Iñaki Astiz

Iñaki Astiz Ventura (born 5 November 1983) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender, currently assistant manager of Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw.

Formed at Osasuna, he spent most of his career at Legia Warsaw, appearing in 273 competitive matches and winning several titles. He also played in the Cypriot First Division with APOEL.

Playing career
A product of local CA Osasuna's youth system, Astiz was born in Pamplona, Navarre, and his earlier career was spent with their reserves where he met Jan Urban, a former club player who was their manager at the time. Thus, he was loaned for the 2007–08 season to Legia Warsaw (where Urban would work as coach) in the Ekstraklasa, becoming the first Spaniard ever to play in that competition.

Astiz returned to Osasuna in June 2008, only to rejoin Legia immediately for five years despite still having a contract running. The former, however, retained the possibility to re-buy the player after the first two seasons.

On 21 June 2015, Astiz signed a two-year deal with APOEL FC in the Cypriot First Division. He made his competitive debut on 14 July, in a 0–0 home draw against FK Vardar in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. He scored his first goal for his new team on 12 December 2016, the second in the 2–1 home win over Anorthosis Famagusta FC in the domestic league.

On 15 August 2017, the 33-year-old Astiz returned to Legia Warsaw. He scored his only goal in the Champions League on 31 July 2018, the only in a victory at FC Spartak Trnava in the second qualifying round that amounted to nothing as his side had lost 2–0 in the first leg. In June 2020, he agreed to a one-year extension at the Stadion Wojska Polskiego.

Astiz joined their reserve team in the III liga in July 2021. He retired shortly after, aged 38; over his two spells, he won four national championships and five Polish Cups.

Coaching career
On 25 October 2021, Legia B head coach Marek Gołębiewski was promoted to first-team manager, and Astiz joined his staff as an assistant. Following the former's dismissal, he kept his role under Aleksandar Vuković and Kosta Runjaić.

Honours
Legia Warsaw
 * Ekstraklasa: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2019–20
 * Polish Cup: 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18

APOEL
 * Cypriot First Division: 2015–16, 2016–17