Spain

Idiakez was born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa. In 1989 he joined local Real Sociedad's youth system, making his senior debut with the B-team where he shared teams with his older brother Imanol.^[2] He first appeared with the main squad on 8 November 1992 – on his 19th birthday – against Cádiz in La Liga;^[3] he did not become a regular until 1994–95 despite that early debut, playing nearly two full seasons with the reserves in Segunda División B.

Subsequently, Idiakez spent a further eight top flight campaigns with the Txuriurdin, going on to appear in more than 250 competitive games.^[4] During most of his spell he was a regular substitute and, in 1998–99 and 2000–01, scored a career-best seven league goals.^[5]

At the end of 2001–02, having finished his contract with Real Sociedad, Idiakez signed with Real Oviedo, who had just been relegated to Segunda División and were in a deep financial crisis. He only spent one year with the Asturias side, who finished the season penultimate, being relegated to the third level then demoted a further tier because of financial irregularities.^[6]

Idiakez then moved to Madrid's Rayo Vallecano, also from the second division. Again, his new club finished second from the bottom and was relegated at the end of the campaign.^[7]

England

In the summer of 2004, Derby County manager George Burley signed Idiakez up on a free transfer.^[8] He immediately adapted to the Championship, being named as the club's Player of the Season in his debut year as they finished in fourth place, but failed to win promotion through the play-offs;^[9] he was also included in the Championship PFA Team of the Year,^[10] having renewed his contract in April 2005^[11] and later in August after reported advances from Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[12]

At Derby, Idiakez played in an advanced position and took most free kicks and corners.^{[13][14][15][16]} In 2005–06, under Phil Brown first and Terry Westley after, the team only finished in 20th position, narrowly avoiding relegation; he ended his stint at the Pride Park Stadium with 22 competitive goals in 96 matches.^[17]

On 31 August 2006, Idiakez was once again signed by Burley, moving to Southampton for a fee of around £250,000.^[18] In March of the following year, after only a handful of appearances for the Saints,^[19][20] he joined Queens Park Rangers on loan for a month,^[21] scoring once against Leicester City in a 3–1 away win^[22] and subsequently returning to St Mary's Stadium.^[23]

In the 2006–07 campaign play-off semi-final, on 15 May 2007, Southampton played Derby County: after the tie finished 4–4 on aggregate at extra time the match went to a penalty shootout, and Idiakez missed the crucial penalty, helping to send his former club through to the final.^[1][24]

Southampton released Idiakez at the end of 2007–08, and the player then underwent trials with Major League Soccer team San Jose Earthquakes and Bournemouth,^[25] but was not offered a contract.