Asier Riesgo
Full nameAsier Riesgo Unamuno[1]
Birth date6 October 1983 (age 43)[1]
Birth placeDeba, Spain
Height1.85 m[1]
PositionGoalkeeper
Youthclubs 1Amaikak Bat
Youthclubs 2Real Sociedad
Years 12001–2002
Clubs 1Real Sociedad B
Caps 116
Goals 10
Years 22002–2010
Clubs 2Real Sociedad
Caps 2127
Goals 20
Years 32002–2004
Clubs 3→ Eibar (loan)
Caps 357
Goals 30
Years 42008–2009
Clubs 4→ Recreativo (loan)
Caps 438
Goals 40
Years 52010–2015
Clubs 5Osasuna
Caps 526
Goals 50
Years 62015–2019
Clubs 6Eibar
Caps 665
Goals 60
Years 72019–2020
Clubs 7Girona
Caps 721
Goals 70
Years 82020–2023
Clubs 8Leganés
Caps 865
Goals 80
Totalcaps415
Totalgoals0
Nationalyears 12001
Nationalteam 1Spain U17
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22001–2002
Nationalteam 2Spain U19
Nationalcaps 22
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32003
Nationalteam 3Spain U20
Nationalcaps 310
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42004–2005
Nationalteam 4Spain U21
Nationalcaps 49
Nationalgoals 40
Nationalyears 52003–2018
Nationalteam 5Basque Country
Nationalcaps 511
Nationalgoals 50

Asier Riesgo Unamuno (born 6 October 1983) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

In a 22-year senior career, he appeared in 185 La Liga games over 11 seasons, for Real Sociedad, Recreativo, Osasuna and Eibar. He added 214 appearances in the Segunda División, where he represented all the clubs but the second.

Riesgo was a youth international for Spain.

Club career

Born in Deba, Gipuzkoa,[2] and a product of Real Sociedad's youth academy, Riesgo made his professional debut with neighbouring SD Eibar in the Segunda División, where he would play for one and a half seasons. In March 2004, he was recalled from his loan due to an injury to first-choice Sander Westerveld.[3]

After Westerveld was waived in the summer, Riesgo became a starter for the Basques, making his La Liga debut on 29 August 2004 in a 1–1 home draw against Levante UD.[4] From the 2006–07 campaign onwards he battled with newly signed Claudio Bravo for starting duties; with the Chilean as the first choice, Real were relegated.

In 2007–08, however, Riesgo played all 42 league matches,[5] although the team did not achieve a top-flight return. In August 2008 he was loaned to Recreativo de Huelva for €350.000, with the club having the option to make the move permanent afterwards for €4.3 million and not having to pay the player's wages.[6]

An undisputed starter throughout the season, Riesgo stopped two penalty kicks on 4 January 2009, helping league strugglers Recre to beat CD Numancia 3–1 at home.[7] On 11 April he became the first to ever deny Lionel Messi a penalty, clawing the Argentine's effort out of the air as he saw his side bow down to a 2–0 defeat at FC Barcelona;[8] the Andalusians eventually dropped down a level, with him appearing in all 38 fixtures.[9][10]

Riesgo served a trial at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in December 2009 as potential cover for injured Carlo Cudicini, lost for the campaign after a motorcycle accident.[11] Upon his return, he found himself third choice at Real Sociedad behind Bravo and Eñaut Zubikarai, totalling only 630 minutes of play as they returned to the top tier after three years.[12][13]

On 18 June 2010, Riesgo – whose contract with Real Sociedad had expired – signed for Navarrese neighbours CA Osasuna for three years.[14] He acted solely as backup during his tenure with the club, first to Ricardo then Andrés Fernández.[15]

Riesgo returned to Eibar in the 2015 off-season after agreeing to a one-year deal, as the team was now in the top flight.[16] On 2 September 2019, he joined second-division Girona FC for one year as a replacement for Sevilla FC-bound Bono.[17]

On 8 September 2020, Riesgo signed a one-year contract with CD Leganés, recently relegated to division two.[18] On 8 July 2023, he retired from professional football at the age of 39.[19]

International career

Riesgo won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain, as backup to Miguel Ángel Moyá.[20] We was a starter, however, for the under-20s as they finished second at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, with Moyá now as second-choice.[21]

On 17 February 2004, Riesgo earned his first cap at under-21 level, in a 2–1 friendly win over Norway.[22]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[23]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Sociedad B2001–02Segunda División B160———160
Real Sociedad2003–04La Liga000000—00
2004–0536000——360
2005–0633000——330
2006–079010——100
2007–08Segunda División42010——430
2009–107010——80
Total12703000—1300
Eibar (loan)2002–03Segunda División33020——350
2003–0424000——240
Total57020——590
Recreativo (loan)2008–09La Liga38000——380
Osasuna2010–11La Liga0020——20
2011–121040——50
2012–131030——40
2013–142030——50
2014–15Segunda División22000——220
Total260120——380
Eibar2015–16La Liga34000——340
2016–1716010——170
2017–181010——20
2018–1914020——160
Total65040——690
Girona2019–20Segunda División21020—40270
Leganés2020–21Segunda División12030—20170
2021–2220010——210
2022–2333010——340
Total65050—20720
Career total415028000604490

Honours

Real Sociedad

Spain U19

Spain U20

References

  1. ^ "Riesgo". Diario AS. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  2. ^ Mateos, Carlos (14 January 2023). "Riesgo: "Hay una alta probabilidad de que esta sea mi última temporada"" [Riesgo: "This will be my last season in all likelihood"] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  3. ^ "La Real Sociedad repesca a Riesgo tras la lesión de Westerveld" [Real Sociedad retrieve Riesgo after Westerveld's injury] (in Spanish). Diario de León. 16 March 2004. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  4. ^ Isasa, Xabier (30 August 2004). "Una Real incompleta" [Incomplete Real] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  5. ^ Badallo, Óscar (28 September 2007). "Riesgo se pone 'Bravo'" [Riesgo gets all 'Brave' ("Bravo" in English)] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  6. ^ Becerril, Fernando (4 August 2008). "Badiola cierra la cesión de Riesgo a espaldas de los administradores" [Badiola closes Riesgo loan deal without the board of directors' knowledge] (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Recreativo Huelva 3–1 Numancia". ESPN Soccernet. 4 January 2009. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Barça edging closer to Liga glory". UEFA. 11 April 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  9. ^ "El Recreativo de Huelva consumó su descenso" [Recreativo de Huelva confirmed their relegation] (in Spanish). El Confidencial. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  10. ^ "El portero Asier Riesgo, nuevo jugador de Osasuna para las tres próximas temporadas" [Goalkeeper Asier Riesgo, new Osasuna player for the next three seasons] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Tottenham give trial to Spanish goalkeeper Asier Riesgo". BBC Sport. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  12. ^ Ramajo, Roberto (1 April 2010). "Riesgo o Zubikarai: debate abierto para la portería" [Riesgo or Zubikarai: open debate in goal] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  13. ^ Badallo, Óscar (14 April 2010). "Riesgo volverá a defender la portería txuri urdin tras la lesión de Bravo y la sanción a Zubikarai" [Riesgo will return to txuri urdin goal after Bravo injury and Zubikarai suspension] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Osasuna presentará el lunes a Asier Riesgo" [Osasuna to present Asier Riesgo on Monday] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  15. ^ Iborra, J. (7 June 2015). "Riesgo sube a los altares rojillos con un paradón en el minuto 89" [Riesgo reaches red altars with wonder save in 89th minute] (in Spanish). Diario de Navarra. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  16. ^ "SD Eibar ficha a Asier Riesgo por una temporada" [SD Eibar sign Asier Riesgo for one season] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Asier Riesgo, experiència per a la porteria del Girona FC" [Asier Riesgo, experience for Girona FC's goal] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  18. ^ "El C.D. Leganés refuerza su portería con la experiencia de Asier Riesgo" [C.D. Leganés bolster their goal with the experience of Asier Riesgo] (in Spanish). CD Leganés. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  19. ^ Badallo, Óscar (8 July 2023). "Asier Riesgo cuelga los guantes" [Asier Riesgo hangs up his gloves] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  20. ^ Recalde, Mikel (29 July 2002). "Una celebración sin discoteca ni alcohol" [Celebrations without clubbing or drinking] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  21. ^ Díez, Óscar (1 April 2015). "España en los mundiales sub'20: Emiratos Árabes Unidos 2003" [Spain at the under'20 World Cups: United Arab Emirates 2003] (in Spanish). Cuadernos de Fútbol. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  22. ^ "La nueva generación sub'21 se estrena con triunfo" [New under'21 generation has winning debut] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 17 February 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  23. ^
  24. ^ García, Gregorio (13 June 2010). "El cielo de Primera vuelve a abrirse para la Real Sociedad" [Primera heaven reopens for Real Sociedad] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  25. ^ "España vence a Alemania y se proclama campeona de Europa Sub-19" [Spain beat Germany and are crowned Under-19 European champions] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 28 July 2002. Retrieved 26 April 2019.