Andoni Imaz

Andoni Imaz Garmendia (born 5 September 1971) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Imaz and the second or maternal family name is Garmendia.
Andoni Imaz
Imaz in 1994
Personal information
Full name Andoni Imaz Garmendia
Date of birth (1971-09-05) 5 September 1971
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1991 Real Sociedad B 31 (0)
1991–1998 Real Sociedad 197 (7)
1998–2002 Athletic Bilbao 28 (1)
Total 256 (8)
National team
1992–1994 Spain U21 13 (0)
1992 Spain U23 1 (0)
1993 Spain 1 (0)
1993–1997 Basque Country 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He appeared in 225 La Liga matches over ten seasons, scoring a combined eight goals for Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao.[1]

Club career

Real Sociedad

Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Imaz was immediately thrust into hometown club Real Sociedad's starting XI in La Liga at the age of 20 after a single season in the reserves. His debut in the competition took place on 8 September 1991, when he played the entire 0–0 home draw against Real Zaragoza.[2] He scored his first top division goal on 10 November 1991, helping his team to a 2–2 away draw to Real Valladolid.[3]

In 1993, Imaz acted as captain in the inaugural match at the Anoeta Stadium, a 2–2 friendly draw with Real Madrid.[4][5] During his spell, he never appeared in less than 26 league games.[6]

Athletic Bilbao

In the summer of 1998, Imaz opted against renewing his contract and signed with Basque Country neighbours Athletic Bilbao.[7] After helping the Lions reach the group phase of the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League by netting in the 1–2 away loss against FC Dinamo Tbilisi (eventually qualifying via the away goals rule)[8][9] he played five times in that stage of the tournament, which ended in elimination in last place.

After a combined 26 league matches in his first two seasons, Imaz was rarely selected after the arrival of manager Txetxu Rojo, meeting the same fate under Jupp Heynckes and retiring at only 30 due to injury problems.[4]

International career

Imaz won one cap for Spain, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 friendly with Mexico in Las Palmas.[10] He also featured for the unofficial Basque Country regional team.[11]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Imaz engaged in politics, running as sports councillor for the Basque Nationalist Party in the town of Tolosa and being elected in 2003. He resigned after one four-year term, claiming he had "had enough".[4]

In 2013, Imaz was appointed as Athletic Bilbao's match delegate,[12] being voted the league's best the following year.[13][14] He left the position in 2019, to pursue other interests.[15]

Honours

Spain U21

References
  1. "Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: jugadores en los dos bandos" [Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: players on both sides]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 9 May 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  2. Sáez, Félix (9 September 1991). "El Zaragoza sabe por "viejo"" [“Old” Zaragoza know it all]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. Alvarado, Arturo (11 November 1991). "La Real regala un punto" [Real give point away]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  4. Domínguez, Koldo (2011). "Exfutbolista y exconcejal" [Former footballer and former councilman]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  5. Rodríguez Millán, Juan (13 August 2008). "Partidos Inolvidables: Real Sociedad 2 – Real Madrid 2 (93–94)" [Unforgettable Matches: Real Sociedad 2 – Real Madrid 2 (93–94)] (in Spanish). Corazón Txuri Urdin. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  6. "Andoni Imaz" (in Spanish). Historias de Cromos. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  7. "Los otros realistas que acabaron en el Athletic" [The other realistas who ended up at Athletic]. El Correo (in Spanish). 2 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  8. "El Nápoles, rival del Athletic" [Napoli, Athletic's rival]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  9. "Football: Metz foiled by Finns". The Independent. 26 August 1998. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  10. Gascón, Javier (28 January 1993). "Más joven, pero igual de gris" [Younger, but just as grey]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. "Euskal Selekzioa 3–1 Yugoslavia" [Basque XI 3–1 Yugoslavia] (in Spanish). Basque Football Federation. 26 December 1997. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  12. "El exjugador Andoni Imaz será el nuevo delegado del Athletic" [Former player Andoni Imaz will be Athletic's new delegate]. ABC (in Spanish). 9 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  13. Romo, Asier (20 November 2014). "Andoni Imaz: El mejor delegado de la Liga" [Andoni Imaz: The League's best delegate]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  14. Rivas, Jon (11 May 2016). ""Gurpegui es el Athletic"" ["Gurpegui is Athletic"]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  15. "Imaz will no longer be the first team delegate". Athletic Bilbao. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  16. Aguilar, Francesc (16 April 1994). "España pierde la inocencia" [Spain lose innocence]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2017.
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