Manuel Iturra


Manuel Rolando Iturra Urrutia is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder on Deportes Iquique.

Club career

U. Chile / Leiria

Born in Temuco, Iturra made his Primera División debut with Club Universidad de Chile in 2003, aged 19. He proceeded to be a first-team regular from his second season onwards, helping La U to the 2004 and 2009 Apertura tournaments.
In January 2011, Iturra was loaned to U.D. Leiria in Portugal, first appearing in the Primeira Liga on 12 February when he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against C.D. Nacional. He started in all but one of the league matches he featured in for the club, as it eventually finished in tenth position.

Spain

For 2011–12, Iturra joined Real Murcia in the Spanish Segunda División. After featuring heavily during the campaign he returned to Universidad, where he had his contract terminated.
On 28 August 2012, free agent Iturra became the first summer signing of Málaga CF, as a direct replacement for Enzo Maresca who had moved to U.C. Sampdoria a few days before. He made his official debut on 18 September in the club's first-ever UEFA Champions League group stage match, coming on as a half-time substitute for Francisco Portillo in a 3–0 home win over FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Iturra scored his first goal for Málaga on 16 January 2013, profiting from a defensive scramble to put the visitors ahead at the Camp Nou against FC Barcelona, in an eventual 2–2 draw for the Copa del Rey. He finished his first season at La Rosaleda Stadium with 39 appearances across all competitions, helping to a sixth-place finish in the league.
From 2013 to 2015, Iturra represented Granada CF also in La Liga after signing a three-year contract. He made his official debut for his new team on 18 August, featuring 90 minutes in a 2–1 success at CA Osasuna.

Udinese

On 23 July 2015, Iturra joined Udinese Calcio, which like Granada was also owned by Italian businessman Giampaolo Pozzo. His maiden Serie A match was on 23 August, and he played the entire 1–0 away win against Juventus FC.
On 30 January 2016, Iturra signed a six-month loan deal with Rayo Vallecano. He made just four starts during his brief stay.

Later years

On 4 June 2016, Iturra left Europe agreeing to a contract with Mexico's Club Necaxa. He returned to Spain two years later, joining Villarreal CF for free and leaving the club by mutual consent on 2 January 2019.

International career

Iturra made his debut for Chile on 17 August 2005, against Peru. On 24 May of the following year, he scored the game's only goal in a friendly match with the Republic of Ireland.
Iturra represented the nation at the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela, helping it to the quarter-finals.

International goals

Honours

Club

;Universidad de Chile