Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea, known simply as Imanol as a player, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right back, and the manager of Real Sociedad. He appeared in 121 matches in La Liga during nine seasons, representing Real Sociedad and Villarreal. In 2014 he started working as a manager, with a four-year spell with Real Sociedad B followed by a short stint with the club's senior team in spring 2018, a role he was asked to take on again in the winter of the same year.
Playing career
Born in Orio, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Imanol was a Real Sociedad youth graduate. He made his senior debuts with the reserves, playing two full seasons in Segunda División B. On 29 September 1990, Imanol made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 away loss against Real Oviedo. He was definitely promoted to the main squad in summer 1991, and went on to appear regularly in the following campaigns. Imanol scored his first professional goal on 20 September 1992, netting his side's first in a 2–1 away win over Albacete Balompié. He featured rarely during the final years of his stint at the Anoeta Stadium as he dealt with several injury problems, leaving the club in 1998 after playing only four matches during the season. Subsequently, Imanol joined Villarreal CF also in the top division, appearing sparingly and suffering team relegation. After returning to the top tierin 2000 he was released, and moved to Segunda División's Real Jaén. Imanol then resumed his career in the third level, representing FC Cartagena and Burgos CF. He retired with the latter side in 2003, aged 32.
On 26 July 2011, Imanol returned to his first club Real Sociedad, being appointed manager of the youth setup. On 17 June 2013 he was named Asier Santana's assistant at its reserve team, and was also in charge of the main squad along with Santana in November 2014 after Jagoba Arrasate's dismissal. After the arrival of David Moyes in November 2014, Imanol was included in the first teamstaff, but he was appointed manager of the B-side late in that month. On 19 March 2018, he replaced fired Eusebio Sacristán at the helm of the main squad until the end of the season. In the 2018 summer, Imanol returned to the reserves and Asier Garitano took over the senior role, but in December of the same year the latter was dismissed following a poor sequence of results and the former again became the first team coach. Following a strong start to the 2019–20 campaign, he was given a one-year contract extension.
