Gaizka Garitano Aguirre

Gaizka Garitano

Personal information
Full name	Gaizka Garitano Aguirre
Date of birth	9 July 1975 (1975-07-09)
Place of birth	Bilbao, Spain
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1992–1999	Bilbao Athletic	111	(22)
1996–1997	→ Lleida (loan)	14	(0)
1998–1999	→ Eibar (loan)	18	(1)
1999–2001	Ourense	70	(8)
2001–2005	Eibar	146	(15)
2005–2008	Real Sociedad	81	(9)
2008–2009	Alavés	29	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Garitano and the second or maternal family name is Aguirre.

Gaizka Garitano Aguirre (born 9 July 1975 in Bilbao, Basque Country) is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder.

Football career

Grown through the ranks of Athletic Club de Bilbao, Garitano, nephew of another famed club midfielder, Ander Garitano, would however never make it past the club's B-team, serving loans with modest outfits. In 1999, he joined Segunda División B side CD Ourense.

Garitano finally settled at SD Eibar in Segunda División (his second club spell) and, in 2004–05, as club captain, led the Basque side into a fourth league place, with chances of an historical La Liga promotion until the last matchday.

Incidentally, Garitano would make his first top flight appearances with Real Sociedad, his debut coming on 27 August 2005, in a 0–3 away derby loss (he was already aged 30). After three seasons as an important first team member, he joined neighbours Deportivo Alavés, retiring in June 2009 at 34, after the club's demotion into the third division.

Immediately after hanging up his boots, having appeared in 315 matches (with 37 goals) in Spain's second level, Garitano moved into coaching, serving as assistant at also freshly relegated Eibar.

External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile