:Asier Riesgo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Asier Riesgo

| image = EUS SD Eibar (cropped).jpeg

| caption = Riesgo with Eibar in 2016

| full_name = Asier Riesgo Unamuno{{cite news|url=https://en.as.com/resultados/ficha/deportista/riesgo/13109/|title=Riesgo|newspaper=Diario AS|access-date=12 November 2022}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|10|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Deba, Spain

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Amaikak Bat

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Real Sociedad

| years1 = 2001–2002 | clubs1 = Real Sociedad B | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2002–2010 | clubs2 = Real Sociedad | caps2 = 127 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2002–2004 | clubs3 = → Eibar (loan) | caps3 = 57 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = → Recreativo (loan) | caps4 = 38 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2010–2015 | clubs5 = Osasuna | caps5 = 26 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2015–2019 | clubs6 = Eibar | caps6 = 65 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2019–2020 | clubs7 = Girona | caps7 = 21 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2020–2023 | clubs8 = Leganés | caps8 = 65 | goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 415 | totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2001 | nationalteam1 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2001–2002 | nationalteam2 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2003 | nationalteam3 = Spain U20 | nationalcaps3 = 10 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2004–2005 | nationalteam4 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps4 = 9 | nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 2003–2018 | nationalteam5 = Basque Country | nationalcaps5 = 11 | nationalgoals5 = 0

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Asier Riesgo Unamuno (born 6 October 1983) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

In a 22-year senior career, he appeared in 185 La Liga games over 11 seasons, for Real Sociedad, Recreativo, Osasuna and Eibar. He added 214 appearances in the Segunda División, where he represented all the clubs but the second.

Riesgo was a youth international for Spain.

Club career

Born in Deba, Gipuzkoa,{{cite news|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/leganes/20230114/1001918451/riesgo-hay-alta-probabilidad-sea-mi-ultima-temporada.html|title=Riesgo: "Hay una alta probabilidad de que esta sea mi última temporada"|trans-title=Riesgo: "This will be my last season in all likelihood"|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Carlos|last=Mateos|language=es|date=14 January 2023|access-date=23 July 2023}} and a product of Real Sociedad's youth academy, Riesgo made his professional debut with neighbouring SD Eibar in the Segunda División, where he would play for one and a half seasons. In March 2004, he was recalled from his loan due to an injury to first-choice Sander Westerveld.{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodeleon.es/noticias/deportes/real-sociedad-repesca-riesgo-lesion-westerveld_127918.html|title=La Real Sociedad repesca a Riesgo tras la lesión de Westerveld|trans-title=Real Sociedad retrieve Riesgo after Westerveld's injury|newspaper=Diario de León|language=es|date=16 March 2004|access-date=21 January 2019}}

After Westerveld was waived in the summer, Riesgo became a starter for the Basques, making his La Liga debut on 29 August 2004 in a 1–1 home draw against Levante UD.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2004/08/30/pagina-2/1511851/pdf.html|title=Una Real incompleta|trans-title=Incomplete Real|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Xabier|last=Isasa|language=es|date=30 August 2004|access-date=27 March 2014}} From the 2006–07 campaign onwards he battled with newly signed Claudio Bravo for starting duties; with the Chilean as the first choice, Real were relegated.

In 2007–08, however, Riesgo played all 42 league matches,{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/real_sociedad/es/desarrollo/1040758.html|title=Riesgo se pone 'Bravo'|trans-title=Riesgo gets all 'Brave' ("Bravo" in English)|newspaper=Marca|first=Óscar|last=Badallo|language=es|date=28 September 2007|access-date=9 June 2016}} although the team did not achieve a top-flight return. In August 2008 he was loaned to Recreativo de Huelva for €350.000, with the club having the option to make the move permanent afterwards for €4.3 million and not having to pay the player's wages.{{cite news|url=http://www.diariovasco.com/20080804/deportes/beti-erreala/badiola-cierra-cesion-riesgo-20080804.html|title=Badiola cierra la cesión de Riesgo a espaldas de los administradores|trans-title=Badiola closes Riesgo loan deal without the board of directors' knowledge|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|first=Fernando|last=Becerril|language=es|date=4 August 2008|access-date=7 January 2009}}

An undisputed starter throughout the season, Riesgo stopped two penalty kicks on 4 January 2009, helping league strugglers Recre to beat CD Numancia 3–1 at home.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252909?cc=5739|title=Recreativo Huelva 3–1 Numancia|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=4 January 2009|access-date=3 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026100156/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252909?cc=5739|archive-date=26 October 2012}} On 11 April he became the first to ever deny Lionel Messi a penalty, clawing the Argentine's effort out of the air as he saw his side bow down to a 2–0 defeat at FC Barcelona;{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01d8-0f85b6041b25-e427b83ce714-1000--barca-edging-closer-to-liga-glory/|title=Barça edging closer to Liga glory|publisher=UEFA|date=11 April 2009|access-date=23 July 2023}} the Andalusians eventually dropped down a level, with him appearing in all 38 fixtures.

Riesgo served a trial at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in December 2009 as potential cover for injured Carlo Cudicini, lost for the campaign after a motorcycle accident.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/8397985.stm|title=Tottenham give trial to Spanish goalkeeper Asier Riesgo|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 December 2009|access-date=18 February 2010}} Upon his return, he found himself third choice at Real Sociedad behind Bravo and Eñaut Zubikarai, totalling only 630 minutes of play as they returned to the top tier after three years.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2010/04/01/mas_futbol/1270103258_850215.html|title=Riesgo o Zubikarai: debate abierto para la portería|trans-title=Riesgo or Zubikarai: open debate in goal|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Roberto|last=Ramajo|language=es|date=1 April 2010|access-date=27 February 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2010/04/14/futbol/equipos/real_sociedad/1271244753.html|title=Riesgo volverá a defender la portería txuri urdin tras la lesión de Bravo y la sanción a Zubikarai|trans-title=Riesgo will return to txuri urdin goal after Bravo injury and Zubikarai suspension|newspaper=Marca|first=Óscar|last=Badallo|language=es|date=14 April 2010|access-date=27 February 2014}}

On 18 June 2010, Riesgo – whose contract with Real Sociedad had expired – signed for Navarrese neighbours CA Osasuna for three years.{{cite web|url=http://www.osasuna.es/dev/actualidad/ultimasnoticias/osasuna-presentara-el-lunes-a-asier-riesgo|title=Osasuna presentará el lunes a Asier Riesgo|trans-title=Osasuna to present Asier Riesgo on Monday|publisher=CA Osasuna|language=es|date=18 June 2010|access-date=19 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619142746/http://www.osasuna.es/dev/actualidad/ultimasnoticias/osasuna-presentara-el-lunes-a-asier-riesgo|archive-date=19 June 2010}} He acted solely as backup during his tenure with the club, first to Ricardo then Andrés Fernández.{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/osasuna/2015/06/07/riesgo_sube_los_altares_rojillos_con_paradon_minuto_89_234671_1027.html|title=Riesgo sube a los altares rojillos con un paradón en el minuto 89|trans-title=Riesgo reaches red altars with wonder save in 89th minute|newspaper=Diario de Navarra|first=J.|last=Iborra|language=es|date=7 June 2015|access-date=21 January 2019}}

Riesgo returned to Eibar in the 2015 off-season after agreeing to a one-year deal, as the team was now in the top flight.{{cite web|url=http://www.sdeibar.com/-/sd-eibar-ficha-a-asier-riesgo-por-una-temporada|title=SD Eibar ficha a Asier Riesgo por una temporada|trans-title=SD Eibar sign Asier Riesgo for one season|publisher=SD Eibar|language=es|date=28 July 2015|access-date=28 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731004021/http://www.sdeibar.com/-/sd-eibar-ficha-a-asier-riesgo-por-una-temporada|archive-date=31 July 2015}} On 2 September 2019, he joined second-division Girona FC for one year as a replacement for Sevilla FC-bound Bono.{{cite web|url=https://www.gironafc.cat/noticia/asier-riesgo-experiencia-per-a-la-porteria-del-girona-fc|title=Asier Riesgo, experiència per a la porteria del Girona FC|trans-title=Asier Riesgo, experience for Girona FC's goal|publisher=Girona FC|language=ca|date=2 September 2019|access-date=3 September 2019}}

On 8 September 2020, Riesgo signed a one-year contract with CD Leganés, recently relegated to division two.{{cite web|url=https://www.cdleganes.com/noticia/el-c-d-leganes-refuerza-su-porteria-con-la-experiencia-de-asier-riesgo|title=El C.D. Leganés refuerza su portería con la experiencia de Asier Riesgo|trans-title=C.D. Leganés bolster their goal with the experience of Asier Riesgo|publisher=CD Leganés|language=es|date=8 September 2020|access-date=7 September 2020}} On 8 July 2023, he retired from professional football at the age of 39.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-sociedad/2023/07/08/64a91143ca47411c428b45dc.html|title=Asier Riesgo cuelga los guantes|trans-title=Asier Riesgo hangs up his gloves|newspaper=Marca|first=Óscar|last=Badallo|language=es|date=8 July 2023|access-date=8 July 2023}}

International career

Riesgo won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain, as backup to Miguel Ángel Moyá.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/masdeporte/2002/07/29/polideportivo/1027916136_850215.html|title=Una celebración sin discoteca ni alcohol|trans-title=Celebrations without clubbing or drinking|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Mikel|last=Recalde|language=es|date=29 July 2002|access-date=23 July 2023}} We was a starter, however, for the under-20s as they finished second at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, with Moyá now as second-choice.{{cite web|url=https://www.cihefe.es/cuadernosdefutbol/2015/04/espana-en-los-mundiales-sub20-emiratos-arabes-unidos-2003/|title=España en los mundiales sub’20: Emiratos Árabes Unidos 2003|trans-title=Spain at the under'20 World Cups: United Arab Emirates 2003|publisher=Cuadernos de Fútbol|first=Óscar|last=Díez|language=es|date=1 April 2015|access-date=23 July 2023}}

On 17 February 2004, Riesgo earned his first cap at under-21 level, in a 2–1 friendly win over Norway.{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2004/02/17/futbol/1077054206.html|title=La nueva generación sub'21 se estrena con triunfo|trans-title=New under'21 generation has winning debut|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|date=17 February 2004|access-date=23 July 2023}}

Honours

Real Sociedad

Segunda División: 2009–10{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2010/06/13/futbol/2adivision/1276451404.html|title=El cielo de Primera vuelve a abrirse para la Real Sociedad|trans-title=Primera heaven reopens for Real Sociedad|newspaper=Marca|first=Gregorio|last=García|language=es|date=13 June 2010|access-date=23 July 2023}}

Spain U19

UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2002{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2002/07/28/mas_futbol/1027807214_850215.html|title=España vence a Alemania y se proclama campeona de Europa Sub-19|trans-title=Spain beat Germany and are crowned Under-19 European champions|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=28 July 2002|access-date=26 April 2019}}

Spain U20