Emilio Izaguirre

Emilio Izaguirre

Izaguirre playing for Celtic
Personal information
Full name Emilio Arturo Izaguirre Girón
Date of birth 10 May 1986 (1986-05-10) (age 25)
Place of birth Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Left back
Club information
Current club Celtic
Number 3
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2010 Motagua 143 (4)
2010– Celtic 36 (1)
National team‡
2005 Honduras U-20 5 (0)
2007 Honduras U-23 2 (0)
2007– Honduras 45 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 January 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2011

Emilio Arturo Izaguirre Girón (born 10 May 1986) is a Honduran footballer who plays as a left back for Scottish Premier League side Celtic and the Honduras national team. He has represented his country at the 2010 World Cup and the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Izaguirre started his career at Motagua where he stayed for seven years. In 2010 Celtic spent £600,000 to bring him to Parkhead. He picked up 4 major player awards in the 2010–11 season, his first season in Scotland.

Contents

Club career

Motagua

Izaguirre began his career at Motagua in the Honduran League. He made his league debut on 20 March 2004 in the 3–0 victory over Universidad in Danlí.[1]

On 22 July 2008, he had a 17-day trial with English Championship outfit Ipswich Town, but was unable to play in any matches,[2] having not received international clearance from Motagua. He therefore failed to win a contract and the move fell through.[3] In July 2010, it was reported that Toronto FC of Major League Soccer were interested in signing Izaguirre to a designated player contract, after two stand out performances in the CONCACAF Champions League against the Canadian side,[4] but this move did not happen either.

Celtic

Izaguirre agreed a four-year contract with Scottish Premier League side Celtic on 18 August 2010, subject to receiving a work permit.[5] He signed for an undisclosed fee[3][6] and was given the number 3 shirt.[2] He made his SPL debut in a 1–0 victory over Motherwell on 29 August 2010.[7] Izaguirre gave a solid performance that drew plaudits from Celtic manager Neil Lennon[8] and Motherwell manager Craig Brown.[9][10] On 19 September 2010, Izaguirre set up Anthony Stokes for the winning goal in a 2-1 league victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.[11] On 30 October 2010, he scored his first Celtic goal in a SPL game against St Johnstone, where he intercepted a back pass then flicked the ball over St Johnstone centre back Dave MacKay,[12][13] before slotting a cool finish under the goalkeeper. The game ended 3–0 to Celtic, with Izaguirre awarded man of the match for his performance.[14] In Celtic's 3–0 victory over Rangers on 20 February 2011, he set up Gary Hooper's second goal.[15]

In the 2011 League Cup Final defeat to Rangers, Izaguirre was sent off in extra time for a professional foul on Vladimír Weiss.[16][17] On 6 April 2011, he had another man of the match performance against Hibernian in a 3-1 SPL victory,[18] setting up Stokes for the first goal of the game.[19] In the 2010-11 SPL season, Izaguirre achieved a clean sweep of available senior player awards as chosen by players, organisations and the Celtic supporters. Izaguirre won both the SPFA Players' Player of the Year[20] and Scottish Premier League Player of the Year[21] awards for 2010–11. The judging panel for the latter award described Izaguirre as a "class act",[21] while Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby commented that Izaguirre could become one of the best players in his position in world football.[20] On 8 May 2011, at Celtic's award ceremony, Izaguirre picked up the Players’ Player of the Year Award.[22] Finally, he was voted Scottish Football Writers player of the year,[23] rounding off a highly successful first season in Scottish football for Izaguirre.

Izaguirre started in the Celtic side on the opening day of the 2011–12 season against Hibernian[24] before suffering a broken ankle in the second match of Celtic's season on 7 August against Aberdeen.[25] Izaguirre will require surgery on his ankle and will not play for between four and six months.[26] On 27 August 2011, Izaguirre signed a new contract with Celtic, due to run until 2015.[27] Izaguirre returned to training, after recovering from his ankle injury, in December 2011.[28] He made his long-awaited return as a substitute on 2 January 2012 in Celtic's 3-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park.

International career

Izaguirre was part of the national team in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.[29] He was also named in the Honduras squad for the 2010 World Cup, playing two games against Chile and Spain.[6]

International goals

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 2 June 2007 Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras  Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 3-1 Friendly

Style of play

Izaguirre is a left back who plays like an old fashioned wing back. He is most known for his overlapping runs and ability to fashion attacking moves with other players down the left hand side of the pitch and support forward play. He possesses great pace, is a skillful dribbler and a good crosser of the ball. He is also very composed on the ball when his side are defending and rarely gives away possession. Izaguirre is also a good reader of the game as despite spending a lot of his time attacking, his pace means that he is not caught badly out of position and his attacking play has rarely exposed his current side Celtic defensively. Although he is rather short and slight of build, he is not easily pushed around by opposition players though his height does make him a vulnerable target in the air.

Career statistics

As of 2 January 2012[30]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental1 Other2 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Motagua 2004–05 –
2005–06 –
2006–07 –
2007–08 –
2008–09 –
2009–10 – 1 0 1 0
Total 143 4 0 0 – 1 0 0 0 144 4
Celtic 2010-11 33 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 42 1
2011-12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 36 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 45 1
Career total 179 5 5 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 189 5

Honours

Club

Motagua

Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras
Copa Interclubes UNCAF

Celtic

Scottish Cup

Individual

Celtic

SPFA Players' Player of the Year
Clydesdale Bank SPL Player of the Year
Celtic Players’ Player of the Year
Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year

Notes

1Includes the Copa Interclubes UNCAF, CONCACAF Champions League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

2Includes other competitive competitions, including the UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and FIFA Club World Cup

References

  1. ^ Desafíe a Ismael LaPrensa, 7 May 2009
  2. ^ a b Izaguirre is ready to live the dream STV Sport, 28 August 2010
  3. ^ a b Celtic help Emilio Izaguirre live out his dream BBC Sport, 28 August 2010
  4. ^ Emilio Izaguirre aún podría emigrar pues tiene ofertas de Toronto y Rangers de Escocia Univision, 10 August 2010
  5. ^ Celtic sign Honduras defender Izaguirre on four-year deal Reuters, 18 August 2010
  6. ^ a b "Celtic complete deal for left-back Emilio Izaguirre". BBC Sport (BBC). 18 August 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8925044.stm. 
  7. ^ "Motherwell 0 - 1 Celtic". BBC Sport (BBC). 29 August 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8946509.stm. 
  8. ^ "Emilio Izaguirre delights Celtic manager Neil Lennon". BBC Sport (BBC). 29 August 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8953712.stm. 
  9. ^ Lennon: Izaguirre had fantastic debut STV Sport, 30 October 2010
  10. ^ Motherwell 0 Celtic 1 The Scottish Sun, 30 August 2010
  11. ^ Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 2: Anthony Stokes fires winner as Bhoys come from behind to claim victory Mail Online, 19 September 2010
  12. ^ St Johnstone 0 - 3 Celtic ESPN Soccernet, 30 October 2010
  13. ^ Anthony Stokes, Niall McGinn and Emilio Izaguirre speak to ESPN ESPN, 30 October 2010
  14. ^ Match commentary - St Johnstone 0 Celtic 3 Sky Sports, 30 October 2010
  15. ^ Celtic 3 - 0 Rangers: Gary Hooper strikes leave Rangers trailing Scotsman.com Sport, 20 February 2011
  16. ^ Celtic 1-2 Rangers: the key moments STV Sport, 20 March 2011
  17. ^ Celtic 1 Rangers 2: match report The Telegraph, 20 March 2011
  18. ^ Deadly duo fire Celtic back to the top of the table Celtic FC, 6 April 2011
  19. ^ Celtic 3 Hibernian 1: match report The Telegraph, 6 April 2011
  20. ^ a b "Emilio Izaguirre wins Scotland's players' player prize". BBC Sport (BBC). 1 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13256109.stm. Retrieved 2 May 2011. 
  21. ^ a b "SPL announces award winners for season 2010-2011". BBC Sport. 3 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13276231.stm. Retrieved 4 May 2011. 
  22. ^ "Emilio scoops a double at Celtic Player of the Year Awards". Celtic FC. 9 May 2011. http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1045. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  23. ^ "More awards for Izaguirre, Goodwillie and Paatelainan". BBC Sport (BBC). 15 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13406778.stm. Retrieved 17 May 2011. 
  24. ^ Campbell, Andy (24 July 2011). "Hibernian 0 - 2 Celtic". BBC Sport (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/14242114.stm. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
  25. ^ "Aberdeen 0 - 1 Celtic". BBC Sport (BBC). 7 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14356652.stm. Retrieved 7 August 2011. 
  26. ^ "Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre breaks an ankle". BBC Sport (BBC). 7 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14436784.stm. Retrieved 8 August 2011. 
  27. ^ "Bhoys cock-a-hoop as Izaguirre and Mulgrew sign new deals". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). 27 August 2011. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2030879/Celtics-Emilio-Izaguirre-Charile-Mulgrew-sign-new-deals.html. Retrieved 24 September 2011. 
  28. ^ "Emilio Izaguirre ready for Celtic return". BBC Sport (BBC). 23 December 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16314142.stm. Retrieved 23 December 2011. 
  29. ^ Emilio Izaguirre BBC Sport, May 2010
  30. ^ "Football: Emilio Izaguirre". FootballDatabase.eu. http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.joueurs.emilio.izaguirre.20281.en.html. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 

External links

1 Puerto • 2  • 3 Figueroa • 4 Caballero • 5 E. Vallecillo • 6 Mendoza • 7 E. Martínez • 8 Palacios • 9 Pavón • 10 de León • 11 J. Martínez • 12 O. Vallecillo • 13 Costly • 14 García • 15 W. Martínez • 16 Oliva • 17 Alvarez • 18 Claros • 19 Rodríguez • 20 Guevara • 21 Izaguirre • 22 Morales • 23 Guerrero • 24 Santamaría • Coach: Rueda
Honduras squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup
Celtic F.C. – current squad