Iván Zarandona
Encyclopedia
Iván Zarandona Esono is a Spanish
-born Equatoguinean
footballer who plays for CD Lugo
in Segunda División B
. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also operate as a central defender.
, having a Segunda División
stint with Real Valladolid
in 2004–05, playing 15 matches.
Rarely settling with a club, he also represented CF Extremadura
, CD Ferriolense
, RCD Mallorca B
, Real Betis B
, Caravaca CF
, Rayo Vallecano
, Zamora CF
, Real Murcia Imperial, UD Los Palacios
, UD Pájara Playas de Jandía
, CD Leganés
and Real Jaén
. In the Spanish third level
, he appeared in nearly 100 official matches for several teams.
but, in June 2003, FIFA
allowed the player to change his nationality. This rule originally applied only for under-21 players not yet capped for the senior sides, but FIFA also allowed overage ones to apply, until December 2004.
Zarandona started representing his "new nation", Equatorial Guinea
, in October 2003, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
qualification
first round tie loss against Togo
.
, and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea
. His older brother, Benjamín
, successfully represented Valladolid, Real Betis
and Spain U21s
, before switching too to Equatorial Guinea at senior level.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
-born Equatoguinean
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
footballer who plays for CD Lugo
CD Lugo
Club Deportivo Lugo is a Spanish football team based in Lugo, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1953, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 1.-Season to season:----*1 seasons in Segunda División...
in Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also operate as a central defender.
Club career
Zarandona played the vast majority of his career in the lower leagues in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, having a Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
stint with Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
in 2004–05, playing 15 matches.
Rarely settling with a club, he also represented CF Extremadura
CF Extremadura
Club de Fútbol Extremadura was a Spanish football team based in Almendralejo, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1924, it played two seasons in La Liga, and held home games at Estadio Francisco de la Hera, with a capacity of 11,580 seats.-History:Extremadura was founded in 1924,...
, CD Ferriolense
CD Ferriolense
Club Deportivo Ferriolense is a Spanish football team based in Son Ferriol, in the autonomic community of Balearic Islands. Founded in 1965, it plays in Tercera División Group 11, holding home games at Estadio Municipal de Son Ferriol, with a 3,000-seat capacity.-Season to season:---------*20...
, RCD Mallorca B
RCD Mallorca B
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca B, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Palma, Majorca, in the autonomous community of Balearic Islands. Founded in 1967, it is the reserve team of RCD Mallorca, and plays in Segunda División B – Group 3, holding home matches at Estadio Son Bibiloni, with a...
, Real Betis B
Real Betis B
Real Betis B is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1963, it is the reserve team of Real Betis, and currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva, with a capacity for 4,000 spectators.Unlike the...
, Caravaca CF
Caravaca CF
Caravaca Club de Fútbol was a Spanish football team based in Caravaca de la Cruz, in the Region of Murcia. Founded in 1969 and dissolved in 2011, it held home games at Estadio Antonio Martínez El Morao, with a capacity of 2,000 spectators.-History:...
, Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, Zamora CF
Zamora CF
Zamora Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Zamora, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1969, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 2, holding home games at Estadio Ruta de la Plata, with a capacity of 8,000 seaters....
, Real Murcia Imperial, UD Los Palacios
UD Los Palacios
Unión Deportiva Los Palacios was a Spanish football team based in Los Palacios y Villafranca, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1964 and dissolved in 2011, it held home games at Estadio Las Marismas, with a capacity of 4,500 seats....
, UD Pájara Playas de Jandía
UD Pájara Playas de Jandía
Unión Deportiva Pájara Playas de Jandía was a Spanish football team based in Pájara, island of Fuerteventura, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands...
, CD Leganés
CD Leganés
Club Deportivo Leganés, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Leganés, in the Madrid outskirts. Founded on 26 June 1928, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Estadio Municipal de Butarque, which seats 8,000 spectators....
and Real Jaén
Real Jaén
Real Jaén Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Jaén, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1922, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home matches at Nuevo Estadio de La Victoria, with a capacity of 12,800 spectators.-Season to season:----*3 seasons...
. In the Spanish third level
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, he appeared in nearly 100 official matches for several teams.
International career
Zarandona played for the Spanish under-18sSpain national under-18 football team
The Spain national under-18 football team represents Spain in international football at this age level and is controlled by Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.-FIFA Youth Tournament Under-18 Record:...
but, in June 2003, FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
allowed the player to change his nationality. This rule originally applied only for under-21 players not yet capped for the senior sides, but FIFA also allowed overage ones to apply, until December 2004.
Zarandona started representing his "new nation", Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea national football team
The Equatorial Guinea national football team, nicknamed Nzalang Nacional, is the national team of Equatorial Guinea and is controlled by the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol. It is a member of CAF...
, in October 2003, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
qualification
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Africa. 51 teams took part , competing for 5 World Cup places.The qualification was composed of two Rounds...
first round tie loss against Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
.
Personal
Zarandona's father is BasqueBasque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
, and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
. His older brother, Benjamín
Benjamín Zarandona
Benjamín Zarandona Esono , simply Benjamín, is an Equatoguinean footballer who plays for CD Íscar in Tercera División, as a midfielder....
, successfully represented Valladolid, Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
and Spain U21s
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
, before switching too to Equatorial Guinea at senior level.