1. Overview
Aitor Karanka de la Hoz, born on September 18, 1973, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Spain, is a Spanish football manager and former professional player. Primarily a defender, often playing as a centre-back and occasionally as a left-back, Karanka spent the majority of his playing career in Spain with Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. He played in 275 La Liga matches over 13 seasons, winning six major honors with Real Madrid, including three UEFA Champions League titles. He earned one senior cap for the Spanish national team in 1995 and also represented Spain at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
After retiring as a player, Karanka transitioned into coaching, beginning with the Spanish U-16 national team. His prominent early coaching role was as assistant manager to José Mourinho at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. He then embarked on a managerial career, taking charge of Middlesbrough in 2013, whom he guided to promotion to the Premier League in 2016. Following his departure from Middlesbrough, he managed Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City in the EFL Championship, before brief spells at Granada in Spain's top flight and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League.
2. Playing career
Aitor Karanka's playing career spanned over a decade, primarily in Spain, with a brief stint in the United States towards its end. He was known for his defensive prowess, playing mainly as a center-back.
2.1. Club career
Karanka's club career saw him develop through the youth ranks and play for two of Spain's most prominent clubs, along with a short period in Major League Soccer.
2.1.1. Athletic Bilbao
Karanka began his youth career with his hometown club, Deportivo Alavés, before completing his formation with Athletic Bilbao. He made his senior debut with Bilbao Athletic, the club's reserve team, in 1992, competing in the Segunda División. During his time with the reserves, he made 53 appearances and scored 2 goals.
In 1993, Karanka was promoted to the main squad of Athletic Bilbao by manager Jupp Heynckes, following the departure of Rafael Alkorta. He made his La Liga debut on November 7, 1993, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 away draw against Celta Vigo. He went on to play in exactly 100 league matches over three full seasons before rejoining Heynckes at Real Madrid in 1997.
He returned to Athletic Bilbao for the 2002-03 season on a three-year contract, which included a 40.00 M EUR buyout clause. In his second year, the 2003-04 season, he helped the Lions finish fifth in the league, securing qualification for the UEFA Cup. Across his two spells with Athletic Bilbao, Karanka made a total of 182 La Liga appearances, scoring 4 goals.
2.1.2. Real Madrid
Karanka joined Real Madrid in 1997, reuniting with his former coach Jupp Heynckes. While primarily used as a backup player, he proved to be a reliable member of the squad. He featured in 33 UEFA Champions League matches for the club, including the final of the 1999-2000 edition against Valencia, which Real Madrid won 3-0. A significant challenge during his time at Real Madrid was missing the majority of the 1998-99 campaign due to a heart condition.
With Real Madrid, Karanka achieved significant success, winning the La Liga title in 2000-01, the Supercopa de España in 1997 and 2001, and three UEFA Champions League titles in 1997-98, 1999-2000, and 2001-02. He also won the Intercontinental Cup in 1998. In total, he made 93 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid.
2.1.3. Colorado Rapids
In 2006, at the age of 32, Karanka moved to the United States to join Major League Soccer (MLS) club Colorado Rapids. In his only season in MLS, he played a crucial role in helping Colorado reach the Western Conference play-off final. During the semi-finals against FC Dallas, despite having his penalty attempt saved by Darío Sala in the penalty shootout, Colorado Rapids still secured the victory. He made 27 appearances in MLS for the club.
2.2. International career
Karanka represented Spain at various youth levels and earned a single senior cap for the national team.
2.2.1. Spain
Aitor Karanka earned his sole senior cap for the Spanish national team on April 26, 1995. This appearance came in a qualifying match for UEFA Euro 1996 against Armenia in Yerevan, which Spain won 2-0.
2.2.2. Spain U-21
Karanka was a significant part of the Spanish under-21 squad, making 14 appearances. He participated in two European Championships, finishing third in the 1994 tournament and as a runner-up in the 1996 edition, where Spain lost the final to Italy.
2.2.3. Basque Country
Beyond his appearances for the official Spanish national teams, Karanka also played for the Basque national football team, making 6 appearances.
3. Coaching career
Aitor Karanka transitioned into coaching after his playing career, taking on various roles from assistant manager to head coach across different leagues.
3.1. Early coaching and assistant roles
Karanka's coaching journey began with youth national teams before he took on a high-profile assistant role at one of Europe's biggest clubs.
3.1.1. Spain U-16
Karanka's first foray into football management was as the coach for the Spanish under-16 national team from 2008 to 2010. This role provided him with his initial experience in leading a team.
3.1.2. Real Madrid assistant
In June 2010, Karanka was appointed assistant manager at his former club, Real Madrid, under the newly appointed manager José Mourinho. He served as Mourinho's right-hand man for three years, often stepping in to conduct press conferences when Mourinho was absent, indicating a strong working relationship. In July 2013, he departed the club following the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, who brought his own coaching staff. Karanka reportedly declined an offer to rejoin Mourinho at Chelsea, choosing instead to pursue a career as a head coach.
3.2. Managerial career
Karanka's managerial career has seen him lead several clubs in England, Spain, and Israel, with varying degrees of success.
3.2.1. Middlesbrough
On November 13, 2013, Karanka was appointed manager of EFL Championship club Middlesbrough, succeeding Tony Mowbray. He became the club's first non-British manager. His debut match in charge, ten days later, resulted in a 1-2 away defeat against Leeds United. When Karanka took over, Middlesbrough was in 20th place in the league, facing potential relegation to the third tier, but he successfully guided them to safety.
In the 2014-15 season, Karanka implemented a robust defensive strategy, a hallmark of his former mentor Mourinho. Middlesbrough finished fourth in the league and reached the play-off final after a 5-1 aggregate win over Brentford. However, they lost the decisive match 0-2 to Norwich City at Wembley Stadium. A notable incident occurred in their penultimate game of the season against Fulham, where Karanka sent goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos forward for a corner in added time with the score at 3-3, leading to an opponent's winning goal that jeopardized Middlesbrough's promotion chances.
On August 7, 2015, Karanka signed a new four-year contract. During the 2015-16 campaign, Middlesbrough consistently held high positions in the league. Despite an unexpected departure from the training ground on March 11, 2016, after an argument, which led to his assistant Steve Agnew taking charge for one match, Karanka returned to lead the team to a second-place finish in the league. This secured their promotion to the Premier League after a seven-year absence. Under his management, Middlesbrough boasted the best defense in the Championship, conceding only 31 goals, fewer than league champions Burnley.
In the 2016-17 season, Karanka guided Middlesbrough to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Manchester City. However, their league form struggled, and he was sacked on March 16, 2017. At the time of his dismissal, the team was three points from top-flight safety and had not secured a league win in the new year. While their defense remained strong (fifth best in the division), their attack was the worst, with only 19 goals from 27 matches. His departure was by mutual consent, reportedly due to disagreements with players, fans, and the board, and his belief that he could take the team no further.
3.2.2. Nottingham Forest
On January 8, 2018, Karanka returned to the Championship, being appointed manager of Nottingham Forest. He replaced Gary Brazil, who had been serving as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Mark Warburton, with Forest sitting 14th in the league. His first match in charge saw Forest suffer a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa. He faced his former club, Middlesbrough, for the first time on April 7, where Forest lost 2-0.
During his first summer transfer window before his first full season, Forest made their most expensive transfer acquisition, signing João Carvalho from Benfica for 13.20 M GBP. Forest started the season positively, establishing a five-match undefeated run. This positive form continued until December, but the team managed only one win out of six matches in the final month of the year, which ultimately contributed to Karanka's departure. On January 11, 2019, he left the City Ground after requesting to be released from his contract. He left the team in seventh position, four points behind the play-off places. A key factor behind his departure was a breakdown in his relationship with Forest's Chief Executive, Ioannis Vrentzos, as the ambitious board was dissatisfied with the play-off challenge and felt the club should have been contending for automatic promotion.
3.2.3. Birmingham City
After an 18-month hiatus from management, Karanka was appointed head coach of EFL Championship club Birmingham City on July 31, 2020, signing a three-year contract. However, his tenure was short-lived. On March 16, 2021, the club confirmed that he had stepped down from his role. This decision came after a poor run of form, with the team securing only three wins in 19 matches, leaving them just outside the relegation zone. Former Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer was announced as his successor shortly thereafter.
3.2.4. Granada
On April 17, 2022, following a 4-1 home defeat to Levante, Granada dismissed interim head coach Rubén Torrecilla and appointed Karanka as his replacement. His primary task was to keep the team from relegation from La Liga with only six matches remaining in the season. He made his debut on April 20, securing a goalless draw against reigning champions Atlético Madrid. Despite winning two of the remaining fixtures, a final-day draw against Espanyol was not enough to secure safety, and Granada was relegated to the Segunda División.
Karanka was confirmed as the club's head coach for the subsequent season in the Segunda División. However, his second spell was also brief, as he was sacked on November 8, 2022, after a poor start to the season with only one win in five matches.
3.2.5. Maccabi Tel Aviv
On January 4, 2023, Karanka signed an 18-month deal to become the manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League. He left the club by mutual accord on June 25, 2023, having guided the team to a third-place finish in the league and reaching the semi-finals of the State Cup.
4. Other work
Beyond his direct coaching roles, Aitor Karanka has also engaged in initiatives aimed at developing football.
4.1. AK Coaches' World
In May 2021, Karanka organized an online coaching conference titled "AK Coaches' World," in association with the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The event specifically focused on women's football and featured a lineup of prominent figures in the sport, including Ronaldo, Julen Lopetegui, Monchi, Iraia Iturregi, Jorge Vilda, and Mila Martínez.
5. Personal life
Aitor Karanka comes from a family with a background in professional football.
5.1. Family
Aitor Karanka's younger brother, David Karanka, was also a professional footballer. David played as a striker and, like Aitor, appeared for Athletic Bilbao's first team, though with less impact. He spent the majority of his professional career in the second and lower leagues of Spanish football.
6. Statistics
This section provides comprehensive statistical data from Aitor Karanka's career as both a player and a manager.
6.1. Player statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Athletic Club B | 1992-93 | Segunda División | 38 | 2 | - | - | - | 38 | 2 | |||
| 1993-94 | 15 | 0 | - | - | - | 15 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 53 | 2 | - | - | - | 53 | 2 | |||||
| Athletic Bilbao | 1993-94 | La Liga | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 19 | 0 | |
| 1994-95 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 38 | 1 | |||
| 1995-96 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 34 | 0 | |||
| 1996-97 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 39 | 1 | |||
| Total | 118 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 130 | 2 | |||
| Real Madrid | 1997-98 | La Liga | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 1998-99 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| 1999-2000 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2000-01 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| 2001-02 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Total | 93 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 149 | 0 | ||
| Athletic Bilbao | 2002-03 | La Liga | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2003-04 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 0 | ||||
| 2004-05 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2005-06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 64 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 2 | ||
| Colorado Rapids | 2006 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| Career total | 355 | 6 | 30 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 436 | 6 | ||
6.2. Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Middlesbrough | 13 November 2013 | 16 March 2017 | 80|42|49|46.8 | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 8 January 2018 | 11 January 2019 | 16|19|17|30.8 | ||||
| Birmingham City | 31 July 2020 | 16 March 2021 | 8|11|19|21.1 | ||||
| Granada | 18 April 2022 | 8 November 2022 | 8|7|6|38.1 | ||||
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | 4 January 2023 | 25 June 2023 | 12|7|4|52.2 | ||||
| Total | 124|86|95|40.7 | ||||||
7. Honours
Aitor Karanka achieved significant honours throughout both his playing and managerial careers.
7.1. Player honours
As a player, Karanka accumulated numerous trophies, particularly during his time at Real Madrid.
- Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2000-01
- Supercopa de España: 1997, 2001
- UEFA Champions League: 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2001-02
- Intercontinental Cup: 1998
- Spain U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 1996
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship third place: 1994
7.2. Managerial honours
As a manager, Karanka led Middlesbrough to promotion to the Premier League and received several individual accolades.
- Middlesbrough
- Football League Championship runner-up (promotion): 2015-16
7.2.1. Individual awards
- Football League Championship Manager of the Month: January 2015, September 2015, December 2015