Manuel Iturra

U. Chile and Leiria

Born in Temuco, Iturra made his Primera División debut with Club Universidad de Chile in 2003, aged 19. He proceeded to be a first-team regular from his second season onwards, helping La U to the 2004 and 2009 Apertura tournaments. In January 2011, Iturra was loaned to U.D. Leiria in Portugal, first appearing in the Primeira Liga on 12 February when he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against C.D. Nacional. He started in all but one of the league matches he featured in for the club, as it eventually finished in tenth position.

Spain

For 2011–12, Iturra joined Real Murcia of the Spanish Segunda División. After featuring heavily during the campaign he returned to Universidad, where he had his contract terminated. On 28 August 2012, free agent Iturra became the first summer signing of Málaga CF, as a direct replacement for Enzo Maresca who had moved to U.C. Sampdoria a few days before. He made his official debut on 18 September in the club's first-ever UEFA Champions League group stage match, coming on as a half-time substitute for Francisco Portillo in a 3–0 home victory over FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. Iturra scored his first goal for Málaga on 16 January 2013, profiting from a defensive scramble to put the visitors ahead at the Camp Nou against FC Barcelona, in an eventual 2–2 draw in the Copa del Rey (6–4 aggregate loss). He finished his first season at La Rosaleda Stadium with 39 appearances in all competitions, helping to a…

Iturra made his debut for Chile on 17 August 2005, against Peru. On 24 May of the following year, he scored the game's only goal in a friendly with the Republic of Ireland. Iturra represented the nation at the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, helping the side to the quarter-finals.

International goals

In 2021, he began his career as coach of UD San Pedro Juvenil A team. In 2022, he joined Universidad de Chile youth system, being confirmed for the 2023 season. For the 2024 season, he joined the technical staff of Gustavo Álvarez in the first team.

Iturra married Nadia Vargas, the daughter of the former Chile international goalkeeper Sergio Vargas. In addition, he is the brother-in-law of the also former goalkeeper, Emanuel Vargas.