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Manuel Iturra’s career comes to an end. This was reported by the 35-year-old footballer, who after playing in 11 clubs and in the Chilean National Team, hangs up his booties after 17 years of professional activity.
Iturra made his professional soccer debut in 2003 with the Universidad de Chile jersey. It quickly became important within the blue midfield. In the 2004 Opening Tournament he reached his first title, after a campaign in which the lay team would be fifth in the general table but which knew how to gain strength in the play-off. The final against Cobreloa – the same team against which he debuted the previous year – was defined via penalty shootout in Calama, where Johnny Herrera scored the goal of the tournament against the squad led by Fernando Cornejo, Luis Fuentes and Patricio Galaz.
Five years later, Colocho would achieve his second title with the U. In the final of the Apertura 2009 the Blues faced Unión Española, whom they defeated 0-1 on the return leg, after drawing 1-1 in the first leg. The following year, the midfielder showed his experience to the fundamental in the team that reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores. In total, it was eight consecutive years that he played for the university club, where he reached his only two titles. With the blues he played 250 games and scored eight goals.
After a first season at Real Murcia, of the Spanish Second Division, Colocho came as a reinforcement to Málaga, which was managed by Manuel Pellegrini. The team, whose historical objective was always to stay in the honor division and avoid declines, had a great Qatari investment in that period. Iturra shared a team with players such as Caballero, Demichelis, Toulalan, Isco, Saviola, Baptista and Buonanotte, among others. Málaga remained throughout the season at the top of the Spanish League, finishing in sixth place, but its best moment was in the Champions League. Iturra’s and Pellegrini’s team did not lose any home game at La Rosaleda, where they beat Panathinaikos, Zenit, Milan and Porto. The ongoing dream turned into a nightmare in the closing minutes of the quarterfinal lap. After drawing without goals in Spain, with Iturra again as the starter, Málaga visited Borussia Dortmund and lost 3-2, with two goals in discounts.
Colocho only scored one goal in Malaga and it’s worth remembering as it was against Barcelona at Camp Nou:
After his departure from Malaga, Colocho knew how to monopolize glances that allowed him to continue in Europe, especially in Spain. In 2013 he arrived at Granada, a team that was struggling not to descend. At the end of the season the goal was met and the Chilean’s individual performance was praised by the fans, so much so that they chose him the best player of the period.
In 2015 he was signed by Udinese, where despite playing several games as a starter, he failed to establish himself as a key part of the team. He returned to Spain in the winter period after being loaned to Rayo Vallecano. There he lived one of his worst moments, where was accused by the club president of “playing backwards” to harm his team. Rayo finally descended and then Iturra would sign for Necaxa de México. There he was a starter and key player in most of the matches. History says that the Chilean player who arrives from Europe to the Aztec country does so to begin the end of his career. It was not the case of Colocho, who after a good season returned to Malaga to avoid relegation in 2017. This time his figure was not relevant and he left for Villarreal the following year. After passing through the Yellow Submarine, Iturra played in Israel’s Maccabi Haifa, before arriving in 2019 at Deportes Iquique, his last club, where he had a very low participation.
Colocho shared with the Golden Generation of the Chilean Selection, however, he never got the same role as his peers. He always maintained strong competition in his position and failed to completely captivate Marcelo Bielsa and Claudio Borghi, much less Jorge Sampaoli, Juan Antonio Pizzi and Reinaldo Rueda. Iturra debuted for La Roja in 2005, played 35 games for the national team and scored a goal, against Ireland as a visitor, in 2006. He was present three games in the 2007 Copa América de Venezuela and only played five Qualifying matches, all in the process towards South Africa 2010. “If (Sampaoli) did not take me when I played the Champions League with Malaga … No, there is no way “, He said in an interview with La Tercera (2015) about his absence in Brazil 2014. He was also not part of the champion teams of America in 2015 and 2016.
Manuel Iturra retires after 17 years of career, after playing in 11 clubs and in the Chilean team. He played 536 games and scored 12 goals. Players such as the Spaniard Joaquín, Martín Demichelis, Julio Baptista, Marcelo Díaz and Roque Santa Cruz, among others, dedicated words of affection to him on social networks.
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