Asier Garitano

Asier Garitano Aguirrezábal (born 6 December 1969) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a forward.

During a 14-year senior career, he appeared in 134 matches in the Segunda División over five seasons, totalling 23 goals for Bilbao Athletic and Eibar. He added 216 games and 61 goals in the Segunda División B, in representation of several clubs.

Garitano started working as a manager in 2003, as an assistant at Alicante. He went on to be in charge of four teams before being appointed at Leganés in 2013, which he led to promotions to the second tier and La Liga. He was head coach at Real Sociedad and Alavés, also in the top flight.

Born in Bergara, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Garitano was an Athletic Bilbao youth graduate. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 2 September 1989, starting and scoring the winner in a 2–1 away win against Racing de Santander in the Segunda División.

After four full seasons (one of them on loan at SD Eibar), Garitano left the Lions and signed for Cartagena FC of Segunda División B. In 1994, he moved to Cádiz CF also in the third division, and returned to Eibar in January 1996.

Garitano subsequently resumed his career in the third tier and Tercera División, representing CF Gavà, Racing de Ferrol, Burgos CF, Alicante CF and Benidorm CF. He retired in 2003 at the age of 33, mainly due to injuries.

Shortly after retiring, Garitano started working as an assistant at former club Alicante. In October 2008 he was named manager, replacing the fired José Carlos Granero. However, after only three matches, he was replaced by Nino Lema and moved to the backroom staff.

Garitano was appointed CD Castellón coach on 6 April 2010, after being previously working at the club as an assistant. He remained in charge until the end of the season, suffering relegation as last.