Gorka Iraizoz

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Iraizoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre and raised in nearby Ansoáin. After beginning his football career with local club UDC Chantrea, he moved to the Basque Country with Athletic Bilbao, serving stints with affiliates CD Basconia and Bilbao Athletic. Arriving at RCD Espanyol in July 2002, he spent two seasons with its B side, also having a loan spell at SD Eibar in the Segunda División. He made his La Liga debut on 21 December 2005. He was second choice behind Carlos Kameni for the 2006–07 season, but was the regular in the team's run to the final of the UEFA Cup. On 7 August 2007, he signed for Athletic Bilbao for €4.6 million, returning to the club he spent one-and-a-half seasons with, this time as the undisputed starter. However, due to a severe injury, he was left out of the squad for the second part of the campaign, and his place (and shirt number) was taken by 37-year-old Armando. Iraizoz rarely missed a league game the following years. He was in goal during the 2009 and 2012 finals of the Copa del Rey lost to FC Barcelona, and also helped defeat that opponent 5–1 on aggregate in the 2015 Supercopa de España for his only accolade at the San Mamés Stadium. Having lost his starting place to Kepa Arrizabalaga, at the end of the 2016–17 season Athletic announced that the 36-year-old would be leaving the club at the end of his contract. On 14 June 2017, he agreed to a two-year deal at Girona FC. He spent most of his spell at the Estadi Montilivi as backup to Yassine Bounou. He left the club at the end of the 2018–19 season, which ended in relegation. After retiring aged 38, he later worked as manager of Barakaldo's youths, goalkeeper coach of its first team and assistant at Gernika Club and SD Logroñés under former Athletic player Aitor Larrazábal. After the latter became Gernika's sporting director in May 2024, he named him head coach at the Segunda Federación side. Iraizoz never earned any caps for Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.

In Their Own Story

The defining moments of Iraizoz's career were filled with high stakes and dramatic saves. On 16 January 2010, his player-of-the-match performance helped Athletic hold an early home lead against Real Madrid, where he constantly denied efforts from Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo. He stood between the posts during the Copa del Rey finals lost to FC Barcelona in both 2009 and 2012. A particularly memorable incident occurred in the opening match of the 2014–15 season at Málaga CF, where Iraizoz appeared to score a last-minute equaliser with a header, only for it to be disallowed, apparently incorrectly. Despite these challenges, he secured his place in history by helping defeat FC Barcelona 5–1 on aggregate in the 2015 Supercopa de España. After losing his starting place to Kepa Arrizabalaga, the 36-year-old left Athletic Bilbao at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Reader's Guide

Iraizoz is a former goalkeeper known for his long tenure at Athletic Bilbao, where he made 392 official appearances. He won the 2006 Copa del Rey with Espanyol and the 2015 Supercopa de España with Athletic Bilbao. He also reached the UEFA Cup final in 2007 and the UEFA Europa League final in 2012. After retiring, he became a manager, currently leading Gernika in the Segunda Federación.

Did You Know?

• Iraizoz learned to speak fluent Catalan during his time at Espanyol.
• In the opening match of 2014–15, at Málaga CF, Iraizoz appeared to score a last-minute equaliser with a header, but the goal was disallowed, apparently incorrectly.
• He was in goal during Athletic Bilbao's 5–1 aggregate win over FC Barcelona in the 2015 Supercopa de España.