Wed 29 Jun
Time to read: 3mins
Inigo Idiakez says playing for Derby County was one of the best times of his career.
Idiakez, who is now 42, made 96 appearances for Derby between the summer of 2004 and August 2006.
He starred for the Rams under George Burley and scored 11 times in 46 appearances in the 2004/05 season as the side came narrowly close to gaining promotion, losing out to Preston North End in the Play-Off Semi Finals.
A further 11 goals in 44 appearances followed in 2005/06 before he joined Southampton, after making six appearances at the start of Derby’s 2006/07 promotion-winning campaign.
In total, the Spaniard played 96 times and scored on 22 occasions for the Rams.
He had, prior to moving to Derby, played in his homeland with Real Sociedad, Real Oviedo and Rayo Vallecano.
Idiakez told Rams Player HD during a recent visit back to the iPro Stadium: “I always enjoy coming back to Derby – I was at a few games last season.
“It was fantastic to play for a club like this. Everyone enjoyed the way we played and it was a pity that we didn’t get promoted in my first season.
“We lost Grzegorz Rasiak and myself due to injury at around the same time but everyone enjoyed the way we played and for me it was one of the best years in my career.”
He was renowned as a set-piece specialist during his time at the club and he added: “The free-kicks were what I was known for I guess.
“As a kid, I always took the free-kicks and I was able to do it here with the encouragement of the supporters.
“They gave me confidence and I scored quite a lot of goals. I ended up taking corners and getting lots of assists – I loved it here and I will always be grateful to have played for Derby.”
After hanging up his boots, Idiakez opted for a career coaching and he is now working as Leicester City’s Lead Youth Development Coach, working with their Under 16s.
He has achieved his UEFA Pro License and says he has enjoyed working at the 2015/16 Premier League Champions.
As a result of being the Champions of England, Idiakez will be leading his young side into Europe this season.
He said: “It was an incredible season at Leicester.
“A year before we were in trouble and bottom of the table and then ended the season really strongly.
“Confidence is everything in football and we kept winning games, ending the season as Champions and it is nice to be there right now.
“I am working in the Academy and I’m enjoying it. We are already planning for next year as we have European youth games and that’s going to be difficult for us – but fantastic as well.”
