Juan Ugarte Aiestarán (born 7 November 1980) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Juan Ugarte Aiestarán | ||
Date of birth | (1980-11-07) 7 November 1980 (age 41) | ||
Place of birth | San Sebastián, Spain | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1991–1998 | Antiguoko[1] | ||
1998–2000 | Real Sociedad | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000–2002 | Real Sociedad B | 31 | (11) |
2001 | Real Sociedad | 1 | (0) |
2002 | Eibar | 1 | (0) |
2003 | Real Unión | 16 | (3) |
2003–2004 | Barakaldo | 29 | (8) |
2004 | Dorchester Town | 7 | (6) |
2004–2005 | Wrexham | 30 | (16) |
2005–2006 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 | (0) |
2006 | → Wrexham (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2006–2008 | Wrexham | 3 | (0) |
Total | 122 | (44) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Ugarte was brought up in local giants Real Sociedad's youth system, but only appeared once for the first team during his two-year spell as a senior.[2] Released in 2002, he would also be very unfortunate at Basque neighbours SD Eibar – one match played in Segunda División.
In the following years, Ugarte played with Segunda División B sides Real Unión and Barakaldo CF, also in his native region.[3] In early 2004, after an unsuccessful trial at Wycombe Wanderers,[4] he moved to Dorchester Town until he was acquired by Wrexham, scoring his first goal for the latter in the Football League Trophy quarter-final tie against local rivals Chester City; he finished the year as that competition's top scorer, notably netting in the final against Southend United (2–0).[5]
Ugarte scored regularly during his time with the Welsh club, but this was not enough to avoid relegation to Football League Two after it had suffered a ten-point deduction for entering administration. On 5 March 2005, he put five past Hartlepool United in a 6–4 away win.[6] This remains the record for most away goals scored by a single player in the English professional league.[7]
Ugarte then joined another team in Football League One, Crewe Alexandra, but injuries prevented him from ever starting a game for them, also continuing to affect him during two loan returns to Wrexham. Despite his condition, the Dragons re-signed him in November 2006, but he only made three official appearances over two seasons, retiring at the age of 27.[8]
Ugarte was best friends with Xabi Alonso, who also emerged through Real Sociedad's youth ranks.[9][10]
Wrexham