Xabier Azkargorta

Xabier Azkargorta

Personal information
Full name	Francisco Xabier Azkargorta Uriarte
Date of birth	(1953-09-26) 26 September 1953
Place of birth	Azpeitia, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1969–1971	Real Sociedad
1971–1972	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1977	Athletic Bilbao	0	(0)
1975–1976	Bilbao Athletic
Managerial career
1978–1980	Lagun Onak
1980–1982	Aurrerá Ondarroa
1982–1983	Gimnàstic
1983–1986	Español
1986–1987	Real Valladolid
1987–1988	Sevilla
1990	Tenerife
1993–1994	Bolivia
1995–1996	Chile
1997–1998	Yokohama Marinos
2005	Guadalajara
2012–2014	Bolivia
2014–2015	Bolívar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Azkargorta and the second or maternal family name is Uriarte.

Francisco Xabier Azkargorta Uriarte (born 26 September 1953) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a forward, and a current manager.

Football career

Born in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Azkargorta spent five years under contract to Athletic Bilbao after arriving in 1971 from neighbouring Real Sociedad and complete his formation at the former, but failed to appear in any official games with the first team due to injury. He retired at only 23 years of age.

Azkargorta started working as a manager one year after retiring, his beginnings being in lower league football mainly in his native Basque Country. In the 1982 summer, the 28-year-old was appointed at Gimnàstic de Tarragona in Segunda División B and, the following season, moved straight into La Liga after signing for RCD Español.

After two more years in Catalonia, Azkargorta continued to coach in the top flight until 1991, being in charge of Real Valladolid, Sevilla FC and CD Tenerife, and being fired by the last two clubs before the respective campaigns ended.

Still in the decade, Azkargorta worked with the national teams of Bolivia and Chile. He led the former to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, this marking the first time the country reached the tournament through the qualification process. In 1997 he returned to club duties after signing with Yokohama F. Marinos and, eight years later, took charge of Mexico's C.D. Guadalajara; in between, he spent two years with Real Madrid as head of its academies in Central and South America.

In March 2006, Azkargorta was appointed director of football at Beijing Guoan F.C. in the Chinese Super League. In the 2008 summer he returned to his homeland, joining Valencia CF in the same capacity.

Azkargorta was again chosen as Bolivian national side manager on 17 July 2012, replacing Gustavo Quinteros six games into the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. He was relieved of his duties on 9 March 2014, after it was revealed he had signed with Club Bolívar.

External links

• Xabier Azkargorta manager profile at BDFutbol