- Xabier Azkargorta
Infobox Football biography
playername = Xabier Azkargorta
fullname = Francisco Xabier Azkargorta Uriarte
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1953|9|29
cityofbirth =Azpeitia
countryofbirth =Spain
height = height|m = 1.75
weight = convert|71|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
nickname = "El Bigotón"
position = Centre Forward
currentclub = Unnatached
clubnumber =Valencia CF
youthyears = 1969-1971
1971-1972
youthclubs = Real Sociedad ("youth team")Bilbao Athletic
years = 1972-1977
1975-1976
clubs =Athletic Bilbao Bilbao Athletic
caps(goals) =
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears = 1978-1980
1980-1982
1982-1983
1983-1986
1986-1987
1987-1988
1989-1991
1993-1994
1995-1996
1997-1998
2005
managerclubs = Lagun Onak
Aurrerá VitoriaGimnastic de Tarragona Espanyol Real Valladolid Sevilla FC CD Tenerife
Bolivia
ChileYokohama Marinos
ChivasFrancisco Xabier Azcargorta Uriarte (born
29 September 1953 inAzpeitia ), usually called Xabier Azkargorta, is a former Spanish football player and manager.During his playing career he played for
Real Sociedad andAthletic Bilbao . Later he became a manager, coaching club teams such asCD Tenerife ,RCD Espanyol ,Sevilla FC ,Real Valladolid , andClub Deportivo Guadalajara , and national teams including Bolivia and Chile.He most recently worked as a television pundit for
Digital+ 's coverage of the South American World Cup qualifiers.As of July 2008, Xabier Azkargorta has been appointed the "Director Deportivo" of Spanish La Liga side
Valencia CF . In Spain, the manager role differs from that which the English Premiereship assigns to it in the sense that the manager is only in charge of the team's training, strategy and lineup. The decision to scout or pursue other players is left to the "Director Deportivo". In England, both job functions are assumed by the manager.The Valencia move marks a long-awaited return to Spanish football for Azkargorta(Azkargorta regularly features as an expert witness for the Spanish sporting newspaper AS, where he has frequently stated his desire to return -- usually at the fans' request). Valencia midfielder (and former Spanish international)
Ruben Baraja has stated to the Spanish daily Marca that "Azkargorta is a man of football, with a distinguished career path and discriminating quality as a manager and national side coach. Further, he holds the respect and esteem of the footballing world, which is a difficult claim to make".Honours
Manager
*
Yokohama Marinos
**J-League : 1997-1998
* "'Bolivia national football team
** First classification of Bolivia in a World Cup (USA 94') and manager of Bolivia in World Cup of 1994: 1993 - 1994
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