Zigor Aranalde Sarasola (born 28 February 1973) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left back.
Born in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, Aranalde began his football career at lowly CD Hernani, going on to spend seven of his eight professional seasons in his country in the Segunda División.
In 1996–97 he was first-choice at Sevilla in La Liga, but the Andalusians finished third from the bottom so were relegated.Just before the start of the 2000–01 Football League season, Aranalde joined English Division Two (third-tier) club Walsall on a two-year contract. He spent just under five seasons at the Bescot Stadium, winning promotion via the play-off final in his first year and being a regular member of the side until he was surprisingly released by manager Paul Merson in March 2005; he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday immediately following his release, but was sent off in only his second game for the club, and never appeared for them again.
In the summer of 2005 Aranalde signed for Carlisle United, newly promoted from the Conference to League Two. They went on to win the division championship that season and with it promotion to League One. Aranalde scored five goals during the course of the campaign, and was part of a squad which included two other former Walsall players,striker Karl Hawley and future Preston North End manager Paul Simpson. On 1 October he scored Bristol Rovers 5000th ever goal in a 1–3 loss with an own goal. Carlisle released Aranalde at the end of the 2007–08 season. Two years later, after playing some amateur football in Spain, he returned to England as chief scout at League One club Brighton & Hove Albion.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zigor Aranalde Sarasola | ||
| Date of birth | 28 February 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Ibarra, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1992 | Hernani | ||
| 1992–1994 | Eibar | 42 | (1) |
| 1994–1996 | Atlético Marbella | 56 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Sevilla | 22 | (0) |
| 1997–1999 | Albacete | 51 | (2) |
| 1999–2000 | Logroñés | 39 | (1) |
| 2000–2005 | Walsall | 195 | (5) |
| 2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2 | (0) |
| 2005–2008 | Carlisle United | 109 | (6) |
| 2008–2009 | Almansa | ||
| 2009–2010 | La Gineta | ||
| National team | |||
| Basque Country | |||
| Teams managed | |||
| 2011–2013 | Albacete (assistant) | ||
