Wed Jul 29, 2026 10:07 am
Cardiff City are hoping to appoint ex Manchester City academy coach Imanol Etxeberria as their new first-team goalkeeping coach as Brian Barry-Murphy continues to reshape his backroom staff ahead of the Championship campaign.
The Bluebirds have been searching for a replacement after parting ways with Gavin Ward following last season's promotion, with Barry-Murphy keen to bring in his own trusted coaching team.
It is understood Etxeberria is now set to take up the role in the Welsh capital, becoming the latest addition with Manchester City links after the arrivals of Barry-Murphy himself and assistant head coach Lee Riley, subject to the completion of paperwork.
Whether Etxeberria's impending exit is due to the departure of long-serving head coach Pep Guardiola and the arrival of Enzo Maresca is unknown.
Although employed by Man City as academy goalkeeping coordinator, Etxeberria brings considerable senior coaching experience.
The Spaniard joined City's academy setup in 2021 after a spell as academy goalkeeping coordinator at Luton Town and boasts an extensive coaching CV spanning almost two decades.
Before moving to England, he spent more than a decade with Athletic Bilbao, working throughout the Basque club's academy before stepping up to become first-team goalkeeping coach during the 2017-18 campaign under Cuco Ziganda.
He also served as goalkeeping coach for Bilbao Athletic, Athletic's under-19s, under-18s and feeder club CD Basconia, helping develop young goalkeepers within one of Spain's most respected academy systems.
His coaching career began in 2006 following the end of an accomplished playing career.
As a goalkeeper, Etxeberria made 278 senior appearances, including 120 for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga between 1996 and 2001.
He later represented Rayo Vallecano, Cultural Leonesa and Eibar, while also earning four caps for the Basque Country representative side.
Gavin Ward had been the only remaining member of Cardiff's previous first-team coaching staff after helping the Bluebirds secure promotion back to the Championship, but Barry-Murphy was keen to recruit his own specialist goalkeeping coach.
Etxeberria's arrival means Cardiff will now have another coach steeped in Manchester City's academy philosophy, while also adding someone with valuable experience of senior football in both Spain and England.
Cardiff still have head coaching vacancies at both under-18s and under-21s levels to fill following the departures of Tom Hutton and Darren Purse respectively.
Wed Jul 29, 2026 11:37 am
worcester_ccfc wrote:Cardiff City are hoping to appoint ex Manchester City academy coach Imanol Etxeberria as their new first-team goalkeeping coach as Brian Barry-Murphy continues to reshape his backroom staff ahead of the Championship campaign.
The Bluebirds have been searching for a replacement after parting ways with Gavin Ward following last season's promotion, with Barry-Murphy keen to bring in his own trusted coaching team.
It is understood Etxeberria is now set to take up the role in the Welsh capital, becoming the latest addition with Manchester City links after the arrivals of Barry-Murphy himself and assistant head coach Lee Riley, subject to the completion of paperwork.
Whether Etxeberria's impending exit is due to the departure of long-serving head coach Pep Guardiola and the arrival of Enzo Maresca is unknown.
Although employed by Man City as academy goalkeeping coordinator, Etxeberria brings considerable senior coaching experience.
The Spaniard joined City's academy setup in 2021 after a spell as academy goalkeeping coordinator at Luton Town and boasts an extensive coaching CV spanning almost two decades.
Before moving to England, he spent more than a decade with Athletic Bilbao, working throughout the Basque club's academy before stepping up to become first-team goalkeeping coach during the 2017-18 campaign under Cuco Ziganda.
He also served as goalkeeping coach for Bilbao Athletic, Athletic's under-19s, under-18s and feeder club CD Basconia, helping develop young goalkeepers within one of Spain's most respected academy systems.
His coaching career began in 2006 following the end of an accomplished playing career.
As a goalkeeper, Etxeberria made 278 senior appearances, including 120 for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga between 1996 and 2001.
He later represented Rayo Vallecano, Cultural Leonesa and Eibar, while also earning four caps for the Basque Country representative side.
Gavin Ward had been the only remaining member of Cardiff's previous first-team coaching staff after helping the Bluebirds secure promotion back to the Championship, but Barry-Murphy was keen to recruit his own specialist goalkeeping coach.
Etxeberria's arrival means Cardiff will now have another coach steeped in Manchester City's academy philosophy, while also adding someone with valuable experience of senior football in both Spain and England.
Cardiff still have head coaching vacancies at both under-18s and under-21s levels to fill following the departures of Tom Hutton and Darren Purse respectively.
More Man City coaches and analysts to come in for sure; we are stepping up three levels in professionalism, as long as we can keep BBM the future looks bright.
We are better off waiting for the right people than rushing to fill these vacancies; the same with the playing squad.