Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Biography
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Etxeberria (born 6 August 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays mainly as a central midfielder for Athletic Bilbao.
Club career
Born in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, Ruiz de Galarreta joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2003, aged 10. On 14 December 2011, while still considered a youth squad player, he made his debut with the first team, coming on as a subs*ute for Borja Ekiza in the 88th minute of a 4–2 away loss against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in that season's UEFA Europa League; during his first year, however, he almost exclusively played with the reserves in the Segunda División B.
Ruiz de Galarreta made his second appearance for the main squad on 2 August 2012, again in the Europa League but now against NK Slaven Belupo (27 minutes played, 3–1 home win). He played his first La Liga game 17 days later, replacing Gaizka Toquero at half-time of an eventual 3–5 home defeat to Real Betis.
During a match with the B side against Lleida Esportiu on 21 October 2012, Ruiz de Galarreta ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee, being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. For 2013–14 he was loaned to CD Mirandés of Segunda División, where in a home game against CD Numancia on 27 October he suffered the same injury. Previously, on 8 September, he scored his first goal as a senior, the only in the away victory over Real Madrid Castilla.
The following years, Ruiz de Galarreta played with Real Zaragoza and CD Leganés on loan, helping the latter club to achieve a first-ever promotion to the top flight in 2016. He continued to compete in the second division subsequently, representing Numancia, FC Barcelona Atlètic and UD Las Palmas.
On 2 September 2019, Ruiz de Galarreta signed a four-year contract with RCD Mallorca in the top tier, though it was agreed he would remain on loan at Las Palmas for the upcoming season. He achieved another promotion with the former in 2020–21, contributing 29 appearances to this feat.
Ruiz de Galarreta returned to his first club Athletic on 7 June 2023, on a two-year deal.
International career
Ruiz de Galarreta started representing Spain at under-17 level, appearing in 2010 UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Romania and two friendlies with Portugal. He also played for the under-18s and the under-19s.
Career statistics
As of match played 27 April 2024Honours
Athletic Bilbao
- Copa del Rey: 2023–24
References
External links
- Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta at BDFutbol
