of the goals in the 2–0 second-leg home win.
and signed for Athletic Bilbao
. The highlight of his career there was winning two runners-up medals in 1977 – Spanish and UEFA Cups. Among his teammates were veteran José Ángel Iribar
and an emerging José Ramón Alexanko
.
Irureta retired in 1980 aged 32, with more than 400 official matches to his credit, and nearly 100 goals.
in a three-year span (exactly 2 years and 11 months). However, he did not experience a successful time with the national side, and never took part in any major tournament; his debut came on 23 May 1972, in a 2–0 friendly win with Uruguay
, in Madrid
.
Towards the end of his playing career, Irureta also played one game for the Basque Country national football team
.
, then led Real Oviedo
to a sixth-place finish in 1990–91, with subsequent UEFA Cup qualification. He repeated the feat with Celta (where he was awarded Manager Of the Year titles by both Don Balón
and El País) in 1998. In 1994–95, he briefly returned to Athletic Bilbao, then coached neighbours Real Sociedad
.
However, his greatest successes came with Deportivo de La Coruña
, between 1998 and 2005 (in 2000, Don Balón bestowed upon him a second coaching award). In his second year, he led Depor to its first ever league title, adding runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2002, and third-places in the following two years, while also achieving UEFA Champions League
quarterfinals in 2001 and 2002 and the semifinalis in 2004. In 2002, the club also won the domestic cup, beating Real Madrid
at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
.
, after the club's poor start to 2006–07, stepping down on 21 December 2006, after just seven months in charge. Irureta, who had a one-year contract, stated: "My contract has been rescinded by mutual agreement but I made the first move. We could have continued like this for much longer but it wasn't good".
side Bolton Wanderers
, but lost out in the running to Gary Megson
, and was also touted by December as possible replacement for Real Sociedad's Chris Coleman
.
Eventually, he took over at Real Zaragoza
, replacing Víctor Fernández. However, on 3 March 2008, after merely one 1/2 months in charge, he resigned, arguing that never, as a manager, had he lost four games in a row, and that he did not feel up to the task of stopping the side's slump into the relegation zone (eventually, the Aragon
ese were relegated). He was quickly replaced by former Zaragoza goalkeeper Manolo Villanova, whom at the time coached Sociedad Deportiva Huesca
.
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 played as a forward, and a current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Irureta had a distinguished playing career with both Atlético de Madrid and Athletic de 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...
, playing in 344 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...
games for both teams combined, and scoring 70 goals. Along with Adelardo, Luis Aragonés
Luis Aragonés
José Luis Aragonés Suárez , usually referred to as Luis Aragonés and sometimes simply as Luis, is a former Spanish footballer and national coach....
and José Eulogio Gárate
José Eulogio Gárate
José Eulogio Gárate Ormaechea is a former Argentine-Spanish footballer who played as a forward for SD Eibar, SD Indautxu, Atlético Madrid and Spain.-Club career:...
, he was a prominent member of the successful Atlético teams of the early 1970s.
As a manager, he coached several Spanish top flight clubs, most notably 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...
. He is the only person to have coached both the two major Galician (Deportivo 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 ,...
) and 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....
(Bilbao and 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...
) sides.
Atlético Madrid
Irureta was born in IrunIrun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
, Gipuzkoa. As a player, he made his senior debut for local team 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 1965. Two years later he helped it reach 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:...
play-offs before joining Atlético Madrid later that year. During his time at Atlético he was part of a team that won two 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...
titles and a domestic cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
.
The Colchoneros also reached the European Cup final in 1973–74. After the winners, FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, declined to participate in the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
, Atlético, as runners-up, were invited instead. Facing Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, the side won 2–1 on aggregate, with Irureta scoring one of the goals in the 2–0 second-leg home win.
Athletic Bilbao
After eight seasons at Atlético, Irureta returned to the Basque CountryBasque 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....
and signed for 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...
. The highlight of his career there was winning two runners-up medals in 1977 – Spanish and UEFA Cups. Among his teammates were veteran José Ángel Iribar
José Ángel Iribar
José Ángel Iribar Cortajarena, nicknamed El Chopo , is a retired Spanish football goalkeeper and manager....
and an emerging José Ramón Alexanko
José Ramón Alexanko
José Ramón Alexanko Ventosa , also referred to as Alesanco or Alexanco, is a retired Spanish footballer and manager....
.
Irureta retired in 1980 aged 32, with more than 400 official matches to his credit, and nearly 100 goals.
Spain
Irureta won six caps for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
in a three-year span (exactly 2 years and 11 months). However, he did not experience a successful time with the national side, and never took part in any major tournament; his debut came on 23 May 1972, in a 2–0 friendly win with Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
, in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
Towards the end of his playing career, Irureta also played one game for the Basque Country national football team
Basque Country national football team
The Basque Country football team is considered the national team of the Basque Country greater region as selected players from the Basque Country Autonomous Community, the nearby Navarre and the Northern Basque Country in France play for it...
.
Early years/Deportivo La Coruña
As a coach, Irureta started with lowly CD LogroñésCD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
, then led Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
to a sixth-place finish in 1990–91, with subsequent UEFA Cup qualification. He repeated the feat with Celta (where he was awarded Manager Of the Year titles by both Don Balón
Don Balón
Don Balón was a Spanish weekly sports magazine specialising in Spanish and international football. It was distributed on five continents....
and El País) in 1998. In 1994–95, he briefly returned to Athletic Bilbao, then coached 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...
.
However, his greatest successes came with 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...
, between 1998 and 2005 (in 2000, Don Balón bestowed upon him a second coaching award). In his second year, he led Depor to its first ever league title, adding runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2002, and third-places in the following two years, while also achieving UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
quarterfinals in 2001 and 2002 and the semifinalis in 2004. In 2002, the club also won the domestic cup, beating Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is an all-seater football stadium in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. It has a current capacity of 85,454 spectators....
.
Betis
Irureta quit as coach of Real BetisReal Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, after the club's poor start to 2006–07, stepping down on 21 December 2006, after just seven months in charge. Irureta, who had a one-year contract, stated: "My contract has been rescinded by mutual agreement but I made the first move. We could have continued like this for much longer but it wasn't good".
Later career
In October 2007, Irureta put his name forward to be the new coach of EnglishEngland
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...
side Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, but lost out in the running to Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
, and was also touted by December as possible replacement for Real Sociedad's Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
.
Eventually, he took over at Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, replacing Víctor Fernández. However, on 3 March 2008, after merely one 1/2 months in charge, he resigned, arguing that never, as a manager, had he lost four games in a row, and that he did not feel up to the task of stopping the side's slump into the relegation zone (eventually, the Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
ese were relegated). He was quickly replaced by former Zaragoza goalkeeper Manolo Villanova, whom at the time coached Sociedad Deportiva Huesca
SD Huesca
Sociedad Deportiva Huesca, S.A.D., is a Spanish football club based in Huesca, in the autonomous community of Aragon. Founded in 1960, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio El Alcoraz, which seats 8,000 spectators....
.
Player
- Atlético Madrid:
- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1969–70, 1972–73 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1971–72 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 1974
- Spanish League
Manager
- DeportivoDeportivo de La CoruñaReal 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...
:- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1999–2000 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2001–02 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 2000, 2002
- Spanish League