Aritz López Garai


Aritz López Garai is a Spanish former footballer who played as central midfielder, and a current manager.
He amassed Segunda División totals of 325 matches and 13 goals over nine seasons, in representation of six clubs. In La Liga, he played six games with Córdoba.
In 2017, López Garai started working as a manager.

Playing career

López Garai was born in Barakaldo, Biscay. An unsuccessful youth graduate of Athletic Bilbao, he spent the vast majority of his professional career in the second and third divisions.
López Garai represented CD Basconia, Gernika Club, UB Conquense, UD Salamanca, CD Castellón, RC Celta de Vigo, Córdoba CF – two spells – and Sporting de Gijón, rarely settling with a team but being always first-choice. He signed with Andalusia's Córdoba for the second time in summer 2014 following a short loan spell with the same club from Gijón, and made his La Liga debut on 25 August 2014 at the age of 33, starting in a 0–2 away loss against Real Madrid.
On 28 January 2015, López Garai terminated his contract with the Blanquiverdes. Less than one month later he moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Romania's FC Rapid București.

Coaching career

For the 2015–16 campaign, López Garai represented Doxa Katokopias FC in Cyprus and CF Reus Deportiu, achieving promotion to the second level with the latter side. On 15 June 2017, they announced the 36-year-old would retire and become its head coach with immediate effect, replacing Real Zaragoza-bound Natxo González.
On 24 June 2018, López Garai was appointed manager of CD Numancia after terminating his contract with Reus. He signed a new contract with the former club the following 19 February, but reached an agreement to leave on 11 June.
On 21 June 2019, López Garai was named at the helm of CD Tenerife still in the second tier. On 17 November, he was dismissed.

Club statistics

Managerial statistics