welcome back, Aitor!

I’m in danger of suffering from nostalgia overload!

Last week, I got to see the likes of Zidane, Figo and Macca all suit up again.  Then el Moro showed up for Raúl’s book presentation.  And then yesterday, we get news that Aitor Karanka has joined Madrid’s coaching staff!  It’s like the 2001-2002 season all over again!

I’ve always liked Aitor Karanka, but he really made me a fan that night Real Madrid played against Lazio, in the 2000-01 edition of the Champions League.  For those of you that don’t remember, Iker made a mistake, allowing Lazio to tie the game at 2-2 with only five minutes left.  After that, he was inconsolable – he hung his head and kicked the ground in frustration.  Meanwhile, Figo kicked in a penalty that gave Madrid a 3-2 lead, but Iker was still upset.  And then tears started coming down his face as the team celebrated.

The first person to react was precisely Aitor Karanka, who went to give Iker a hug.  Fernando Hierro followed suit, and began trying to cheer him up.  At the end of the game, Aitor and Fernando gave Iker another hug.

Anyway, Aitor Karanka will be one of José Mourinho’s assistants.  He started coaching in 2008, after retiring as a player in 2007.  He played for Real Madrid between 1997 and 2002, and also played for Athletic and the Colorado Rapids (MLS).  In recent years, he played on Madrid’s veterans team.  As a coach, he’s trained Spain’s U-15 and U-16 national teams.

In a chat earlier this year, Karanka said of Iker, “he’s a phenomenon, I’ve known him since he was 16.”