Imanol Etxeberria

Early years and Athletic

Born in Bergara, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Etxeberria began playing with local Mondragón in Tercera División, based in Arrasate. In 1994, he moved to Durango at the same level, helping them promote to Segunda División B in his sole season. Exteberria's performances drew the attention of regional giants Athletic Bilbao, and in summer 1995 he was signed on the recommendation of goalkeeping legend José Ángel Iribar, joining a professional club for the first time at the relatively old age of 22. He was initially assigned to the reserve team, who was eventually relegated from Segunda División. Etxeberria was promoted to the main squad for 1996–97, and after spending the first half of the campaign as back-up to Juanjo Valencia he made his La Liga debut on 9 February 1997 in a 1–1 away draw against Rayo Vallecano, and subsequently became the starter. The former later stated that he enjoyed competition between them, and that he considered the latter a friend (both went on to work as youth coaches at San Mamés). In 1997–98, Etxeberria played all 38 league games as the Lions finished in second position, adding 37 the following season. In that year's UEFA Champions League group stage, even though his team ranked last, he conceded only six goals in as many matches. Etxeberria eventually lost his starting position to Iñaki Lafuente, being further demoted to third-choice by fellow youth graduate Daniel Aranzubia under manager Txetxu Rojo. He was willing to…

Afterwards, Etxeberria spent some years as goalkeeping coach for Athletic's youth teams, interrupted by a spell performing the same role at Lemona working under his former teammate Aitor Larrazábal. In 2012, he became Bilbao Athletic's goalkeeping coach as part of the backroom team led by another former teammate, José Ángel Ziganda. When Ziganda was promoted to senior team boss in summer 2017, Etxeberria moved up with him to continue in his specialist role. In the 2021–22 season, he was working at Manchester City, coaching the goalkeepers of the club's under-23 side which won the Premier League 2.

Etxeberria operated a training scheme for young goalkeepers, based in Deusto. He was not related to Joseba Etxeberria, his teammate for several years at Athletic and later a colleague on the coaching staff at the club. Coincidentally, they were raised just a few miles from one another (Joseba hailed from Elgoibar).