Iñigo Vélez de Mendizábal Fernández de Garaialde (born 15 March 1982), known as Iñigo or Vélez, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a forward, currently a manager.

Iñigo Vélez
Personal information
Full name Iñigo Vélez de Mendizábal Fernández de Garaialde
Date of birth (1982-03-15) 15 March 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Vitoria, Spain
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1992–1999 Aurrerá
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Aurrerá B
1999–2000 Aurrerá 3 (0)
2000–2002 Athletic Bilbao 0 (0)
2000–2002Aurrerá (loan) 51 (15)
2002–2004 Espanyol B 28 (4)
2004–2007 Eibar 83 (13)
2007–2008 Murcia 24 (1)
2008–2009 Athletic Bilbao 4 (0)
2009–2011 Numancia 66 (15)
2011–2013 Xerez 39 (8)
Total 298 (56)
Managerial career
2016–2018 Aretxabaleta
2018–2022 Amorebieta
2023 Lugo
2023–2024 Ponferradina
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Vélez began his career in the lower leagues, playing for local CD Aurrerá de Vitoria and RCD Espanyol's B team. In the summer of 2004 he signed for SD Eibar of the Segunda División, scoring four goals in 40 games in his second season as they were eventually relegated.

Íñigo competed in La Liga with Real Murcia CF in 2007–08,[1] in another relegation-ending campaign.[2] He made his debut in the competition as a late substitute in a 2–0 away loss against Villarreal CF on 23 September 2007,[3][4] netting two months later in the 1–1 draw at RCD Mallorca.[5]

The following season, Vélez joined Athletic Bilbao,[6] but took almost no part whatsoever in the Basque side's campaign (only five competitive matches).[7] His contract was mutually terminated in late July 2009, and he joined relegated CD Numancia on a three-year deal, with the former club being able to re-buy in 2010 or 2011 – Athletic teammate Joseba Garmendia also made the move.[8][9]

Iñigo continued playing in the second tier in 2011–12, penning a two-year contract with Xerez CD.[10] After suffering relegation in 2013, and following an unsuccessful trial with CD Guadalajara, he decided to retire due to recurrent injury problems.[11][12][13]

Coaching career

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On 13 May 2016, Vélez was appointed manager of amateurs UD Aretxabaleta.[14] On 2 June 2018, he signed with SD Amorebieta in the same capacity.[15] With a 1–0 playoff win at CD Badajoz on 22 May 2021, he guided the team to the second division for the first time in their history.[16]

Vélez was dismissed by Amorebieta on 8 March 2022.[17] Nearly one year later, he became CD Lugo's fourth coach of the campaign.[18]

On 16 June 2023, having been unable to prevent the Galicians' relegation, Vélez signed as new coach of SD Ponferradina, who also went down to Primera Federación.[19] He was relieved of his duties the following 18 March, after a run of one win in the last five games.[20]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 17 March 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Aretxabaleta   17 May 2016 2 June 2018 68 29 23 16 91 57 +34 042.65 [21]
Amorebieta   2 June 2018 8 March 2022 129 47 41 41 156 157 −1 036.43 [22]
Lugo   7 March 2023 16 June 2023 12 1 5 6 7 16 −9 008.33 [23]
Ponferradina   16 June 2023 18 March 2024 29 13 11 5 29 18 +11 044.83 [24]
Career total 238 90 80 68 283 248 +35 037.82

References

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  1. ^ "De Lucas ficha por el recién ascendido Real Murcia" [De Lucas signs for recently promoted Real Murcia]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 20 June 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. ^ Santos, Jorge; Stokkermans, Karel; Dalence, Daniel; Schöggl, Hans. "Spain 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Rossi termina con la resistencia del Murcia" [Rossi ends Murcia's resistance]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 23 September 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Villarreal 2–0 Murcia". ESPN Soccernet. 23 September 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Webó libra de la derrota al Mallorca" [Webó saves Mallorca from losing]. El País (in Spanish). 2 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Iñigo Vélez, presentado con el Athletic" [Iñigo Vélez, presented at Athletic]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 July 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  7. ^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (30 October 2008). "El Athletic, a mitad de camino" [Athletic, halfway there]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Joseba Garmendia ficha por el Numancia" [Joseba Garmendia signs for Numancia]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 24 July 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Breve enciclopedia numantina" [Brief numantina encyclopedia]. Desde Soria (in Spanish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Íñigo Vélez, experiencia y gol para el ataque xerecista" [Íñigo Vélez, experience and goal to xerecista attack] (in Spanish). Xerez CD. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  11. ^ "El Xerez ficha al nigeriano Ogbeche" [Xerez sign Nigerian Ogbeche]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Iñigo Vélez medita retirarse tras no superar un control médico" [Iñigo Vélez thinks about retiring after failing medical]. El Correo (in Spanish). 27 August 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  13. ^ Zabala Hidalgo, Mikel (5 March 2014). "Entrevista a Iñigo Vélez de Mendizábal" [Interview to Iñigo Vélez de Mendizábal] (in Spanish). Álava en Tu Fútbol. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  14. ^ Ramos, Joxebi (13 May 2016). "Iñigo Vélez de Mendizabal nuevo entrenador para el División de Honor Regional de la UDA" [Iñigo Vélez de Mendizabal new manager for UDA's Regional Honour Division]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  15. ^ Lourido, David (2 June 2018). "Iñigo Vélez dirigirá al Amorebieta" [Iñigo Vélez will manage Amorebieta] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Íñigo Vélez, entrenador del SD Amorebieta: "Con el ascenso a Segunda hemos conseguido algo histórico"" [Íñigo Vélez, manager of SD Amorebieta: "With the promotion to Segunda we have achieved something historic"] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Haritz Mujika sustituye a Iñigo Vélez de Mendizabal al frente del primer equipo de la SDA" [Haritz Mújika replaces Iñigo Vélez de Mendizabal at the helm of SDA's first team] (in Spanish). SD Amorebieta. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Íñigo Vélez, nuevo entrenador del CD Lugo" [Íñigo Vélez, new manager of CD Lugo] (in Spanish). CD Lugo. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Acuerdo con Íñigo Vélez como técnico del equipo para la próxima temporada" [Agreement with Íñigo Vélez as manager of the team for the following season] (in Spanish). SD Ponferradina. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Comunicado de la SD Ponferradina" [SD Ponferradina statement] (in Spanish). SD Ponferradina. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  21. ^ "División de Honor Regional Guipuzcoana 2016–17" [Gipuzkoan Regional Honour Division 2016–17] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
    "División de Honor Regional Guipuzcoana 2017–18" [Gipuzkoan Regional Honour Division 2017–18] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Matches Iñigo Vélez, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Iñigo Vélez, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Iñigo Vélez, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol.
    "Matches Iñigo Vélez, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol.
  23. ^ "Matches Iñigo Vélez, 2022–23 season". BDFutbol.
  24. ^ "Matches Iñigo Vélez, 2023–24 season". BDFutbol.
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