Íñigo Calderón Zapatería (born 4 January 1982) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back, currently manager of the under-18 team of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Íñigo Calderón
Calderón in 2015
Personal information
Full name Íñigo Calderón Zapatería[1]
Date of birth (1982-01-04) 4 January 1982 (age 42)[2]
Place of birth Vitoria, Spain[2]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
Alavés
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 Alavés C
2001–2004 Alavés B 71 (1)
2004–2007 Alicante 84 (5)
2007–2009 Alavés 52 (1)
2010–2016 Brighton & Hove Albion 198 (18)
2016–2017 Anorthosis 28 (3)
2017–2019 Chennaiyin 32 (4)
Total 465 (32)
Managerial career
2019–2023 Alavés B (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played for Alicante and Alavés in Spain, joining Brighton & Hove Albion in 2010 and going on to remain several years with the club while appearing in 232 competitive games.[3]

Club career

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Spain

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Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, Calderón started his professional career with Alicante CF in the Segunda División B, achieving two first-place finishes and one third during his three-year spell but seeing his team consecutively fail in the promotion play-offs.[4]

In 2007, he moved to Deportivo Alavés (he had already represented its C and B sides early in his career),[5] playing two Segunda División seasons – often serving as team captain[6][7][8]– and suffering relegation in his second year.[9]

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Calderón with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2011

On 7 January 2010, after a spell on trial, Calderón signed with Football League One club Brighton & Hove Albion on a contract until the end of the campaign.[10][11] He made his debut nine days later in a 2–1 win at Walsall,[12] and scored his first goal for the Seagulls in another away fixture (also 2–1 victory), against Charlton Athletic on 23 February.[13]

Calderón's offer of a new contract at Brighton was withdrawn[14] after he agreed to join League One rivals Southampton in May 2010.[15] However, on 10 June, the player agreed to a new three-year deal, with manager Gus Poyet claiming "Calde is a quality player and was always our first-choice right-back...".[16]

In the 2010–11 season, Calderón scored eight goals, including a first-half strike in the 4–3 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge that helped Albion secure promotion to the Championship.[17][18][19] He subsequently signed a one-year extension, keeping him at the Falmer Stadium until 2014.[20]

Calderón netted his first goal of 2011–12 in the 2–0 home defeat of Bristol City – a thunderous drive from 25 yards.[21] He appeared predominantly as a right midfielder in 2014–15, scoring four times and being subsequently voted player of the season.[22][18]

Later years

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On 9 July 2016, aged 34, free agent Calderón joined Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis Famagusta FC on a one-year contract.[23] On 19 July 2017, he switched to the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin FC.[24]

Calderon returned to Alavés immediately after retiring, as assistant manager to the reserves.[25] He went back to Brighton Albion in June 2023, taking up the role of head coach at the under-18 squad.[26]

Personal life

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Calderón has a master's degree in sport psychology. He is also a qualified teacher.[27]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Alavés B 2000–01[28] Segunda División B 1 0 1 0
2001–02[28] Segunda División B 2 0 2 0
2002–03[28] Segunda División B 35 1 35 1
2003–04[28] Segunda División B 33 0 33 0
Total 71 1 71 1
Alicante 2004–05[28] Segunda División B 25 0 2 0 2[a] 0 29 0
2005–06[28] Segunda División B 31 4 3 1 4[a] 0 38 5
2006–07[28] Segunda División B 28 1 0 0 4[a] 0 32 1
Total 84 5 5 1 10 0 99 6
Alavés 2007–08[28] Segunda División 20 0 2 0 22 0
2008–09[28] Segunda División 32 1 1 0 33 1
Total 52 1 3 0 55 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 2009–10[29] League One 19 1 1 0 0 0 20 1
2010–11[30] League One 44 7 5 1 0 0 1[b] 0 50 8
2011–12[31] Championship 32 4 4 0 3 0 39 4
2012–13[32] Championship 28 0 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 32 0
2013–14[33] Championship 23 2 4 0 1 0 2[a] 0 30 2
2014–15[34] Championship 35 4 2 0 4 0 41 4
2015–16[35] Championship 17 0 1 0 2 0 20 0
Total 198 18 18 1 11 0 5 0 232 19
Anorthosis 2016–17[36] Cypriot First Division 28 3 4 0 32 3
Chennaiyin 2017–18[36] Indian Super League 20 3 20 3
2018–19[36] Indian Super League 12 1 12 1
Total 32 4 32 4
Career total 465 32 30 2 11 0 15 0 521 34
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearances in Promotion Play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy

Honours

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Brighton & Hove Albion

Chennaiyin

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). English Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Inigo Calderon". Eurosport. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. ^ Thorpe, Chris (16 November 2021). "Brighton and Hove Albion in the EFL: Remember Inigo Calderon? Here's what he's up to nowadays". Football League World. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Hemos logrado pasar la prueba" [We stood up to the test]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 12 June 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  5. ^ Ruiz de Esquide, Fernando (11 July 2007). "El vitoriano Calderón se convierte en el primer fichaje para esta campaña" [Vitoria-born Calderón becomes first signing for this campaign]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  6. ^ "El Alavés remontó con toda justicia en Mendizorroza" [Alavés came back from behind in Mendizorroza justly]. Marca (in Spanish). 5 October 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Alavés y Albacete pelearán por tres puntos que pueden sacarles del peligro" [Alavés and Albacete will fight for three points that may lead away from danger]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 23 January 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  8. ^ Oleart, Álvaro (13 November 2011). "Calderón: "Mi sueño siempre fue jugar en Inglaterra"" [Calderón: "I had always dreamed of playing in England"] (in Spanish). La Media Inglesa. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  9. ^ Lekuona, Javier (14 June 2009). "La afición del Alavés llora por el virtual descenso" [Alavés faithful cry over virtual relegation]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  10. ^ Dudding, Tim (7 January 2010). "Albion sign Spanish defender". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  11. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion sign Inigo Calderon". BBC Sport. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Walsall 1–2 Brighton". BBC Sport. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  13. ^ "Charlton 1–2 Brighton". BBC Sport. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Gus Poyet withdraws contract offer to Inigo Calderon". BBC Sport. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  15. ^ "Calderon agrees Saints switch". Sky Sports. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  16. ^ Camillin, Paul (10 June 2010). "Calderon signs three-year deal". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  17. ^ Szczepanik, Nick (12 April 2011). "Brighton's Ashley Barnes sees off Dagenham to start promotion party". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  18. ^ a b Burton, Ryan (11 March 2017). "The last Brighton and Hove Albion promotion winning XI". Here Is The City. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Inigo Calderon, a Brighton player like no other". We Are Brighton. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Brighton defender Inigo Calderon signs new contract". BBC Sport. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Brighton 2–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. ^ Hilsum, James (21 April 2015). "Calderon is named Albion's Player of the Season". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Iñigo Calderón Zapatería για 1+1 χρόνια!" [Iñigo Calderón Zapatería for 1+1 years!] (in Greek). Anorthosis Famagusta. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  24. ^ "Indian Super League: Chennaiyin FC sign Spanish defender Inigo Calderon". Hindustan Times. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  25. ^ Owen, Brian (7 March 2019). "Albion legend Inigo Calderon moves into coaching at Alaves". The Argus. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  26. ^ Camillin, Paul (26 June 2023). "Inigo Calderon returns as under-18s head coach". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  27. ^ Morris, Richard (8 August 2014). "Iñigo Calderón: The player who is a star on – and off – the pitch". Brighton & Hove Independent. Archived from the original on 19 September 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Calderón: Iñigo Calderón Zapatería". BDFutbol. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  30. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  31. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  32. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  33. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. ^ "Games played by Iñigo Calderón in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ a b c d "Inigo Calderon". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  37. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2011). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 39, 104–105. ISBN 978-0-7553-6231-8.
  38. ^ "Spurs' Gareth Bale wins PFA player of the year award". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  39. ^ Nair, Rohith (21 September 2018). "ISL 2018–19: Inigo Calderon wants to prove that even 36-year-olds can get new contracts". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
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