Early Life and Playing Career
Born in Bergara, Gipuzkoa, Spain, Garitano began his playing career as a forward. He spent the majority of his playing days in the lower divisions of Spanish football. His clubs included Bilbao Athletic (the reserve team for Athletic Bilbao), SD Eibar, FC Cartagena, CF Gavà, Alicante CF, and Benidorm CD. He retired as a player in 2003 at the age of 33, never having competed in La Liga.
Managerial Career
Garitano transitioned into coaching shortly after ending his playing career, initially serving as an assistant manager at Alicante CF. He soon took on his first head coach roles, starting with Alicante's B-team and a brief caretaker spell with the senior squad.
Early Coaching Roles (2008–2013)
His early managerial career involved leading several clubs across Segunda División B (the third tier) and occasionally in the Segunda División (second tier). These appointments included:
- CD Castellón (2008–2009)
- Orihuela CF (2010–2011)
- CD Alcoyano (2011–2012)
- UD Salamanca (2012–2013)
- Cultural Leonesa (2013)
CD Leganés (2013–2018)
Garitano's most significant and acclaimed period came with CD Leganés. He was appointed manager in June 2013 when the club was in Segunda División B.
- 2013–14 Season: He masterminded Leganés's promotion to the Segunda División, marking their return to the second tier after a decade.
- 2014–15 Season: Successfully consolidated their position in the Segunda División, finishing a respectable 10th.
- 2015–16 Season: Achieved a historic second-place finish in the Segunda División, securing Leganés's first-ever promotion to La Liga.
- 2016–17 Season: Garitano successfully navigated Leganés through their debut La Liga season, ensuring their top-flight survival by finishing 17th.
- 2017–18 Season: He once again kept Leganés in La Liga, finishing 17th. During this season, Leganés also reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in their history, notably eliminating Real Madrid.
He departed Leganés at the end of the 2017–18 season after five highly successful years that transformed the club.
Real Sociedad (2018–2019)
In May 2018, Garitano was appointed manager of Real Sociedad, a prominent club in his native Basque Country. However, his tenure was short and less successful; he was dismissed in December 2018 following a string of disappointing results.
Deportivo Alavés (2019–2020)
Garitano returned to management in July 2019 with another Basque club, Deportivo Alavés, in La Liga. He was sacked in July 2020, with only four matches remaining in the season, due to the team's poor form after the league restart following the COVID-19 pandemic-induced break.
Return to CD Leganés (2021–2022)
In June 2021, Garitano made a much-anticipated return to CD Leganés, who had by then been relegated back to the Segunda División. However, his second spell was not as successful as the first, and he was dismissed in May 2022 after failing to meet the club's promotion aspirations.
CD Tenerife (2023–2024)
In June 2023, Garitano was appointed manager of CD Tenerife in the Segunda División. He left the club in June 2024.
Managerial Statistics
(As of his latest appointment, Garitano has managed over 500 professional matches across various Spanish league and cup competitions.)
References