Zigor Aranalde

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Zigor Aranalde

| image = ZIGOR ARANALDE 2021.png

| caption = Aranalde in 2021

| fullname = Zigor Aranalde Sarasola

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|2|28|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Ibarra, Spain

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Left-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1991–1992

| years2 = 1992–1994

| years3 = 1994–1996

| years4 = 1996–1997

| years5 = 1997–1999

| years6 = 1999–2000

| years7 = 2000–2005

| years8 = 2005

| years9 = 2005–2008

| years10 = 2008–2009

| years11 = 2009–2010

| clubs1 = Hernani

| clubs2 = Eibar

| clubs3 = Atlético Marbella

| clubs4 = Sevilla

| clubs5 = Albacete

| clubs6 = Logroñés

| clubs7 = Walsall

| clubs8 = Sheffield Wednesday

| clubs9 = Carlisle United

| clubs10 = Almansa

| clubs11 = La Gineta

| caps1 = 33

| caps2 = 45

| caps3 = 56

| caps4 = 22

| caps5 = 51

| caps6 = 39

| caps7 = 195

| caps8 = 2

| caps9 = 109

| caps10 =

| caps11 =

| totalcaps = 552

| goals1 = 3

| goals2 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 2

| goals6 = 1

| goals7 = 5

| goals8 = 0

| goals9 = 6

| goals10 =

| goals11 =

| totalgoals = 18

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 = 2011–2013

| manageryears2 = 2018–2019

| manageryears3 = 2020–2021

| manageryears4 = 2021–2023

| manageryears5 = 2023

| managerclubs1 = Albacete (assistant)

| managerclubs2 = Watford (assistant)

| managerclubs3 = Valencia (assistant)

| managerclubs4 = Al Sadd (assistant)

| managerclubs5 = Leeds United (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2025-

| managerclubs6 = Watford (assistant)

}}

Zigor Aranalde Sarasola (born 28 February 1973) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Playing career

=Early years=

Born in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, Aranalde began his career at lowly Hernani, going on to spend eight of his nine professional seasons in his country in the Segunda División.[https://elpais.com/diario/2007/11/19/deportes/1195426818_850215.html El futbolista olvidado (The forgotten footballer)]; El País, 18 November 2007 {{in lang|es}}

In 1996–97, he was first choice at Sevilla in La Liga, but the Andalusians finished third-bottom so they were relegated.[https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/sevilla/2017/08/13/paso-zigor-aranalde/114358.html ¿Qué pasó con Zigor Aranalde? (What happened to Zigor Aranalde?)]; Estadio Deportivo, 13 August 2017 {{in lang|es}}

=England=

Aranalde joined Football League Second Division club Walsall on a two-year contract, just before the start of 2000–01.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/874844.stm Walsall sign Spaniard]; BBC Sport, 10 August 2000 He spent just under five seasons at the Bescot Stadium, winning promotion via the play-off final in his first year and being a regular member until he was surprisingly released by manager Paul Merson, in March 2005; he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday immediately following his release, but was sent off in only his second game for the side and never appeared for them again.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/4414283.stm Owls not contesting Aranalde card]; BBC Sport, 5 April 2005

In the summer of 2005, Aranalde signed for Carlisle United,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/4652897.stm Carlisle sign Spaniard Aranalde]; BBC Sport, 5 July 2005 who went on to win the championship and promote from League Two. He scored five goals during the campaign, and was part of a squad which included two other former Walsall players, striker Karl Hawley and future Preston North End manager Paul Simpson; on 1 October he netted Bristol Rovers' 5000th ever goal in a 1–3 loss, in his own net.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4277868.stm Carlisle 1–3 Bristol Rovers]; BBC Sport, 1 October 2005

Coaching career

On 16 May 2008, it was announced that Aranalde was being released from Carlisle alongside Paul Arnison and Grant Carson.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/7405515.stm Ward releases three at Carlisle]; BBC Sport, 16 May 2008 Two years later, after playing some amateur football in his country,[http://www.eldigitalcastillalamancha.es/articulo.asp?idarticulo=9534&deportes=1 La Gineta está a punto de cerrar la contratación de Zigor Aranalde (La Gineta about to close Zigor Aranalde deal)]; El Digital Castilla-La Mancha, 16 June 2009 {{in lang|es}} he returned to England in April 2010 when he was named chief scout at Brighton & Hove Albion in League One.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/8620358.stm Brighton appoint Zigor Aranalde as new chief scout]; BBC Sport, 14 April 2010 He subsequently held the same position at West Bromwich Albion, later being part of the coaching staff of Albacete.[https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/news-coaching-staff-confirmed Coaching staff confirmed]; Watford FC, 23 January 2018

Aranalde was named assistant manager at Premier League team Watford in January 2018, following the appointment of his compatriot Javi Gracia. Both were fired on 8 September 2019,[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/09/08/watford-fired-head-coach-javi-gracia-amid-fears-spaniard-had/ Watford fired head coach Javi Gracia amid fears Spaniard had 'gone flat']; The Daily Telegraph, 8 September 2019 continuing to work together at Valencia,[https://elpais.com/deportes/2021-05-03/el-valencia-destituye-a-javi-gracia.html El Valencia destituye a Javi Gracia, el entrenador que quiso irse en octubre y se va siete meses tarde (Valencia dismiss Javi Gracia, the manager who wanted to go in October and leaves seven months later)]; El País, 3 May 2021 {{in lang|es}} Al Sadd[https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/20034140.ex-blues-former-carlisle-united-star-zigor-aranalde-now-assistant-boss-qatar-club-al-sadd/ Ex-Blues: Former Carlisle United star Zigor Aranalde now assistant boss at Qatar club Al Sadd]; News and Star, 31 March 2022 and Leeds United.[https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4248070/2023/02/24/leeds-manager-javi-gracia-staff/ Leeds confirm Javi Gracia’s backroom staff as head coach’s visa approved]; The Athletic, 24 February 2023

Honours

Walsall

Football League Second Division play-offs: 2001

Carlisle United

Football League Two: 2005–06
Football League Trophy runner-up: 2005–06{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4865270.stm|title=Carlisle 1–2 Swansea|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 April 2006|access-date=17 March 2024}}