Wilfredo Iraheta

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Iraheta and the second or maternal family name is Sanabria.

Wilfredo Iraheta

Personal information
Full name	Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria
Date of birth	(1967-02-22) February 22, 1967
Place of birth	Sensuntepeque, El Salvador
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1982–1987	Sensuntepeque
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1988–1990	Chalatenango
1990–1994	Atlético Marte
1994–1996	Águila
1996–1998	Luis Ángel Firpo
1998–2000	FAS
International career‡
1995–1998	El Salvador	37	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 June 2011 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 June 2011

Wilfredo Iraheta Sanabria (born February 22, 1967 in Sensuntepeque, El Salvador) is a retired Salvadoran football (soccer) 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

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	Panama	2-1	3-2	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	7 September 1997	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States	Colombia	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 candidate to become mayor of San Salvador.

Honours

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

External links

• Wilfredo Iraheta at National-Football-Teams.com
• Player profile - CD FAS