Wilfredo Iraheta

Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria (born February 22, 1967) is a politician and retired Salvadoran football (soccer) player who played as a defender

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

Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	10 November 1996	Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Panama	flag alias = Flag of Panama.svg	link alias-naval = Panamanian Public Forces	link alias-navy = Panamanian Public Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || 2-1 || 3–2 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	7 September 1997	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Colombia	flag alias = Flag of Colombia.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Colombia (WFB 2013).gif	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Colombia (2004 World Factbook).gif	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Colombia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Colombia.svg	link alias-naval = Colombian National Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Colombian Army.svg	link alias-army = Colombian National Army	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Colombian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Colombian Aerospace Force	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Colombian Naval Infantry.svg	link alias-marines=Colombian Naval Infantry	link alias-navy = Colombian National Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Colombian Navy.svg	flag alias-military = Military flag of Colombia.svg	link alias-military = Military Forces of Colombia	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 2-2 || 2–2 || Friendly 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 a candidate to become mayor of San Salvador.

Honours

• Luis Ángel Firpo
  • Primera División de Fútbol Profesional (1): 1998

External links

• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at National-Football-Teams.com
• Player profile - CD FAS