{{short description|Spanish footballer and manager}} {{family name hatnote|Iriondo|Aurtenetxea|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rafael Iriondo | image = Rafael Iriondo Iriondo Athletic Club 1945.png | caption = Iriondo with Athletic Bilbao in 1945 | fullname = Rafael Iriondo Aurtenetxea | birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|10|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Guernica, Spain | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|2|24|1918|10|24|df=yes}} | death_place = Bilbao, Spain | height = 1.71 m | position = Forward | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Gernika | years1 = 1939–1940 | years2 = 1940–1953 | years3 = 1953 | years4 = 1953–1955 | years5 = 1955 | clubs1 = Atlético Tetuán | clubs2 = Athletic Bilbao | clubs3 = Barakaldo | clubs4 = Real Sociedad | clubs5 = Indautxu | caps1 = | caps2 = 257 | caps3 = 3 | caps4 = 28 | caps5 = 1 | totalcaps = 289 | goals1 = | goals2 = 80 | goals3 = 1 | goals4 = 9 | goals5 = 0 | totalgoals = 90 | nationalyears1 = 1946–1947 | nationalteam1 = Spain | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | manageryears1 = 1955–1956 | manageryears2 = 1958–1959 | manageryears3 = 1961–1962 | manageryears4 = 1965–1968 | manageryears5 = 1968–1969 | manageryears6 = 1970 | manageryears7 = 1971–1972 | manageryears8 = 1972–1974 | manageryears9 = 1974–1976 | manageryears10 = 1976–1978 | manageryears11 = 1980 | manageryears12 = 1981–1982 | managerclubs1 = Indautxu | managerclubs2 = Alavés | managerclubs3 = Barakaldo | managerclubs4 = Bilbao Athletic | managerclubs5 = Athletic Bilbao | managerclubs6 = Español | managerclubs7 = Zaragoza | managerclubs8 = Real Sociedad | managerclubs9 = Athletic Bilbao | managerclubs10 = Betis | managerclubs11 = Rayo Vallecano | managerclubs12 = Betis }} '''Rafael Iriondo Aurtenetxea''' (24 October 1918 – 24 February 2016) was a Spanish football forward and manager.
He amassed La Liga totals of 285 matches and 89 goals over 15 seasons, with Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/05/09/album-02/1399644404_476184.html|title=Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: jugadores en los dos bandos|trans-title=Athletic Club-Real Sociedad: players on both sides|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=9 May 2014|access-date=13 July 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828143148/https://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/05/09/album-02/1399644404_476184.html|archive-date=28 August 2017}}</ref> He subsequently became a manager, working for nearly 30 years and being in charge of both clubs.
==Club career== Born in Guernica, Biscay, Iriondo arrived at Basque giants Athletic Bilbao in 1940, from Atlético Tetuán. He made his La Liga debut on 29 September in a 2–2 away draw against Valencia CF<ref name=Prayer>{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/04/12/segunda/1586696447_438931.html|title=Rafa Iriondo, un rezo permanente en el banquillo|trans-title=Rafa Iriondo, a permanent prayer on the bench|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Pedro Luis|last=Ferrer|language=es|date=12 April 2020|access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> and, during his 13-year spell with the club, would form an historic attacking partnership with Agustín Gaínza, José Luis Panizo and Telmo Zarra, winning the 1942–43 league and four Copa del Generalísimo trophies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/201510/08/pichichi-reune-goleadores-rojiblancos-20151008210636.html|title=Los discípulos de Pichichi|trans-title=Pichichi's disciples|newspaper=El Correo|first=Javier|last=Ortiz de Lazcano|language=es|date=9 October 2015|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref name=Legend>{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/leyendas/iriondo.html|title=Leyendas del Athletic Club de Bilbao – Iriondo|trans-title=Athletic Club de Bilbao legends – Iriondo|newspaper=El Correo|language=es|access-date=23 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622093106/http://athletic.elcorreo.com/leyendas/iriondo.html|archive-date=22 June 2016}}</ref>
Iriondo took part in 332 competitive games for Athletic and scored 116 goals, joining neighbouring Barakaldo CF in 1953. After a couple of months, however, he returned to the top division with Real Sociedad, retiring at the end of the 1954–55 season.<ref name=Prayer/>
Iriondo started coaching immediately after retiring, with modest SD Indautxu in the Segunda División.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indautxusd.com/historia.php?club=1|title=Historia|trans-title=History|publisher=SD Indautxu|language=es|access-date=31 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020847/http://www.indautxusd.com/historia.php?club=1|archive-date=6 April 2017}}</ref> He continued in his native region the following years, with Deportivo Alavés and Barakaldo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barakaldocf.com/?p=entrenadores|title=Entrenadores|trans-title=Managers|publisher=Barakaldo CF|language=es|access-date=11 April 2010}}</ref>
In the 1968–69 campaign, Iriondo returned to Athletic Bilbao as head coach, helping the side to the 11th place in the league and the domestic cup. He would also manage them for two full seasons in the mid-1970s, interspersed with stints at RCD Español, Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad.<ref name=Prayer/>
Iriondo's last coaching job was with Real Betis: he led the Andalusians to the 1977 Spanish Cup,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1977/06/26/pagina-4/1030780/pdf.html|title=2–2: Los andaluces remontaron dos ventajas vascas|trans-title=2–2: The Andalusians countered Basques' advantage twice|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Ramón|last=Rovira|language=es|date=26 June 1977|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref><ref name=MD>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1977/06/26/pagina-5/1431859/pdf.html|title=Iriondo: Siento una gran alegria y... un poco de pena|trans-title=Iriondo: I am extremely happy and... a little sorry|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Nivardo|last=Pina|language=es|date=26 June 1977|access-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> but suffered top-flight relegation the following season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1978/05/08/pagina-8/1455395/pdf.html|title=1–0: El Real Betis, a Segunda|trans-title=1–0: Real Betis, to ''Segunda''|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Ricardo|last=Ríos|language=es|date=8 May 1978|access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> After 15 matches at Rayo Vallecano in 1980 (meeting the same fate) he returned to Betis for one final campaign in 1981–82, being one of three managers to help the club finish sixth in the top tier and qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time ever.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sevilla.abc.es/alfinaldelapalmera/noticias-betis/sevi-fallece-pedro-buenaventura-gil-historia-del-betis-129807-1496124595-201705300809_noticia.html|title=Fallece Pedro Buenaventura Gil, historia del Betis|trans-title=Death of Pedro Buenaventura Gil, history of Betis|newspaper=ABC|first=Jesús|last=Sevillano|language=es|date=30 May 2017|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>
==International career== Iriondo earned two caps for Spain in as many friendlies, his debut coming on 23 June 1946 in a 0–1 loss to the Republic of Ireland in Madrid. This was the first game of the national team attended by general Francisco Franco.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1946/06/24/pagina-1/1375357/pdf.html|title=Irlanda venció a España en el Estadio Metropolitano por diferencia mínima|trans-title=Ireland beat Spain at the Estadio Metropolitano by the odd goal|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=José Luis|last=Lasplazas|language=es|date=24 June 1946|access-date=19 March 2020}}</ref>
Seven months later, in Lisbon, he scored against Portugal who won 4–1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/seleccion/2020/10/07/5f665433e2704ecf118b45ee.html|title=Portugal-España: el primer hat-trick, el partido 'fantasma', Miss España, "qué injusticia", el 'caso Lopetegui'...|trans-title=Portugal-Spain: the first hat-trick, the 'ghost' match, Miss Spain, "what an injustice", the 'Lopetegui affair'...|newspaper=Marca|first=Miguel Ángel|last=Lara|language=es|date=7 October 2020|access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref>
==Death== Iriondo died in Bilbao on 24 February 2016, aged 97.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2016/02/24/primera/1456347367_586417.html|title=Fallece Rafael Iriondo|trans-title=Rafael Iriondo dies|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Abel|last=Romera|language=es|date=24 February 2016|access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref>
==Honours== ===Player=== '''Athletic Bilbao''' *La Liga: 1942–43<ref name=MA>{{cite web|url=http://www.miathletic.com/wiki/rafael_iriondo_aurtenetxea|title=Rafael Iriondo Aurtenetxea|publisher=Mi Athletic|language=es|access-date=15 January 2015|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504141236/http://www.miathletic.com/wiki/Rafael_Iriondo_Aurtenetxea|archive-date=4 May 2009}}</ref> *Copa del Generalísimo: 1943, 1944, 1944–45, 1949–50<ref name=MA/> *Copa Eva Duarte: 1950<ref name=MA/>
===Manager=== '''Athletic Bilbao''' *Copa del Generalísimo: 1969<ref name=Legend/>
'''Betis''' *Copa del Rey: 1976–77<ref name=MD/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{BDFutbol|7428}} *{{BDFutbol manager|7428}} *{{Athletic Club player|rafael-iriondo-aurtenetxea}} *[http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/history-coaches/27/rafael-iriondo.html Athletic Bilbao manager profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204540/http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/history-coaches/27/rafael-iriondo.html|date=27 September 2018}} *{{NFT player|41076}} *{{EU-Football.info|9091}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Iriondo, Rafael}} Category:1918 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Sportspeople from Guernica Category:20th-century Spanish sportsmen Category:Spanish men's footballers Category:Footballers from Biscay Category:Men's association football forwards Category:La Liga players Category:Segunda División players Category:Gernika Club footballers Category:Atlético Tetuán footballers Category:Athletic Bilbao footballers Category:Barakaldo CF footballers Category:Real Sociedad footballers Category:SD Indautxu footballers Category:Spain men's international footballers Category:Spanish football managers Category:La Liga managers Category:Segunda División managers Category:Deportivo Alavés managers Category:Barakaldo CF managers Category:Athletic Bilbao B managers Category:Athletic Bilbao managers Category:RCD Espanyol managers Category:Real Zaragoza managers Category:Real Sociedad managers Category:Real Betis managers Category:Rayo Vallecano managers