Idiakez wants to repay Pearson’s faith at Derby County

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Inigo Idiakez, who rejoined Derby as a coach earlier this month, is grateful to Rams manager Nigel Pearson for giving him a chance.

Homecoming: Idiakez

New Derby first team coach Inigo Idiakez has told the Derby Telegraph that he is determined to repay manager Nigel Pearson for giving him a chance at the iPro.

Idiakez is back at Derby for a second spell, having played for the club between 2004 and 2006, making 96 league appearances and scoring 22 goals.

The Spaniard has also been reunited with Nigel Pearson, who took the former midfielder on as a youth coach during his time at Leicester City.

Idiakez served under Pearson at Leicester

Idiakez spent three years at the King Power Stadium, but jumped at the chance to join the Rams in a first team capacity, his first senior squad appointment as a coach in England.

And whilst the move may have rekindled many memories of his playing days, the Spaniard remains grateful to Pearson for giving him the chance to prove himself and develop as a coach.

Idiakez wants to repay the faith shown in him by Pearson

“When you finish playing you begin to think about what you are going to do next,” Idiakez said.

“I love football. I loved playing football and now I love coaching; I have a challenge now.

“I had this challenge before in Spain, I went to Cyprus for a couple of months with George Burley too, and I came back to England because I feel that this is the country to develop as a coach.

“Nigel has given me that chance and I will be looking to pay him back.”

Pearson took over at Derby at the beginning of last month, having been unemployed for the entirety of last season following his dismissal from Leicester City.

Ryan Shotton has left Derby

The Nottingham born manager, who spent four years at the King Power stadium, was joined by Chris Powell at the iPro, who, like Idiakez, is making a return to Derby having also played for the club, in his case during the 1990s.

Pearson is yet to dip into the transfer market with his new club, seeing only Ryan Shotton depart for Championship rivals Birmingham City.