Gorka Iraizoz

Club career Early career and Espanyol 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, Iraizoz 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, in a 2–1 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña. 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, notably excelling in the quarter-final second leg away to S.L. Benfica (0–0 draw, 3–2 on aggregate).

During his time in Barcelona, Iraizoz learned to speak fluent Catalan. 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, signed from Cádiz CF until June 2008.

Iraizoz rarely missed a league game the following years. On 16 January 2010, his Player of the match performance helped the team hold on to its early home lead against Real Madrid, constantly denying Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo's efforts. Additionally, 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.

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. 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. He spent most of his spell at the Estadi Montilivi as backup to Yassine Bounou.

Iraizoz left the club at the end of the 2018–19 season, which ended in relegation.

Coaching After retiring aged 38, Iraizoz 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.

International career Iraizoz never earned any caps for Spain at any level. He did feature for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.

Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals Bilbao Athletic 2000–01 Segunda División B

Gernika (loan) 2000–01 Segunda División B

Gernika 2001–02 UEFA Cup runner-up: 2006–07

Athletic Bilbao Supercopa de España: 2015 Copa del Rey runner-up: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15