Xabier 'Xabi' Iruretagoiena Arantzamendi (born 21 March 1986), commonly known as Irureta, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He spent most of his 18-year career with Eibar, representing the club in all three major levels of Spanish football while appearing in 229 matches in all competitions.
Club career Eibar Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Irureta made his senior debut with local Real Unión in the 2005–06 season, in the Segunda División B. In summer 2006, he moved to amateurs CD Aurrerá Ondarroa also in his native Basque Country.
In July 2007, Irureta joined SD Eibar, being initially assigned to the reserves in the Tercera División.La permanencia y que algún jugador suba al primer equipo, objetivos del Eibar B (Survival and promotion of the odd player to the first team, Eibar B's objectives); El Correo, 5 August 2007 (in Spanish) He played his first game as a professional on 30 May 2009, starting in a 3–0 Segunda División away loss against Xerez CD,El Xerez se paseó y acaricia el ascenso a Primera división (Xerez went sightseeing and caress promotion to Primera); Marca, 30 May 2009 (in Spanish) and made a further three appearances during the campaign as the side suffered relegation after finishing in 21st position.
Irureta was definitely promoted to the main squad in July 2009,«Lo mejor de los porteros del Eibar es su gran predisposición al trabajo» ("The best of Eibar's goalkeepers is their willingness to work"); El Correo, 30 July 2009 (in Spanish) being named first choice ahead of Zigor Goikuria. In 2012–13, he appeared in 46 matches (34 in the league, 4,126 minutes of action) to help Eibar return to the second division after a four-year absence.Nueve jugadores del Eibar, de Segunda B a Primera en dos años (Nine Eibar players, from Segunda B to Primera in two years) ; El Diario Vasco, 27 November 2014 (in Spanish)
On 20 February 2014, Irureta signed a new two-year deal with the club,Xabi Irureta renueva por dos temporadas (Xabi Irureta renews for two seasons); SD Eibar, 20 February 2014 (in Spanish) which was promoted to La Liga for the first time ever.Borja Viguera, Xabi Irureta y Garitano, los tres triunfadores (Borja Viguera, Xabi Irureta and Garitano, the three winners); Marca, 9 June 2014 (in Spanish) He made his debut in the competition on 24 August aged 28, in a 1–0 home victory over Real Sociedad.Lara seals dream start for Eibar; ESPN FC, 24 August 2014
Zaragoza On 20 July 2016, the free agent Irureta agreed to a two-year contract at Real Zaragoza of the second tier.Xabi Irureta defenderá la portería zaragocista (Xabi Irureta will defent the zaragocista goal); Real Zaragoza, 20 July 2016 (in Spanish) On 1 September of the following year, after losing his starting position to youth graduate Álvaro Ratón, he left.Xabier Irureta y el Real Zaragoza ponen fin a su relación contractual (Xabier Irureta and Real Zaragoza end their contractual relationship); Real Zaragoza, 1 September 2017 (in Spanish)
Delhi Dynamos Irureta moved abroad on 4 January 2018, joining Indian Super League franchise Delhi Dynamos FC. He made his debut in the competition three days later, in a 2–2 away draw against Chennaiyin FC.
Later career Subsequently, Irureta competed in the Spanish lower leagues and amateur divisions, representing UD San Sebastián de los Reyes, Villarrubia CF, Racing Murcia FC and FC La Unión Atlético.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsReal Unión2004–05Segunda División B2000—20Eibar2007–08Segunda División0000—002008–09Segunda División4000—402009–10Segunda División B26010002702010–11Segunda División B32010403702011–12Segunda División B33000203502012–13Segunda División B34060604602013–14Segunda División39000—3902014–15La Liga33000—3302015–16La Liga4040—80Total20501201202290Zaragoza2016–17Segunda División17000—170Delhi Dynamos2017–18Indian Super League7010—80S.S. Reyes2018–19Segunda División B250——2502019–20Segunda División B23020—250Total48020—500Villarrubia2020–21Segunda División B120——120Racing Murcia2021–22Tercera División RFEF320—20340La Unión Atlético2022–23Tercera Federación250—60310Career total34801502003830
Honours Eibar Segunda División: 2013–14
Individual Ricardo Zamora Trophy (Segunda División): 2013–14
References
External links