Aitor Karanka

Aitor Karanka de la Hoz ( born September 18, 1973 in Vitoria, Alava, Spain ) is a former Spanish footballer and current coach. He is currently the head coach of the English football club Middlesbrough FC.

Career

The center-back started his career in the youth teams of Corazonistas and Deportivo Alaves before 1991 in the second team of Athletic Bilbao (Bilbao Athletic) changed (eg he played there with Julen Guerrero together). 1992 he was appointed coach Jupp Heynckes in the first team for which he played 118 times. Karanka his mentor Heynckes followed in 1997 to Real Madrid, where he won three UEFA Champions League (1997/ 98, 1999/2000 and 2001/ 02) and 33 CL games completed. Furthermore, he celebrated at the Brussels residents a championship title (2000/ 01) and two victories in the Supercup (1997, 2001). He returned in 2002 returned to Athletic Bilbao and was again immediately regulars. In 2006 he moved to the Colorado Rapids in the MLS, where he played until season's end.

As a national team to Karanka was able to establish and never were held to a commitment to Spain, but completed 14 games for the U -21 and participated in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta in part. He also played 5 times for the Basque football team.

After his playing career Karanka joined the coaching staff of the Spanish Federation, where until 2010 he was responsible for the U-15 and U- 16 national team in 2008. In June 2010 he took Real Madrid to the post of assistant coach on the side of José Mourinho. On November 14, 2013, he took his first head coaching job with the English second division side FC Middlesbrough.