Wilfredo Iraheta

Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria (born February 22, 1967 in Sensuntepeque, El Salvador) is a retired Salvadoran football (soccer) player who played as a defender.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Iraheta and the second or maternal family name is Sanabria.
Wilfredo Iraheta
Personal information
Full name Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria
Date of birth (1967-02-22) February 22, 1967
Place of birth Sensuntepeque, El Salvador
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1982–1987 Sensuntepeque
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 Chalatenango
1990–1994 Atlético Marte
1994–1996 Águila
1996–1998 Luis Ángel Firpo
1998–2000 FAS
National team‡
1995–1998 El Salvador 37 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 June 2011
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 June 2011

He is currently a politician.

Club career

Iraheta started playing football in the streets of his hometown and joined then second division side Sesuntepeque at 15 years of age. At 20 he joined Chalatenango and later played for Atlético Marte. In 1994 his father was killed during the civil war[1] and he moved to Águila to play alongside 41-year-old veteran Luis Ramírez Zapata, then Luis Ángel Firpo and FAS with whom he finished playing actively to pursue a career in politics.[2]

Iraheta was a versatile and sturdy defender whose strength in the air and tackling made instant success, also gaining a spot in the national squad on several occasions. He has played in virtually every outfield position.[3] In 2001, he retired from both international and domestic football bringing an end to a marvellous career.

International career

Iraheta made his debut for El Salvador in a December 1995 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Costa Rica and has earned a total of 37 caps, scoring 2 goals. He has represented his country in 11 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[4] and played at the 1995 and 1997 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as at the 1996[5] and 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cups.[6]

His final international match was a November 1998 friendly match against Honduras.

International goals
Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
110 November 1996Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador Panama2-13-21998 FIFA World Cup qualification
27 September 1997Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States Colombia2-22-2Friendly match

Personal life and after retirement

Iraheta married Patricia Iraheta and they have four children: William, Maria Jose, Alejandra and Ximena. Since 1995, he has a degree in medicine which earned him the nickname Doctor, and he has also entered into politics.[7]

In February 2011, Iraheta was candidate to become mayor of San Salvador.[8]

Honours

References
  1. Plática con Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria, ex futbolista y diputado - El Faro (in Spanish)
  2. FAS sacudió el palo de mango - El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish)
  4. Wilfredo Iraheta – FIFA competition record
  5. CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1996 - Full Details - RSSSF
  6. CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1998 - Full Details - RSSSF
  7. Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria - Political curriculum
  8. Ex futbolista Iraheta Sanabria posible candidato a alcalde de San Salvador - ElSalvador.com (in Spanish)
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