Zigor_Aranalde

Zigor Aranalde

Zigor Aranalde

Spanish footballer

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Aranalde and the second or maternal family name is Sarasola.

Zigor Aranalde Sarasola (born 28 February 1973) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

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Playing career

Early years

Born in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, Aranalde began his career at lowly CD Hernani, going on to spend eight of his nine professional seasons in his country in the Segunda División.[1]

In 1996–97, he was first choice at Sevilla FC in La Liga, but the Andalusians finished third-bottom so they were relegated.[2]

England

Aranalde joined Football League Second Division club Walsall on a two-year contract, just before the start of 2000–01.[3] He spent just under five seasons at the Bescot Stadium, winning promotion via the play-off final in his first year and being a regular member until he was surprisingly released by manager Paul Merson, in March 2005; he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday immediately following his release, but was sent off in only his second game for the side and never appeared for them again.[4]

In the summer of 2005, Aranalde signed for Carlisle United,[5] who went on to win the championship and promote from League Two. He scored five goals during the campaign, and was part of a squad which included two other former Walsall players, striker Karl Hawley and future Preston North End manager Paul Simpson; on 1 October he netted Bristol Rovers' 5000th ever goal in a 1–3 loss, in his own net.[6]

Coaching career

On 16 May 2008, it was announced that Aranalde was being released from Carlisle alongside Paul Arnison and Grant Carson.[7] Two years later, after playing some amateur football in his country,[8] he returned to England in April 2010 when he was named chief scout at Brighton & Hove Albion in League One.[9] He subsequently held the same position at West Bromwich Albion, later being part of the coaching staff of Albacete Balompié.[10]

Aranalde was named assistant manager at Premier League team Watford in January 2018, following the appointment of his compatriot Javi Gracia.[10] Both were fired on 8 September 2019,[11] continuing to work together at Valencia CF,[12] Al Sadd SC[13] and Leeds United.[14]

Honours

Walsall

Carlisle United

References

  1. [1]
    El futbolista olvidado (The forgotten footballer); El País, 18 November 2007 (in Spanish)
  2. [2]
    ¿Qué pasó con Zigor Aranalde? (What happened to Zigor Aranalde?); Estadio Deportivo, 13 August 2017 (in Spanish)
  3. [3]
    Walsall sign Spaniard; BBC Sport, 10 August 2000
  4. [4]
    Owls not contesting Aranalde card; BBC Sport, 5 April 2005
  5. [5]
    Carlisle sign Spaniard Aranalde; BBC Sport, 5 July 2005
  6. [6]
    Carlisle 1–3 Bristol Rovers; BBC Sport, 1 October 2005
  7. [7]
    Ward releases three at Carlisle; BBC Sport, 16 May 2008
  8. [8]
    La Gineta está a punto de cerrar la contratación de Zigor Aranalde (La Gineta about to close Zigor Aranalde deal); El Digital Castilla-La Mancha, 16 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  9. [9]
    Brighton appoint Zigor Aranalde as new chief scout; BBC Sport, 14 April 2010
  10. [10]
    Coaching staff confirmed; Watford FC, 23 January 2018
  11. [11]
    Watford fired head coach Javi Gracia amid fears Spaniard had 'gone flat'; The Daily Telegraph, 8 September 2019
  12. [12]
    El Valencia destituye a Javi Gracia, el entrenador que quiso irse en octubre y se va siete meses tarde (Valencia dismiss Javi Gracia, the manager who wanted to go in October and leaves seven months later); El País, 3 May 2021 (in Spanish)
  13. [13]
    Ex-Blues: Former Carlisle United star Zigor Aranalde now assistant boss at Qatar club Al Sadd; News and Star, 31 March 2022
  14. [14]
    Leeds confirm Javi Gracia’s backroom staff as head coach’s visa approved; The Athletic, 24 February 2023
  15. [15]
    "Carlisle 1–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 2 April 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
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