Iñaki Lafuente Sancha (born 24 January 1976) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He appeared in 146 La Liga games in ten seasons, mainly with Athletic Bilbao. He also represented Espanyol and Sporting de Gijón in the competition.
Club career Born in Barakaldo, Biscay, Lafuente was a graduate of Lezama, the famed Athletic Bilbao youth academy. He made his debut with the first team in 1999–2000 after serving two loans at modest Basque neighbours, adding another with Elche CF three years later. Having replaced Imanol Etxeberria, he competed with Dani Aranzubia for first-choice status in several La Liga seasons, appearing in 36 games in 2000–01 and adding 30 the following campaign.
For 2007–08, Lafuente was loaned to RCD Espanyol as Gorka Iraizoz was sold in the opposite direction. He backed up Carlos Kameni at his new club, and when the Cameroonian left for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations he became the starter, but retired injured in just his second appearance.
In July 2008, Lafuente returned to Athletic Bilbao, being only third-choice. On 13 January 2009, due to Sporting de Gijón starter Iván Cuéllar's serious ankle injury, coincidentally in a match against the former, he was loaned to the Asturias side until the end of the campaign. In his first start, on the 25th, they were beaten 5–1 at Getafe CF.
Lafuente was released by Athletic in the summer of 2009, ending a 16-year relationship. In late July, the 33-year-old moved to CD Numancia (recently relegated to the Segunda División), being used mostly as a backup during his two-year spell and retiring subsequently.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBilbao Athletic1994–95Segunda División10———101996–97Segunda División B270———2701997–98Segunda División B330——403701999–2000Segunda División B40———40Total650——40690Sestao (loan)1995–96Segunda División20000——200Elche (loan)1998–99Segunda División B37000—60430Athletic Bilbao1999–2000La Liga14040——1802000–01La Liga36000——3602001–02La Liga30000——3002002–03La Liga13000——1302003–04La Liga4010——502004–05La Liga008040—1202005–06La Liga2002020—2402006–07La Liga11020——1302008–09La Liga0000——00Total128017060—1510Espanyol (loan) 2007–08La Liga5040——90Sporting Gijón (loan) 2008–09La Liga13000——130Numancia2009–10Segunda División6010——702010–11Segunda División19000——190Total25010——260Career total2930220601003310
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