Javier Iturriaga

Javier Iturriaga

Personal information
Full name	Javier Iturriaga Arrillaga
Date of birth	November 3, 1983 (1983-11-03)
Place of birth	Mexico City, Mexico
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Portugalete
Youth career
	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2002	Arenas Club
2002–2004	Baskonia	45	(3)
2004–2006	Bilbao Athletic	48	(4)
2006–2007	Athletic Bilbao	4	(0)
2007–2009	Salamanca	5	(0)
2008	→ Lorca Deportiva (loan)	11	(0)
2009	→ Lemona (loan)	13	(0)
2009–	Portugalete
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 August 2010. † Appearances (Goals).

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

Javier Iturriaga Arrillaga (born 3 November 1983 in Mexico City) is a Mexican-Spanish footballer who plays for Club Portugalete as a midfielder.

Early life

Unlike most of the players brought up at Athletic Bilbao, Iturriagate was not born in the Basque Country, or even in Spain. However, the club's philosophy does not mandate that a player is born in the region to be eligible, as long as he has ancestors; this criterion was met by his parents, both hailing from the area. His family arrived to Mexico in the early 80's from their native city of Zarautz, after his father was relocated for business purposes to that Latin American country.

Iturriaga was born and grew up in Mexico City, attended elementary school in Mexico but, at the age of 13, his family returned to Europe, where he attended St Edmunds College Catholic School, near Ware, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Whilst at school in England, he showed his natural sporting talents, quickly learning to play cricket and gaining a place in the Hertfordshire under 14 rugby county team, having played the game for only a few weeks. After high school he finally went back to Bilbao where he followed the footsteps of his brother Iñigo, joining Bilbao's youth system.

Club career

In 2002, after a passage at lowly Arenas Club de Getxo, already in Spain, Iturriaga re-joined Athletic, first appearing for the feeder club, CD Baskonia. He was definitely promoted to the first team for 2006–07, but only appeared four times in the league, as the side finished one place above relegation (17th); his debut came on October 15, 2006, replacing Pablo Orbaiz in the 58th minute of the 3–2 win at Gimnàstic de Tarragona, but was mainly restricted to Copa del Rey matches.

In the following summer, Iturriaga was released, joining second level's UD Salamanca where he was also highly unsuccessful, going on to serve two loans in the third division, including one at Basque outfit SD Lemona. In 2009, he was definitely released, but stayed in the area, joining amateurs Club Portugalete.

International career

Iturriaga declared he wished to represent Mexico internationally. Hugo Sánchez, the legendary striker who played 12 years in Spain and was then in charge of the national side, declared that he would have him in consideration and follow his progress.

However, Sánchez left the coaching post to return to club managing, and the player did not receive a callup.

External links

• Athletic Bilbao profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Lorca Deportiva profile (Spanish)