Iñaki Bergara

Ignacio 'Iñaki' Bergara Iríbar (born 26 January 1962) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is the goalkeeper coach of Belgium.

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

Iñaki Bergara
Personal information
Full name Ignacio Bergara Iríbar
Date of birth (1962-01-26) 26 January 1962
Place of birth Ondarroa, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Belgium (Goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1983 Bilbao Athletic 0 (0)
1983–1986 Alavés 53 (0)
1986–1989 Murcia 19 (0)
1989–1991 Real Sociedad 2 (0)
1991–1995 Logroñés 28 (0)
Total 102 (0)
National team
1980 Spain U18 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Bergara began his career in his native Basque Country with Athletic Bilbao, and represented the Spanish under-18 team in 1980.[1] He made his professional debut with Deportivo Alavés, signing for Real Murcia in La Liga in 1986 and remaining in the top division for the following nine seasons, but almost exclusively as a backup or third-choice.

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. He retired at the age of 33.

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. In 2007, he joined countryman's Roberto Martínez's backroom staff at Swansea City.[2]

In summer 2009, as the manager left for the Premier League to sign for Wigan Athletic, Bergara joined him at the Latics.[3] The pair moved to Everton in July 2013.[4]

In August 2016, Bergara followed Martínez to the Belgium national team, where he became one of the two goalkeeping coaches alongside Erwin Lemmens.[5]

References
  1. Martialay, Felix. Todo sobre todas las selecciones [Everything about every national team] (in Spanish). Librerías Deportivas Esteban Sanz. ISBN 84-935390-2-3.
  2. "Curtis and Bergara on board". Swansea City A.F.C. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  3. "New backroom staff unveiled". Wigan Athletic F.C. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  4. "Everton: Graeme Jones appointed Roberto Martinez's assistant". BBC Sport. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  5. 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.
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