Iñigo Lizarralde

Iñigo Lizarralde Lazkano (born 6 August 1966) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder or right-back. He played 161 La Liga games for Athletic Bilbao and Real Zaragoza, winning the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in consecutive seasons with the latter.

Club career Born in Bilbao in the Basque Country, Lizarralde came through the youth system of local Athletic Bilbao. On 9 September 1984, shortly after turning 18, he made his La Liga debut in a 3–0 loss away to Sevilla as a half-time substitute for ; both teams were playing their youths due to a professionals' strike.

In August 1990, Lizarralde transferred to Real Zaragoza on a three-year deal for a transfer fee of 25 million Spanish pesetas and an annual salary of 8 million. He arrived to replace Juan Vizcaíno, who had left for Atlético Madrid. In his first season, the club survived after winning a promotion/relegation playoff against Real Murcia. Six days later he played the 1993 Copa del Rey final as a 61st-minute substitute for Narcís Julià, in a 2–0 loss to Real Madrid at the Mestalla Stadium.

Lizarralde played along the way as Zaragoza won the Copa del Rey in 1994 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1995, but was unused in both finals. In July 1995 he joined Segunda División club Lleida on a two-year deal.

After retiring as a player, Lizarralde worked for Athletic Bilbao and its affiliates. In the 2010s, he was assistant manager to Cuco Ziganda and Gaizka Garitano at reserve team Bilbao Athletic. He moved to farm team Basconia in December 2021, helping Carlos Gurpegui. In 2023, he became a match analyst for the first team.

International career Lizarralde was part of the Spain under-20 team that finished runners-up to Brazil at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union.