Txema Añibarro

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Añibarro and the second or maternal family name is Astondoa.

José María 'Txema' Añibarro Astondoa (born 26 July 1979) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Txema Añibarro

Personal information
Full name	José María Añibarro Astondoa
Date of birth	(1979-07-26) 26 July 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth	Zeberio, Spain
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998	Padura
1998–1999	Indartsu
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2000	Galdakano
2000–2002	Arratia
2002–2003	Lemona
2003–2004	Aurrerá
2004–2005	Gernika
2005–2008	Sestao	93	(4)
2008–2015	Eibar	169	(2)
Managerial career
2015–2022	Athletic Bilbao (youth)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent his entire professional career – one that consisted of three seasons – with Eibar, having signed at the age of 29.^[1][2]

Club career

Born in Zeberio, Biscay, Añibarro played amateur football well into his 20s.^[3][4] In the summer of 2005, he joined Sestao River Club of Tercera División, and appeared in 32 matches in his debut season, which ended in promotion.

On 5 June 2008, Añibarro signed with Basque neighbours SD Eibar.^[5] He played his first match as a professional on 3 September, starting and being sent off in a 1–0 loss at CD Castellón in the second round of the Copa del Rey.^[6] He made his Segunda División debut on the 20th in the 0–0 home draw against RC Celta de Vigo,^[7] and scored his first league goal on 25 April 2009, but in a 2–3 home defeat to Real Zaragoza.^[8]

Añibarro took part in 25 games in his first season, as the Armeros were relegated to the third tier.^[9] He remained a starter in the following years, contributing 27 appearances in the promotion campaign of 2012–13.^[10]

On 25 June 2014, after Eibar's promotion to La Liga,^[11] The 34-year-old Añibarro renewed his contract for a further year.^[12] He only made his debut in the competition on 16 January 2015, coming on as a second half substitute for Borja Ekiza in a 1–1 away draw against Córdoba CF.^[13]

Añibarro announced his retirement on 17 June 2015, being immediately appointed coach at Athletic Bilbao's Cadete C team.^[14][15] Seven years later, following Jon Uriarte's election as president, he left the club.^[16]

Career statistics

^[17]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sestao	2005–06	Tercera División	32	3	—		—		32	3
	2006–07[18]	Segunda División B	31	1	1	0	—		32	1
	2007–08[18]	Segunda División B	30	0	1	0	—		31	0
	Total		93	4	2	0	—		95	4
Eibar	2008–09[18]	Segunda División	25	1	1	0	—		26	1
	2009–10[18]	Segunda División B	30	0	1	0	4[a]	0	35	0
	2010–11[18]	Segunda División B	33	1	1	0	4[a]	0	38	1
	2011–12[18]	Segunda División B	30	0	2	0	2[a]	0	34	0
	2012–13[18]	Segunda División B	21	0	6	0	6[a]	0	33	0
	2013–14[18]	Segunda División	15	0	2	0	—		17	0
	2014–15[18]	La Liga	15	0	1	0	—		16	0
	Total		169	2	14	0	16	0	199	2
Career total			262	6	16	0	16	0	294	6

1. Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs

Honours

Eibar

• Segunda División: 2013–14^[19]