Iñaki_Bergara

Iñaki Bergara

Iñaki Bergara

Spanish footballer and coach

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

Iñaki Bergara Iríbar (born 26 January 1962) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently goalkeeper coach of the Portugal national team.

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Playing career

Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Bergara began his career in his native Basque Country with Athletic Bilbao, and represented the Spain under-18 team in 1980.[2] He made his professional debut with Deportivo Alavés, signing with Real Murcia CF of La Liga in 1986 and remaining in the top division the following nine seasons, but almost exclusively as a backup or third choice.[3]

Bergara also played for Real Sociedad and CD Logroñés, appearing in 19 league matches during the 1994–95 campaign as the La Rioja side finished last with only 13 points and 79 goals conceded.[4][3] He retired at the age of 33, due to a serious knee injury.[5]

Coaching career

After retiring from football, Bergara began working as a goalkeepers' coach, first with Javier Clemente at the club where he began his career, Athletic Bilbao.[5] In 2007, he joined his compatriot Roberto Martínez's backroom staff at Swansea City.[6]

In summer 2009, as the manager left for the Premier League to sign for Wigan Athletic, Bergara joined him at the Latics.[7] The pair moved to Everton in July 2013.[8]

Bergara followed Martínez to Belgium in August 2016, where he became one of the two goalkeeping coaches alongside Erwin Lemmens.[9] Six years later, both he and Ricardo moved with the manager to another national team, Portugal.[10]

References

  1. [1]
    "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Belgium (BEL)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. [2]
    Martialay, Felix. Todo sobre todas las selecciones [Everything about every national team] (in Spanish). Librerías Deportivas Esteban Sanz. ISBN 84-935390-2-3.
  3. [3]
    Martínez Glera, José (9 July 2018). "El exblanquirrojo Iñaki Bergara, el 'profe' de Courtois" [Former white-and-red Iñaki Bergara, Courtois' 'guru'] (in Spanish). La Rioja. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. [4]
    Casado, María (25 July 2018). "Lo que el CD Logroñés unió, la casualidad suiza ha querido revivir" [What CD Logroñés united, Swiss hazard wanted to relive] (in Spanish). Nueve Cuatro Uno. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. [5]
    Guerra, Axel (9 July 2018). "Iñaki Bergara, el escudero de 'Bob' Martínez" [Iñaki Bergara, 'Bob' Martínez's sidekick]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Curtis and Bergara on board". Swansea City A.F.C. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  7. [7]
    "New backroom staff unveiled". Wigan Athletic F.C. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  8. [8]
    "Everton: Graeme Jones appointed Roberto Martinez's assistant". BBC Sport. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  9. [9]
    Geypen, Diederik (31 August 2016). "Komst van Martinez heeft ook een directe invloed op Courtois, Mignolet en Sels: "Dit wordt een aanpassing voor iedereen"" [Arrival of Martinez also has a direct influence on Courtois, Mignolet and Sels: "This will be an adaptation for everyone"]. Voetbalkrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  10. [10]
    Vieira, Nuno; Araújo, João (4 March 2023). "Ricardo Pereira e Iñaki Bergara integram equipa técnica de Martínez" [Ricardo Pereira and Iñaki Bergara make Martínez's coaching staff]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
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