Joseba Etxeberria

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Etxeberria and the second or maternal family name is Lizardi.

Joseba Andoni Etxeberria Lizardi (born 5 September 1977) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played mostly as a winger, and is a current manager.

Joseba Etxeberria

Etxeberria in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Joseba Andoni Etxeberria Lizardi[1]
Date of birth	(1977-09-05) 5 September 1977 (age 47)[2]
Place of birth	Elgoibar, Spain[2]
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s)	Winger, forward
Youth career
	Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1995	Real Sociedad B	29	(9)
1995	Real Sociedad	7	(2)
1995–2010	Athletic Bilbao	445	(88)
Total		481	(99)
International career
1992–1994	Spain U16	17	(11)
1994–1995	Spain U18	7	(5)
1995	Spain U20	6	(7)
1996–1997	Spain U21	3	(0)
1997–2004	Spain	53	(12)
1998–2007	Basque Country	11	(2)
Managerial career
2012–2015	Athletic Bilbao (youth)
2016–2017	Basconia
2017–2018	Amorebieta
2018	Tenerife
2019–2021	Bilbao Athletic
2022–2023	Mirandés
2023–2025	Eibar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After starting his career at the age of 17 with Real Sociedad, he quickly switched to Athletic Bilbao, going on to spend the rest of his extensive career there.^[3]

Exteberria earned 53 caps for Spain, representing the nation at the 1998 World Cup and two European Championships.

Club career

Born in Elgoibar, Gipuzkoa, Etxeberria began his career with Real Sociedad, making his La Liga debut at only 17 in a 2–0 home win against Español on 29 January 1995. That summer, he moved to neighbouring Athletic Bilbao in a controversial transfer that cost over €3 million^[4] and caused the clubs to break off formal relations^[5]– at the time, it was the highest transfer fee paid for an under-18 player in Spanish football.^[6] When he returned to Anoeta Stadium in 2001, the Real Sociedad supporters prepared banners of his face on banknotes denoting him as a 'mercenary', and when he scored they responded with a hail of bottles and verbal abuse which earned the organization a fine from the Royal Spanish Football Federation.^[5]

In 1997–98, Etxeberria scored 11 league goals as Athletic finished second, achieving a career-best 14 five seasons later. He netted the goal that took his team into the group stage of the UEFA Champions League as they overcame Dinamo Tbilisi on the away goals rule,^[7] and repeated the feat in that phase of the competition against Rosenborg (1–1 home draw);^[8] in his first 12 years he never appeared in less than 28 league games, his lowest scoring output being three in the 2004–05 and 2006–07 campaigns, while he was also eventually awarded team captaincy.^[9]

On 1 October 2008, already playing second-fiddle, Etxeberria agreed a deal with the Basque side according to which he effectively played 2009–10, his last season as a professional, for free, after his contract expired in June 2009.^[10][11]

Etxeberria's last year was not a successful one individually as he only appeared in seven league matches, adding another seven with two goals in the season's UEFA Europa League, including his final for the club (a late penalty equaliser) against Nacional in the group phase of the UEFA Europa League on 5 November 2009.^[12] On 15 May 2010, he was replaced to a standing ovation in Athletic's 2–0 home victory over Deportivo de La Coruña, and represented his main club in 514 official matches (104 goals), third-best in its history only behind José Ángel Iribar and Txetxu Rojo.^[13][14]

Etxeberria's testimonial match at the San Mamés Stadium was played against 200 children, and he scored twice in a 5–3 win.^[15]

International career

After leading the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship scoring charts and winning fourth place,^[6] Etxeberria was called up to the Spain full national team, making his debut on 19 November 1997 in a friendly against Romania in Palma de Mallorca and scoring in the 1–1 draw.^[16] He was capped 53 times and netted 12 goals,^[17] representing his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000^[18] and Euro 2004.^[19] On 18 June, in the second tournament, he scored the 2–1 winner in the group stage match to defeat Slovenia.^[20]

Etxeberria also featured for the unofficial Basque Country side in 11 matches, a record number of appearances at the time which was honoured by the territorial federation upon his retirement.^[21]

Coaching career

Etxeberria began a coaching career after retiring, his first job being with the Basque Country representative youth teams.^[22] In 2012 he returned to Athletic, starting out at the youth academy;^[23] having spent so many years at the club as a player, he described the Lezama training centre as a "second home".^[22]

In 2015, Etxeberria moved to the first team under manager Ernesto Valverde.^[24] The following year he was appointed at affiliate Basconia, controlling a group of players he had previously managed at the Juvenil age group level.^[23][25]

In summer 2017, Etxberria departed from the Athletic internal structure whilst remaining contracted to the club and moved within the same region to become manager of third-tier side Amorebieta, replacing the departed Aitor Larrazábal (a former Athletic teammate and coaching colleague).^[23][26] On 5 February of the following year, he replaced fired José Luis Martí at the helm of Tenerife.^[27]

In May 2018, Athletic Bilbao confirmed that Etxeberria had cut all ties with the club to continue his coaching career independently.^[28] On 17 September, he was fired by Tenerife after the team failed to record a victory in the first five league matches of the season.^[29]

Etxeberria returned to the Athletic Bilbao staff in late May 2019, now as head coach of the reserve team Bilbao Athletic, on a two-year contract.^[30] On 14 February 2022, he replaced Lolo Escobar at the helm of Mirandés in the Segunda División.^[31]

On 24 May 2023, Etxeberria announced that he would leave the Jabatos at the end of the campaign.^[32] On 14 June, he replaced Gaizka Garitano at the helm of fellow second division side Eibar.^[33]

On 16 February 2025, Etxeberria was sacked from the Armeros after a five-match winless run which left the club in the 17th place, five points above the relegation zone.^[34]

Personal life

Etxeberria was not related to former Athletic teammate Imanol Etxeberria. Coincidentally, they were raised just a few miles from one another (Imanol hailed from Bergara).

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[35]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other[a]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Real Sociedad B	1993–94	Segunda División B	1	0	–		–		–		1	0
	1994–95		28	9	–		–		–		28	9
	Total		29	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	9
Real Sociedad	1994–95	La Liga	7	2	1	0	–		–		8	2
Athletic Bilbao	1995–96	La Liga	33	7	6	3	–		–		39	10
	1996–97		35	6	1	0	–		–		36	6
	1997–98		36	11	4	2	3	0	–		43	13
	1998–99		36	5	2	1	8	2	–		46	8
	1999–00		35	10	2	2	–		–		37	12
	2000–01		28	5	3	0	–		–		31	5
	2001–02		31	8	6	1	–		–		37	9
	2002–03		33	14	0	0	–		–		33	14
	2003–04		34	6	1	0	–		–		35	6
	2004–05		33	3	7	1	8	2	–		48	6
	2005–06		29	4	2	0	–		–		31	4
	2006–07		28	3	2	0	–		–		30	3
	2007–08		25	4	0	0	–		–		25	4
	2008–09		22	2	3	0	–		–		25	2
	2009–10		7	0	2	0	7	2	2	0	18	2
	Total		445	88	41	10	26	6	2	0	514	104
Career total			481	99	42	10	26	6	2	0	551	115

1. Appearances in Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Spain[17]	1997	1	1
	1998	10	2
	1999	10	3
	2000	11	2
	2001	4	0
	2002	1	0
	2003	10	3
	2004	6	1
Total		53	12

Scores and results list Spaon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Etxeberria goal.^[36][17]

List of international goals scored by Joseba Etxeberria

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	19 November 1997	Lluís Sitjar, Palma, Spain	Romania	1–0	1–1	Friendly
2	25 March 1998	Balaídos, Vigo, Spain	Sweden	4–0	4–0	Friendly
3	14 October 1998	Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel	Israel	2–1	2–1	Euro 2000 qualifying
4	31 March 1999	Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino	San Marino	6–0	6–0	Euro 2000 qualifying
5	5 June 1999	El Madrigal, Villarreal, Spain	San Marino	3–0	9–0	Euro 2000 qualifying
6				4–0
7	18 June 2000	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Slovenia	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2000
8	2 September 2000	Koševo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–1	2–1	2002 World Cup qualification
9	29 March 2003	Olimpiyskyi, Kyiv, Ukraine	Ukraine	2–1	2–2	Euro 2004 qualifying
10	6 November 2003	D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal	Portugal	1–0	3–0	Friendly
11	19 November 2003	Ullevaal, Oslo, Norway	Norway	3–0	3–0	Euro 2004 qualifying
12	18 February 2004	Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain	Peru	1–1	2–1	Friendly

Managerial statistics

As of 15 February 2025

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record								Ref
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Basconia		29 June 2016	5 June 2017	38	12	12	14	50	55	−5	031.58	[37]
Amorebieta		5 June 2017	5 February 2018	24	7	9	8	29	25	+4	029.17	[38]
Tenerife		5 February 2018	17 September 2018	23	8	8	7	33	28	+5	034.78	[39]
Bilbao Athletic		28 May 2019	26 May 2021	57	30	14	13	104	63	+41	052.63	[40]
Mirandés		14 February 2022	27 May 2023	59	21	14	24	74	75	−1	035.59	[41]
Eibar		14 June 2023	16 February 2025	75	31	16	28	101	84	+17	041.33	[42]
Career total				276	109	73	94	391	330	+61	039.49	—

See also

• List of Athletic Bilbao players (+200 appearances)
• List of La Liga players (400+ appearances)

References

1. Casado, Edu (18 January 2016). "Qué fue de… Joseba Etxeberria: la gran estrella vasca" [What happened to… Joseba Etxeberria: the great Basque star]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2022.
2. "Joseba ETXEBERRIA Lizardi". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2022.
3. "Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: jugadores en los dos bandos" [Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: players on both sides]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
4. Mallo, Juan Manuel (1 December 2010). "El Athletic ha pagado casi 15 millones a la Real en 21 años" [Athletic have paid almost 15 million to Real in 21 years]. El Correo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
5. Ball, Phil (2001). Morbo: the story of Spanish football (p.37). WSC Books Limited. ISBN 9780954013462.
6. Segurola, Santiago (7 July 1995). "550 millones por un juvenil" [550 million for a youth]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2017.
7. "Football: Metz foiled by Finns". The Independent. 26 August 1998. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
8. Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (17 September 1998). "El Athletic mira al pasado" [Athletic eyeing past]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
9. Artetxe, José Luis (21 August 2006). "Sarriugarte esconde cuál será su primer once en Liga" [Sarriugarte hides what his first League XI will be]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
10. Rodríguez, R. (1 October 2008). "Etxeberria jugará gratis en el Athletic" [Etxeberria will play for free in Athletic]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 January 2009.
11. "Etxeberria will play for nothing". BBC Sport. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
12. "Etxeberria edges Athletic closer". UEFA. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
13. "Victory, great ambiance and emotional farewells". Athletic Bilbao. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
14. Ortiz de Lazcano, Javier (9 October 2015). "Los discípulos de Pichichi" [Pichichi's disciples]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2016.
15. Lowe, Sid (25 May 2010). "It's the Sids 2010! The complete review of the past La Liga season". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
16. "España quiere ganar por primera vez en Palma" [Spain want to win in Palma for the first time] (in Spanish). Terra. 9 February 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
17. Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Joseba Etxeberría Lizardi – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
18. "Spanish squad unveiled". BBC Sport. 28 May 2000. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
19. Modia, Iván (20 May 2004). "Sáez selects Spain squad". UEFA. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
20. "Etxeberria spares Spain's blushes against Slovenia". UEFA. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
21. Mallo, Juan Manuel (14 December 2010). "La Federación vasca homenajeará a Etxeberria en el amistoso de la selección" [The Basque Federation will honour Etxeberria at the national team's friendly]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 June 2017.
22. Zubieta, Jon (19 June 2012). "Joseba Etxeberria: "Estaría encantado de ir a Lezama"" [Joseba Etxeberria: "I would be delighted to go to Lezama"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 June 2017.
23. "Joseba Etxeberria ocupará el banquillo del Amorebieta" [Joseba Etxeberria will occupy the bench at Amorebieta]. Deia (in Spanish). 3 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
24. "Joseba Etxeberria pasa al cuerpo técnico del primer equipo del Athletic con Ernesto Valverde" [Joseba Etxeberria moves to the technical staff of the Athletic first team with Ernesto Valverde]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 17 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
25. Ugalde, Iñaki (21 July 2016). "Joseba Etxeberria inicia su etapa como míster del Basconia" [Joseba Etxeberria begins his time as boss of Basconia]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 June 2017.
26. Rodríguez Beltrán, Javier (5 June 2017). "Joseba Etxeberria, al Amorebieta y Larrazabal, al Barakaldo" [Joseba Etxeberria to Amorebieta and Larrazabal to Barakaldo]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
27. "Joseba Etxeberria, nuevo entrenador del CD Tenerife" [Joseba Etxeberria, new manager of CD Tenerife] (in Spanish). CD Tenerife. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
28. "Joseba Etxeberria's rescission of contract". Athletic Bilbao. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
29. Millar, Colin (17 September 2018). "LaLiga123: Tenerife sack Joseba Etxeberria". Football España. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
30. "Joseba Etxeberria will be the next coach of Bilbao Athletic". Athletic Bilbao. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
31. "Joseba Etxeberria, nuevo entrenador del C.D.Mirandés" [Joseba Etxeberria, new manager of C.D. Mirandés] (in Spanish). CD Mirandés. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
32. "Joseba Etxeberria no continuará como entrenador del CD Mirandés la próxima temporada" [Joseba Etxeberria will not continue as manager of CD Mirandés the following season] (in Spanish). CD Mirandés. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
33. "Joseba Etxeberria, nuevo entrenador del Eibar" [Joseba Etxeberria, new manager of Eibar] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
34. "La SD Eibar y Joseba Etxeberria finalizan su vinculación" [SD Eibar and Joseba Etxeberria end their relationship] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
35. Joseba Etxeberria at BDFutbol
36. "Joseba Etxeberria". European Football. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
37. "CD Basconia" (in Spanish). Resultados Fútbol. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
38. "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
39. "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
    "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
40. "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
    "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
41. "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
    "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2022–23 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
42. "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2023–24 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
    "Matches Joseba Etxeberria, 2024–25 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 6 February 2025.

External links

• Joseba Etxeberria at BDFutbol
• Joseba Etxeberria manager profile at BDFutbol
• Joseba Etxeberria at Athletic Bilbao
• Joseba Etxeberria at National-Football-Teams.com
• Joseba Etxeberria – FIFA competition record (archived)