Imanol Alguacil

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Imanol Alguacil

| image = Imanol_Alguacil_2021.jpg

| caption = Alguacil with Real Sociedad in 2021

| full_name = Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|7|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Orio, Spain

| height = 1.87 m

| position = Right-back

| currentclub = Al-Shabab (manager)

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Orioko FT

| youthyears2 = 1988–1989 | youthclubs2 = Real Sociedad

| years1 = 1989–1991 | clubs1 = Real Sociedad B | caps1 = 56 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1990–1998 | clubs2 = Real Sociedad | caps2 = 113 | goals2 = 7

| years3 = 1998–2000 | clubs3 = Villarreal | caps3 = 29 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2000–2001 | clubs4 = Jaén | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2001–2002 | clubs5 = Cartagena | caps5 = 15 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2002–2003 | clubs6 = Burgos | caps6 = 20 | goals6 = 1

| totalcaps = 263 | totalgoals = 10

| nationalyears1 = 1994–1997 | nationalteam1 = Basque Country | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2011–2013 | managerclubs1 = Real Sociedad (youth)

| manageryears2 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs2 = Real Sociedad B (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 2014–2018 | managerclubs3 = Real Sociedad B

| manageryears4 = 2018 | managerclubs4 = Real Sociedad (interim)

| manageryears5 = 2018 | managerclubs5 = Real Sociedad B

| manageryears6 = 2018–2025 | managerclubs6 = Real Sociedad

| manageryears7 = 2025– | managerclubs7 = Al-Shabab

}}

Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea (born 4 July 1971), known simply as Imanol as a player, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back, currently as manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab.

He made 121 appearances in La Liga over nine seasons, scoring eight goals while representing Real Sociedad and Villarreal. In 2014, he started working as a manager, with a four-year spell with Real Sociedad B. He briefly coached the club's senior team in spring 2018, and returned to take full charge in the winter of the same year.

Playing career

Born in Orio, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Imanol was a Real Sociedad youth graduate.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-imanol-alguacil-entrenador-lloraba-real-sociedad-202012220201_noticia.html|title=Imanol Alguacil, el entrenador que lloraba por la Real Sociedad|trans-title=Imanol Alguacil, the manager who cried for Real Sociedad|newspaper=ABC|first=Carlos|last=Tristán González|language=es|date=22 December 2020|access-date=20 January 2022}} He made his senior debut with the reserves, spending two full seasons in the Segunda División B.

On 29 September 1990, Imanol made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Real Oviedo.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1990/09/30/pagina-7/1221949/pdf.html|title=El Oviedo ganó con sufrimiento|trans-title=Oviedo won suffering|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Víctor|last=Fernández|language=es|date=30 September 1990|access-date=3 April 2018}} He was promoted to the main squad in the summer of 1991, featuring regularly during the following campaigns.

Imanol scored his first professional goal on 20 September 1992, tying an eventual 2–1 away win over Albacete.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1992/09/21/pagina-20/1253318/pdf.html|title=La Real gana con nueve|trans-title=Real win with nine|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Pedro|last=Líbero|language=es|date=21 September 1992|access-date=3 April 2018}} He was used rarely in the final years of his stint at the Anoeta Stadium as he dealt with several injury problems, leaving the club in 1998 after playing only four matches during the season.

In the 1998 off-season, Imanol joined Villarreal also of the top division,{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1998/07/15/paisvasco/900531601_850215.html|title=La Real Sociedad consuma la compra por 400 millones de José Félix Guerrero|trans-title=Real Sociedad complete purchase of José Félix Guerrero for 400 million|newspaper=El País|first=Mikel|last=Ormazabal|language=es|date=14 July 1998|access-date=21 January 2022}} appearing sparingly in his first year and suffering relegation. After returning to the top flight in 2000,{{cite news|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/sevilla/20180504/443252914135/cuando-caparros-fue-el-jefe-de-alguacil.html|title=Cuando Caparrós fue el jefe de Alguacil|trans-title=When Caparrós was Alguacil's boss|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Javier|last=Alfaro|language=es|date=4 May 2018|access-date=20 January 2022}} he was released, and moved to Segunda División's Real Jaén.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2000/07/22/pagina-21/1467340/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=Doble refuerzo para Jaén y Extremadura|trans-title=Double addition for Jaén and Extremadura|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=22 July 2000|access-date=20 January 2022}}

Imanol then resumed his career in the third tier, representing Cartagena and Burgos. He retired with the latter side in 2003, aged 32.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2002/08/09/pagina-23/499185/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=El Beasain, en cuadro|trans-title=Beasain, with the bare minimum|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=José Luis|last=Lorenzo|language=es|date=9 August 2002|access-date=20 January 2022}}

Coaching career

On 26 July 2011, Alguacil returned to his first club Real Sociedad, being appointed manager of the youth setup.{{cite web|url=http://www.realsociedad.com/document/view/spa/169/124617/los-juveniles-se-ponen-en-marcha|title=Los juveniles se ponen en marcha|trans-title=The juveniles get going|publisher=Real Sociedad|language=es|date=26 July 2011|access-date=17 March 2015}} On 17 June 2013 he was named reserve team coach Asier Santana's assistant,{{cite web|url=http://www.realsociedad.com/document/view/spa/225/164902/comunicado-oficial--asier-santana--nuevo-entrenador-del-sanse|title=Comunicado oficial: Asier Santana, nuevo entrenador del Sanse|trans-title=Official announcement: Asier Santana, new manager of Sanse|publisher=Real Sociedad|language=es|date=17 June 2013|access-date=17 March 2015}} and was also in charge of the main squad along with Santana in November 2014 following Jagoba Arrasate's dismissal.{{cite web|url=http://www.realsociedad.com/document/view/spa/0/180593/asier-santana-e-imanol-alguacil-dirigiran-al-equipo-el-domingo-en-anoeta|title=Asier Santana e Imanol Alguacil dirigirán al equipo el domingo en Anoeta|trans-title=Asier Santana and Imanol Alguacil will manage the team on Sunday at Anoeta|publisher=Real Sociedad|language=es|date=5 November 2014|access-date=17 March 2015}}

After the arrival of David Moyes in November 2014, Alguacil was included in the first team staff,{{cite web|url=http://www.realsociedad.com//document/view/spa//180833/el-staff-tecnico-de-david-moyes|title=El staff técnico de David Moyes|trans-title=David Moyes' technical staff|publisher=Real Sociedad|language=es|date=13 November 2014|access-date=17 March 2015}} but he was appointed manager of the B side later that month.{{cite web|url=http://www.realsociedad.com//document/view/spa//181353/billy-mckinlay-se-incorpora-al-staff-tecnico-del-primer-equipo|title=Billy McKinlay se incorpora al staff técnico del primer equipo|trans-title=Billy McKinlay joins the first team technical staff|publisher=Real Sociedad|language=es|date=28 November 2014|access-date=17 March 2015}} On 19 March 2018, he replaced the fired Eusebio Sacristán at the helm of the main squad until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.realsociedad.eus/en/news/details/first-team-s-technical-staff|title=First team's technical staff|publisher=Real Sociedad|date=19 March 2018|access-date=20 March 2018}}

File:Imanol Alguacil 2018.jpg in 2018]]

In the summer of 2018, Alguacil returned to the reserves and Asier Garitano took over the senior role,{{cite web|url=https://www.realsociedad.eus/en/news/details/real-hire-asier-garitano|title=Real hire Asier Garitano|publisher=Real Sociedad|date=24 May 2018|access-date=27 December 2018}} but in December of the same year the latter was dismissed following a poor sequence of results and the former again became the first team coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/c341daf411ea4c85a097b43753dcae97|title=Real Sociedad fires coach Garitano and appoints Alguacil|publisher=Associated Press|date=26 December 2018|access-date=27 December 2018}} Following a strong start to the 2019–20 campaign, he was given a one-year contract extension.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2020/01/03/5e0fb5ef46163f376b8b4572.html|title=Official: Real Sociedad renew Imanol Alguacil's contract to 2021|newspaper=Marca|first1=Óscar|last1=Badallo|first2=Oliver|last2=French|date=3 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020}}

Alguacil led Real to their first trophy since 1987 on 3 April 2021, with a 1–0 victory against Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao in the 2020 Copa del Rey final (postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic).{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/03/athletic-bilbao-real-sociedad-copa-del-rey-2020-final-match-report|title=Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Sid|last=Lowe|date=3 April 2021|access-date=4 April 2021}} In the post-match press conference, he celebrated by putting on a team jersey and scarf and chanting in joy.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/56632538|title=Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil sings after Copa del Rey win|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 April 2021|access-date=4 April 2021}}

On 14 November 2022, Alguacil extended his contract to 2025.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/imanol-renueva-hasta-2025-n/|title=Imanol renueva hasta 2025|trans-title=Imanol renews until 2025|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Roberto|last=Ramajo|language=es|date=14 November 2022|access-date=25 May 2023}} The following 17 January, with a 1–0 home win over Mallorca in the last 16 of the cup, he reached 100 victories for Real in 205 games;{{cite news|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-sociedad/20230118/1001920890/imanol-alguacil-pone-cien-victorias.html|title=Imanol Alguacil se pone a cien victorias|trans-title=Imanol Alguacil reaches one hundred victories|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Unai|last=Valverde|language=es|date=18 January 2023|access-date=25 May 2023}} a club record nine-match winning streak ended in the next round with a 1–0 loss at Barcelona.{{cite news|url=https://www.elcorreo.com/deportes/futbol/copa-del-rey/barca-real-sociedad-20230125181949-ntrc.html|title=Dembélé guía al Barça hasta las semifinales de Copa|trans-title=Dembélé guides Barça to the Cup semi-finals|newspaper=El Correo|first=Daniel|last=Panero|language=es|date=25 January 2023|access-date=25 May 2023}} With a fourth-place finish, he secured a fourth consecutive European season, and the side's first in the UEFA Champions League for a decade.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-sociedad/2023/06/04/647ca407268e3e40738b4598.html|title=Imanol: "Queremos ser la única Real en ir cinco veces seguidas a Europa"|trans-title=Imanol: "We want to be the only Real to go to Europe five consecutive times"|newspaper=Marca|first=Óscar|last=Badallo|language=es|date=4 June 2023|access-date=4 June 2023}}

On 24 April 2025, Alguacil announced that he would leave the Anoeta Stadium at the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://english.news.cn/20250424/361051e5260a4198945473e8d026217c/c.html|title=Imanol to step down as Real Sociedad coach|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|date=24 April 2025|access-date=27 April 2025}}

On 3 July 2025, Alguacil was announced as the new manager of Al-Shabab.{{cite news|url=https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/futbol/fichajes/fichaje-imanol-alguacil-oficial-20250703-502455.html|title=El fichaje de Imanol Alguacil ya es oficial|trans-title=The signing of Imanol Alguacil is now official|newspaper=Estadio Deportivo|first=Manuel|last=Pedrero|language=es|date=3 July 2025|access-date=8 July 2025}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat. !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align=left\|Real Sociedad B \|{{Flagicon\|Spain}} \|align=left\|28 November 2014 \|align=left\|19 March 2018 {{WDL\|130\|52\|40\|38\|for=176\|against=146\|diff=yes}} \|{{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2014-15}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2015-16}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2016-17}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2017-18}}
align=left\|Real Sociedad \|{{Flagicon\|Spain}} \|align=left\|19 March 2018 \|align=left\|24 May 2018 {{WDL\|9\|5\|1\|3\|for=15\|against=7\|diff=yes}} \|{{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2017-18\|team=30}}
align=left\|Real Sociedad B \|{{Flagicon\|Spain}} \|align=left\|27 May 2018 \|align=left\|26 December 2018 {{WDL\|18\|6\|5\|7\|for=23\|against=20\|diff=yes}} \|{{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2018-19\|team=103}}
align=left\|Real Sociedad \|{{Flagicon\|Spain}} \|align=left\|26 December 2018 \|align=left\|30 May 2025 {{WDL\|330\|153\|84\|93\|for=455\|against=342\|diff=yes}} \|{{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2018-19\|team=30}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2019-20}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2020-21}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2021-22}} {{BDFutbol season\|l1098\|2022-23}}
align=left\|Al Shabab \|{{flagicon\|Saudi Arabia}} \|align=left\|3 July 2025 \|align=left\|Present {{WDL\|0\|0\|0\|0\|0\|for=0\|against=0\|diff=yes}}
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|487\|216\|130\|141\|for=669\|against=515\|diff=yes}} !—

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat.

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align=left|Real Sociedad B

|{{Flagicon|Spain}}

|align=left|28 November 2014

|align=left|19 March 2018

|{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2014-15}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2015-16}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2016-17}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2017-18}}

align=left|Real Sociedad

|{{Flagicon|Spain}}

|align=left|19 March 2018

|align=left|24 May 2018

|{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2017-18|team=30}}

align=left|Real Sociedad B

|{{Flagicon|Spain}}

|align=left|27 May 2018

|align=left|26 December 2018

|{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2018-19|team=103}}

align=left|Real Sociedad

|{{Flagicon|Spain}}

|align=left|26 December 2018

|align=left|30 May 2025

|{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2018-19|team=30}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2019-20}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2020-21}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2021-22}}
{{BDFutbol season|l1098|2022-23}}

align=left|Al Shabab

|{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}

|align=left|3 July 2025

|align=left|Present

colspan="4"|Total

!—

Honours

=Manager=

Real Sociedad

Copa del Rey: 2019–20{{cite news|url=https://en.as.com/en/2021/04/03/football/1617473340_092105.html|title=Athletic Club 0–1 Real Sociedad: result, summary, goal|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Paul|last=Reidy|date=3 April 2021|access-date=4 April 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419225734/https://en.as.com/en/2021/04/03/football/1617473340_092105.html|archive-date=19 April 2021}}

Individual

Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2022–23{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/premios-marca/2023/11/23/655f5a92e2704ecc138b45b9.html|title=Imanol Alguacil, premio Miguel Muñoz: "Es un orgullo recibir este premio por lo que supone el nombre que lo lleva"|trans-title=Imanol Alguacil, Miguel Muñoz award: "It is an honour to receive this award because of the name it bears"|newspaper=Marca|first=Juan Ignacio|last=García-Ochoa|language=es|date=23 November 2023|access-date=23 November 2023}}