Ion Ansotegi

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ansotegi and the second or maternal family name is Gorostola.
Ion Ansotegi
Ansotegi with Real Sociedad in 2021
Personal information
Full name Ion Ansotegi Gorostola
Date of birth (1982-07-13) 13 July 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Berriatua, Spain
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Eibar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Eibar B 44 (1)
2002–2003 Eibar 1 (0)
2002–2003 → Barakaldo (loan) 17 (2)
2003–2006 Real Sociedad B 79 (3)
2006–2016 Real Sociedad 208 (11)
2016 Eibar 8 (0)
2016–2017 Mallorca 21 (2)
Total 378 (19)
International career
2010–2016 Basque Country 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ion Ansotegi Gorostola (born 13 July 1982) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender, currently first-team coach at La Liga club Real Sociedad.

He spent most of his professional career with Real Sociedad after signing with the club at the age of 21, going on to appear in 226 competitive matches in 11 seasons. 124 of those came in La Liga (six goals scored).[1][2]

Playing career

Ansotegi was born in Berriatua, Basque Country. After starting his professional career with SD Eibar (with a loan to Barakaldo CF included), he moved to local giants Real Sociedad.[3] He made his La Liga debut on 22 January 2006 in a 3–3 home draw against Athletic Bilbao in the Basque derby,[4] and totalled 33 appearances over his first two top-flight seasons.

Ansotegi only missed two matches in 2009–10, being booked just six times in his 40 complete appearances – and adding four goals – as Real Sociedad returned to division one after a three-year absence. He featured in 32 games (all starts) the following campaign as the team retained their league status, but lost his importance in the squad following the January 2011 signing of Norwegian Vadim Demidov and the emergence of youth product Iñigo Martínez.[5]

On 1 June 2015, aged 33, Ansotegi renewed his contract with Real Sociedad until 2016.[6] On 1 February of the following year, after only two Copa del Rey appearances in the first part of the season, he cut ties with the Txuriurdin and moved back to his first club Eibar after agreeing to an initial six-month deal.[7]

On 30 June 2016, Ansotegui signed a one-year contract with RCD Mallorca in the Segunda División.[8]

Coaching career

In July 2017, having suffered relegation, the 35-year-old Ansotegi announced his retirement[9] and immediate return to Real Sociedad as youth system coordinator.[10]

Honours

Real Sociedad

References

  1. ^ Encinas, Mikel (15 October 2009). "El jefe de la zaga" [The boss of the back sector]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. ^ Lorenzo, José Luis (11 July 2017). "Jon Ansotegi cuelga las botas a punto de cumplir los 35 años" [Jon Ansotegi hangs up boots about to turn 35]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ Ramajo, Roberto; Beristain, Jorge (1 February 2016). "Ansotegi: "Me quedo con la vida que me ha dado la Real y su gente"" [Ansotegi: "I carry with me the life Real and their own have given me"] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (23 January 2006). "Mano a mano en Anoeta" [Mano a mano in Anoeta]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. ^ Melero, Germán (3 September 2011). "Ansotegi resta importancia a su cambio de rol" [Ansotegi downplays his change of role]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Ansotegi renueva hasta 2016" [Ansotegi renews until 2016]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Jon Ansotegi vuelve a SD Eibar tras desvincularse de la Real Sociedad" [Jon Ansotegi returns to SD Eibar after cutting ties with Real Sociedad] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Ion Ansotegui se incorpora al Real Mallorca" [Ion Ansotegui added to Real Mallorca] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Ansotegi y Juan Rodríguez anuncian su retirada como profesionales" [Ansotegi and Juan Rodríguez announce professional retirement]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). 13 July 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Jon Ansotegi regresa a la Real" [Jon Ansotegi returns to Real]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 13 July 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  11. ^ García, Gregorio (13 June 2010). "El cielo de Primera vuelve a abrirse para la Real Sociedad" [Primera heaven reopens for Real Sociedad]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 May 2024.