Ignacio Agirrezabala
{{short description|Spanish footballer}}
{{For|his brother Chirri I|Marcelino Agirrezabala}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{family name hatnote|Agirrezabala|Ibarbia|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Chirri II
|image = Athletic 1931 (chirri ii).jpg
|caption = Chirri II in 1931
|fullname = Ignacio María Agirrezabala Ibarbia
|birth_date = {{birth date|1909|3|29|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Bilbao, Spain
|death_date = {{death date and age|1979|9|11|1909|5|10|df=yes}}
|death_place = Bilbao, Spain
|position = Forward
|youthyears1 = 1925–1928
|youthclubs1 = Athletic Bilbao
|years1 = 1928–1935
|clubs1 = Athletic Bilbao| caps1= 90 | goals1 = 30
|nationalyears1 = 1928–1932
|nationalteam1 = Spain| nationalcaps1= 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Ignacio María Agirrezabala Ibarbia, nicknamed Chirri II (10 May 1909 – 11 September 1979) was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward. He played four times for Spain.
Career
At club level, he played for Athletic Bilbao for eight seasons, coinciding with the introduction of La Liga in 1929;{{Cite web |url=https://as.com/futbol/2016/03/02/primera/1456885081_399224.amp.html |title=Las tres grandes delanteras que hubo en la historia el Athletic |trans-title=The three great forward lines in the history of Athletic |language=es |work=Diario AS |date=2 March 2016 |accessdate=4 November 2018 |archive-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104211240/https://as.com/futbol/2016/03/02/primera/1456885081_399224.amp.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/1928-1937.html |title=History: 1928-1937 |publisher=Athletic Bilbao |accessdate=4 November 2018 |archive-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104211236/https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/1928-1937.html |url-status=dead }} he won three national titles (1929–30, 1930–31, 1933–34), three consecutive Copas del Rey (1930, 1931, 1932, also contributing to a fourth in 1933 although he did not take part in the final) and several editions of the regional Biscay Championship, all before he elected to withdraw from playing at the age of 26.
Chirri II was an integral part of what became known as the 'first historic front line' of Athletic Bilbao, combining with José Iraragorri, Bata, Guillermo Gorostiza and Lafuente (as well as Víctor Unamuno).{{Cite web |url=http://www.futbolprimera.es/2012/03/12/el-abecedario-del-futbol-guillermo-gorostiza-la-bala-roja-de-san-mames |title=El 'Abecedario' del fútbol: Guillermo Gorostiza, la bala roja de San Mamés |trans-title=The 'ABC' of football: Guillermo Gorostiza, the red bullet of San Mamés |language=es |website=Fútbol Primera |date=12 March 2012 |accessdate=4 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://inbedwithmaradona.com/retro/2012/7/4/the-history-of-athletic-bilbao-1898-1936.html|title=The history of Athletic Bilbao 1898-1936|last=Radnedge|first=Keir|publisher=World Soccer (via In Bed With Maradona)|date=1 August 1977|accessdate=4 November 2018}} He has been characterised as a playmaker whose focus was on the creative and technical aspects of the game, in contrast to most forwards of the era who relied mainly on physical power to overcome opponents.{{Cite web |url=http://www.elenganche.es/2009/05/equipos-historicos-la-delantera-mitica/ |title=Equipos históricos: La delantera mítica |trans-title=Historical teams: The mythical forward line |language=es |website=El Enganche |date=12 May 2009|accessdate=4 November 2018}} He is said to have initiated the practice of destroying the bowler hat worn by the coach Fred Pentland after victories, which became a regular ritual for the successful team.{{Cite web |url=https://athletic.elcorreo.com/final-copa-rey-2015/noticias/201505/16/quinto-bombin-20150515150048.html |title=El quinto bombín |trans-title=The fifth bowler hat |language=es |work=El Correo |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=4 November 2018 |archive-date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105015034/https://athletic.elcorreo.com/final-copa-rey-2015/noticias/201505/16/quinto-bombin-20150515150048.html |url-status=dead }}
When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, Agirrezabala joined the Basque Country national football team which toured Europe and Latin America in exile, remaining in Argentina when the rest of the squad moved on to Mexico where they founded a club team, CD Euzkadi.{{Cite web |url=https://as.com/futbol/2016/03/02/primera/1456885081_399224.amp.html |title=La selección de Euskadi parte para América (1937) |trans-title=The selection of Euskadi leaves for America (1937) |language=es |work=Diario AS |date=2 March 2016 |accessdate=4 November 2018 |archive-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104211240/https://as.com/futbol/2016/03/02/primera/1456885081_399224.amp.html |url-status=dead }} He worked in an engineering and construction firm before deciding to return to Bilbao with his family after eight years, where he became a director of a company in the same industry.{{Cite web |url=http://aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus/en/aguirrezabala-ibarbia-ignacio/ar-17597/ |title=Aguirrezabala Ibarbia, Ignacio |language=es |publisher=Eusko Ikaskuntza |year=2007|accessdate=4 November 2018}}
His elder brother Marcelino, known as Chirri I, also played for Athletic Bilbao and Spain;{{Cite web |url=http://www.bilbao.eus/bld/bitstream/handle/123456789/13928/pag45.pdf?sequence=1 |title="Chirri II", el cerebro de las medias caídas |trans-title = "Chirri II", the brain in the rolled-down socks |language=es |publisher=Bilbao City Council |date=1 May 2004|accessdate=4 November 2018}} the siblings both played in one friendly match but never took the field together in a competitive fixture.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Athletic Bilbao profile|id=178/chirri-ii|name=Chirri II}}
- {{BDFutbol|11444|Chirri II: Ignacio María Aguirrezabala Ibarbia}}
- [http://www.sefutbol.com/en/jugadores/chirri-ii Chirri II] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701194939/http://www.sefutbol.com/en/jugadores/chirri-ii |date=1 July 2018 }} at SE Fútbol
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agirrezabala, Ignacio}}
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Spain men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Footballers from Bilbao
Category:Spanish expatriates in Argentina
Category:Athletic Bilbao footballers
Category:Basque Country men's international footballers
Category:20th-century Spanish businesspeople
Category:Businesspeople from the Basque Country (autonomous community)