Aitor Karanka de la Hoz (born September 18, 1973 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava) is a retired Spanish footballer, in the central defender position. On occasion, he occupied the left back slot.

He played mostly for Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid and was also a Spain and Euskadi XI international.

[edit] Football career

Karanka began his career with junior side Corazonistas and also played at that level for Deportivo Alavés. He made his professional debut with Bilbao Athletic in 1991, and went onto make 53 appearances for the reserve side, scoring twice. Along with Julen Guerrero, he was a member of the Athletic U-19 team that won a national cup and league double in 1992.

Karanka was promoted to the senior side by Jupp Heynckes in 1993 and went on to make 118 first division appearances, before joining the German coach at Real Madrid in 1997. He appeared in a further 93 league contests adding 33 UEFA Champions League games for Real, including the 1999-2000 final, but also missed an almost entire season due to a heart condition.

In 2002-03, Karanka returned to Athletic Bilbao, helping the Basque qualify for the UEFA Cup 2004-05, after a fifth place in the league. He switched to Major League Soccer and the Colorado Rapids in 2006, retiring shortly after.

Karanka never really established himself as an international, and only played once at senior level, on April 26, 1995 against Armenia, in an Euro 1996 qualifier in Yerevan (2-0 win). He did however play 14 games for Spain's U-21, and was a member of the team that were runners-up at the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in a final lost to Italy.

Karanka also played for Spain at the 1996 Olympic Games. Between 1994 and 2004, he also played six times for the Basque Country national football team.

[edit] Personal

Karanka's younger brother, David, is also a footballer, albeit a striker. He also appeared for Bilbao's first team.

[edit] Honours

• Athletic Bilbao:
  • Spanish U-19 League: 1991-92
  • Spanish U-19 Cup: 1991-92

• Real Madrid:
  • UEFA Champions League: 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2001-02
  • Spanish League: 2000-01, runner-up 1998-99
  • Intercontinental Cup: 1998
  • Spanish Supercup: 1997, 2001
  • UEFA Supercup: 2002

• Spain:
  • UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: Runner-up 1996

[edit] External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Athletic Bilbao profile
• European competition stats
• MLS stats

v • d • e Spain squad – 1996 Summer Olympics 1 Mora • 2 Mendieta • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Navarro • 5 Santi • 6 Óscar • 7 Raúl • 8 Roberto • 9 Corino • 10 José Ignacio • 11 Idiakez • 12 Karanka • 13 Aizkorreta • 14 Morientes • 15 de la Peña • 16 Lardín • 17 Sietes • 18 Dani • Coach: Clemente