Cardiff City Bolsters Coaching Staff with Manchester City Appointment
Cardiff City is looking to bolster its coaching staff with the appointment of former Manchester City academy coach Imanol Etxeberria as the new first-team goalkeeping coach. The Bluebirds have been searching for a replacement after parting ways with Gavin Ward following last season's promotion.
What happened?
Cardiff City is set to appoint Imanol Etxeberria as its new first-team goalkeeping coach. Etxeberria, a former Manchester City academy coach, brings considerable senior coaching experience to the role.
Why it matters for Cardiff
The appointment of Etxeberria means Cardiff City will now have another coach steeped in Manchester City's academy philosophy, while also adding someone with valuable experience of senior football in both Spain and England.
What comes next?
Cardiff City still have head coaching vacancies at both under-18s and under-21s levels to fill following the departures of Tom Hutton and Darren Purse respectively.
As of now, Cardiff City is 2nd in League One, with 91 points from 46 games, a +40 goal difference, and 12 points behind leaders Lincoln. The team has scored 90 goals and conceded 50 this season. Their next fixture is against Blackburn at home on February 27, 2027.
Etxeberria's arrival means Cardiff City will now have another coach steeped in Manchester City's academy philosophy, while also adding someone with valuable experience of senior football in both Spain and England. The Spaniard joined City's academy setup in 2021 after a spell as academy goalkeeping coordinator at Luton Town and boasts an extensive coaching CV spanning almost two decades.
Before moving to England, he spent more than a decade with Athletic Bilbao, working throughout the Basque club's academy before stepping up to become first-team goalkeeping coach during the 2017-18 campaign under Cuco Ziganda. He also served as goalkeeping coach for Bilbao Athletic, Athletic's under-19s, under-18s, and feeder club CD Basconia, helping develop young goalkeepers within one of Spain's most respected academy systems.
His coaching career began in 2006 following the end of an accomplished playing career. As a goalkeeper, Etxeberria made 278 senior appearances, including 120 for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga between 1996 and 2001. He later represented Rayo Vallecano, Cultural Leonesa, and Eibar, while also earning four caps for the Basque Country representative side.
Gavin Ward had been the only remaining member of Cardiff's previous first-team coaching staff after helping the Bluebirds secure promotion back to the Championship, but Barry-Murphy was keen to recruit his own specialist goalkeeping coach. Etxeberria's arrival means Cardiff will now have another coach steeped in Manchester City's academy philosophy, while also adding someone with valuable experience of senior football in both Spain and England.
Cardiff still have head coaching vacancies at both under-18s and under-21s levels to fill following the departures of Tom Hutton and Darren Purse respectively.
