Javier Iturriaga

Football player infobox| playername= Javier Iturriaga


fullname = Javier Iturriaga Arrillaga
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|11|3
cityofbirth = Mexico, DF
countryofbirth = Mexico
height = height|meter=1.77
currentclub = Salamanca
clubnumber = -
position = Midfielder
years = 2002–2004
2004–2006
2006–2007
2007–present
2008
clubs = CD Baskonia
Bilbao Athletic
Athletic Bilbao
UD Salamanca
→Lorca Deportiva "(loan)"
caps(goals) = 45 (3)
48 (4)
5 (0)
5 (0)
4 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = December 19, 2007
ntupdate =

Javier Iturriaga Arrillaga (born November 3, 1983 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican football midfielder currently playing with UD Salamanca in Segunda División.

Iturriaga has an odd background for a player of Athletic Bilbao. Unlike most of his teammates Javier was not born in the Basque Country, or even in Spain. The philosophy of Athletic Bilbao doesn't mandate that a player must be born in the Basque Country to play for the club, but the philosophy does establish rules that a player must meet to be signed, and those rules had traditionally made it easier to sign players born in that region. Nevertheless, players born outside of the Basque Country are allowed to play with Athletic Bilbao if they have Basque ancestry and/or if they have learned their football skills in the Basque Country. Iturriaga meets the criteria since the rest of his family is from the Basque Country, as a matter of fact he's the only Mexican in his family, and he mostly acquired all of his skills as a football player playing for Athletic Bilbao Youth Clubs.

His family arrived to Mexico in the early 80's from their native city of Zarautz, after his father was relocated for business purposes to that Latin American country. Javier was born and grew up in Mexico City, he attended elementary school in Mexico but at the age of 13 his family went back to Europe, he attended St Edmunds College Catholic School, near Ware, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Whilst at school in England Javier showed his natural sporting talents, quickly learning to play cricket and gaining a place in the Hertfordshire under 14 rugby county team, having played the game for only a few weeks. After high school he finally went back to Bilbao where he followed the footsteps of his brother Iñigo and joined Athletic Bilbao Youth System.

After years of hard work Iturriaga was promoted to Athletic Bilbao first division squad for the season 2006-2007, he made his first division debut against Gimnástic de Terragona, by substituting Pablo Orbaiz in the 58th minute of the match. Ever since Javier has played mostly in Copa del Rey. Iturriaga or Itu, as the fans call him, has shown to be a midfielder with good skills for defensive game, he also has the ability to read the game well and distribute the ball.

The news of his promotion to the first division squad and debut were followed in his native Mexico, where the press has become interested in the player. Iturriaga has declared that he wishes to represent Mexico in international football matches. Hugo Sánchez, the Mexican football legend and coach of the Mexican national team, has declared that he would have him in consideration and follow his progress.

External links

* [http://www.lorcadeportiva.es/07-08/iturriaga.asp Profile on Lorca Deportiva Official Website]