Wilfredo Iraheta


Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria is a retired Salvadoran football player who played as a defender.
He is currently a politician.

Club career

Iraheta started playing football in the streets of his hometown and joined then second division side Sesuntepeque at 15 years of age. At 20 he joined Chalatenango and later played for Atlético Marte. In 1994 his father was killed during the civil war and he moved to Águila to play alongside 41-year-old veteran Luis Ramírez Zapata, then Luis Ángel Firpo and FAS with whom he finished playing actively to pursue a career in politics.
Iraheta was a versatile and sturdy defender whose strength in the air and tackling made instant success, also gaining a spot in the national squad on several occasions. He has played in virtually every outfield position. In 2001, he retired from both international and domestic football bringing an end to a marvellous career.

International career

Iraheta made his debut for El Salvador in a December 1995 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Costa Rica and has earned a total of 37 caps, scoring 2 goals. He has represented his country in 11 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1995 and 1997 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as at the 1996 and 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cups.
His final international match was a November 1998 friendly match against Honduras.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
110 November 1996Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador2-13-21998 FIFA World Cup qualification
27 September 1997Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States2-22-2Friendly match

Personal life and after retirement

Iraheta married Patricia Iraheta and they have four children: William, Maria Jose, Alejandra and Ximena. Since 1995, he has a degree in medicine which earned him the nickname Doctor, and he has also entered into politics.
In February 2011, Iraheta was candidate to become mayor of San Salvador.

Honours