Ignacio 'Iñaki' Bergara Iríbar (born 26 January 1962) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is the current goalkeeper coach of Belgium.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ignacio Bergara Iríbar | ||
Date of birth | (1962-01-26) 26 January 1962 (age 60) | ||
Place of birth | Ondarroa, Spain | ||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Belgium (goalkeeping coach) | ||
Youth career | |||
Athletic Bilbao | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1982–1983 | Bilbao Athletic | 0 | (0) |
1983–1986 | Alavés | 53 | (0) |
1986–1989 | Murcia | 19 | (0) |
1989–1991 | Real Sociedad | 2 | (0) |
1991–1995 | Logroñés | 28 | (0) |
Total | 102 | (0) | |
National team | |||
1980 | Spain U18 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Bergara began his career in his native Basque Country with Athletic Bilbao, and represented the Spain under-18 team in 1980.[1] He made his professional debut with Deportivo Alavés, signing with Real Murcia in La Liga in 1986 and remaining in the top division the following nine seasons, but almost exclusively as a backup or third choice.[2]
Bergara also played for Real Sociedad and CD Logroñés, appearing in 19 league matches during the 1994–95 campaign as the La Rioja side finished last with only 13 points and 79 goals conceded.[3][2] He retired at the age of 33.
After retiring from football, Bergara began working as a goalkeepers' coach, first with Javier Clemente at the club where he began his career, Athletic Bilbao. In 2007, he joined countryman's Roberto Martínez's backroom staff at Swansea City.[4]
In summer 2009, as the manager left for the Premier League to sign for Wigan Athletic, Bergara joined him at the Latics.[5] The pair moved to Everton in July 2013.[6]
Bergara followed Martínez to the Belgium national team in August 2016, where he became one of the two goalkeeping coaches alongside Erwin Lemmens.[7]