Joseba Andoni Etxeberria Lizardi (born 5 September 1977) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played mostly as a winger, currently manager of Eibar.
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]
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 Espanyol 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]
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 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]
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[34]