Last update August 14, 2020 by Javier Argudo
If we say that Julen Guerrero He was one of the best Spanish players of his era (if not the best) Few dare to say that we are overreacting.
that of Portugalete, who went through all the ranks of Athletic Club, debuted hand Jupp Heynckes with only 18 years in a match that ended in conviction against him Cádiz (2-1) a 6 September 1992 in the old San Mames.
Christmas He had his dream come true. First Division debut with the club he loves in Cathedral. It was the beginning of the career of a legendary player who played more than 400 Bilbao games and scored zamarra 116 goals that could be many more if I had not had such a premature withdrawal from active football.
El impacto en el fútbol español y europeo del ‘8’ del Athletic Club It was brutal. Its quality, clairvoyance arrival, joined his insulting youth, he became one of the most coveted players of the moment. His first season in the elite were to frame both individually and collectively. The Athletic hit a league runner-up which allowed him to play the Champions League.
Of course, he got the opportunity to wear the shirt of the Selection with whom he played two world (1994 Y 1998) Hand Javier Clemente always he featured Julen Guerrero as fixed in their calls.
JULEN REFUSES TO THE BEST
That's when the top clubs in Europe gambled heavily on Christmas and they were after him. What they did not know is that this lion was made of a very different paste from the vast majority of footballers, which, They tend to seek to improve in sports and economics, leaving aside the colors.
Real Madrid, Barca and Atletico in Spain and Milan, Inter, and Lazio in Italy they were some of those who fought to convince the player but he was very clear about it. He did not move the Athletic Club Not for all the gold in the world (said the Real Madrid offered him a blank check).
At that moment, Jose Maria Arrate (club president at the time) Y Guerrero They signed a contract 10 years as a first team player (charging much less than what other teams offered). This agreement would become a life agreement once it was withdrawn., either as a coach or performing any other function within the club.
Betraying Julen Guerrero
But nevertheless, things started to go wrong from the year 2000 when the midfielder was losing prominence and was relegated to the substitution coinciding with the arrival on the bench of Luis Fernández. Some media began to report that the template Athletic existía un ‘núcleo duro’ que se había propuesto amargar la existencia a Julen. You know that that envy is the national sport.
But San Mames I was clear about it and, although the last seasons of his great star were very complicated for him (He did not play as a starter until the final game of his last season in farewell), never let you clap and cheer simply by the mere sight of him in the band warming.
Finally, the legend of Athletic he couldn't stand the internal pressure anymore and decided that it was time to hang up his boots. I had only 32 years and still had one year left on his contract. He returned to reject succulent offers in economic matters from abroad because he either played in the club of his loves or did not play directly.
His farewell press conference was marked by his bitter tears and cold of the act, as the player himself has confessed on several occasions.
We will not go into details but what is clear is that Christmas He was betrayed by colleagues and worse, the club for which he had given everything. Although he continued linked a few years as a technician in Lezama With the change of directive after the presidential elections, he decided to leave the entity who knows if to return one day.
