Íñigo Calderón Zapatería (born 4 January 1982) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back, currently assistant manager of the under-18 team of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
He played for Alicante and Alavés in Spain, joining Brighton & Hove Albion in 2010 and going on to remain several years with the club while appearing in 232 competitive games.[3]
Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, Calderón started his professional career with Alicante CF in the Segunda División B, achieving two first-place finishes and one third during his three-year spell but seeing his team consecutively fail in the promotion play-offs.[4]
In 2007, he moved to Deportivo Alavés (he had already represented its C and B sides early in his career),[5] playing two Segunda División seasons – often serving as team captain[6][7][8]– and suffering relegation in his second year.[9]
On 7 January 2010, after a spell on trial, Calderón signed with Football League One club Brighton & Hove Albion on a contract until the end of the season.[10][11] He made his debut nine days later in a 2–1 win at Walsall,[12] and scored his first goal for the Seagulls in another away fixture (also 2–1 victory), against Charlton Athletic on 23 February.[13]
Calderón's offer of a new contract at Brighton was withdrawn[14] after he agreed to join League One rivals Southampton in May 2010.[15] However, on 10 June, the player agreed to a new three-year deal, with manager Gus Poyet claiming "Calde is a quality player and was always our first-choice right-back...".[16]
In the 2010–11 season, Calderón scored eight goals, including a first-half strike in the 4–3 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge that helped Albion secure promotion to the Championship.[17][18][19] He subsequently signed a one-year extension, keeping him at the Falmer Stadium until 2014.[20]
Calderón netted his first goal of the 2011–12 season in the 2–0 home defeat of Bristol City – a thunderous drive from 25 yards.[21] He appeared predominantly as a right midfielder in the 2014–15 season, scoring four times and being subsequently voted player of the season.[22][18]
On 9 July 2016, aged 34, free agent Calderón joined Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis Famagusta FC on a one-year contract.[23] On 19 July 2017, he switched to the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin FC.[24]
Calderon returned to Alavés immediately after retiring, as assistant manager to the reserves.[25] He went back to Brighton Albion in June 2023, taking up the role of head coach at the under-18 squad.[26]
Calderón has a master's degree in sport psychology. He is also a qualified teacher.[27]
Brighton & Hove Albion
Chennaiyin
Individual
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