Julen Guerrero

Personal information
Full name	Julen Guerrero López
Date of birth	January 7, 1974 (1974-01-07) (age 35)
Place of birth	Portugalete, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1982–1991	Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps (Gls)†
1991–1992	Bilbao Athletic	012 00(6)
1992–2006	Athletic Bilbao	372 (101)
National team
1990–1991	Spain U17	008 00(3)
1990–1991	Spain U18	014 00(2)
1992–1994	Spain U21	012 00(8)
1993–2000	Spain	041 0(13)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Julen Guerrero López (born January 7, 1974 in Portugalete, Biscay) is a former Spanish footballer, who played solely for Athletic Club de Bilbao.

Ambidextrous, the attacking midfielder was mainly known for his skills and shooting ability.

[edit] Club career

Guerrero joined Athletic Bilbao as an eight-year old, and subsequently progressed through the junior ranks of the club. In 1991–92, he appeared for the reserves, then playing in the second division. Alongside defender Aitor Karanka, he was a member of the U-19 team that won a national cup and league double in 1992.

In September 1992, Guerrero made his senior debut for Athletic Bilbao, while still only 18, under Jupp Heynckes.^[1] He quickly made an impact and, although a midfielder, he scored 28 goals in his first two seasons combined (65 in his first six). He was awarded the New Spanish Player of the Year by El País in 1993, and won the Spanish Footballer of the Year by both Don Balón and El País the following year.^[2] During the 1993–94 season, he scored a hat-trick against Albacete Balompié, adding four against Sporting de Gijón.

The early promise Guerrero showed attracted interest from, among others, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, S.S. Lazio and Manchester United. However, he remained loyal to Athletic and, in 1997, signed a ten-year contract.^[1] This was the longest contract in the club history, and also made Guerrero the side's highest-paid player.

In 1997–98, Guerrero netted eight times in 29 contests as the Basque finished second, leading to direct qualification for the UEFA Champions League. However, in subsequent seasons, his career went into decline and in 2002, he was dropped by coach Luis Fernández, while still only 28;^[1] in his last four seasons combined, he could only manage 57 games with only three goals. Despite his poor form, he remained a firm favourite among fans, and the decision to drop him caused some controversy.

On July 11, 2006, Guerrero announced his retirement as a player at an emotional press conference.^[3] In 14 seasons as a player, he scored 101 goals in 372 top flight games, adding in various European competitions a further five in 15 games, including two in the Champions League.

Immediately after retiring, Guerrero took charge of the Lezama youth ranks, leaving the post after two years.

[edit] International career

On January 27, 1993, when still only 19, Guerrero made his debut for Spain in a friendly game against Mexico, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He went onto play 41 games and score 13 goals, including one at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He also represented the nation at the 1998 World Cup and at UEFA Euro 1996.

Among his personal international highlights were hat-tricks against Malta (3–0 in La Valletta, on December 18, 1996) and Cyprus (8–0, September 8, 1999). He played his last game for Spain in October 2000.

Between 1993 and 2006, Guerrero also played 11 times for the Basque Country national football team, scoring six goals. This included another hat-trick in 1997, against Yugoslavia.

[edit] Personal life

Guerrero's fair hair and blue eyes combined with his role as an elegant playmaker also saw him make regular appearances on magazine covers. He also opened the Restaurante Julen Guerrero in Bilbao,^[4] and worked as an on-line columnist for Eurosport.

His younger brother, José Félix, also a midfielder, amassed 160 matches as a professional (58 with two goals in the topflight), representing Bilbao Athletic, SD Eibar, Racing de Santander and Real Sociedad.^[5]

[edit] Honours

[edit] Individual

• New Spanish Footballer of the Year: 1992–93
• Spanish Footballer of the Year: 1993–94

[edit] Club statistics

[edit] See also

• List of one-club men

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Athletic Bilbao profile
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Julen Guerrero FIFA competition record
• International appearances, at rsssf

Julen Guerrero - Navigation boxes v • d • e Spain squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Zubizarreta • 2 Ferrer • 3 Otero • 4 Camarasa • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Goikoetxea • 8 Guerrero • 9 Guardiola • 10 Bakero • 11 Begiristain • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Juanele • 15 Caminero • 16 Miñambres • 17 Voro • 18 Alkorta • 19 Salinas • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Lopetegui • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Zubizarreta • 2 López • 3 Belsué • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Amavisca • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Donato • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Kiko • 15 Caminero • 16 Otero • 17 Manjarín • 18 Amor • 19 Salinas • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente v • d • e Spain squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Zubizarreta • 2 Ferrer • 3 Aranzábal • 4 Alkorta • 5 Abelardo • 6 Hierro • 7 Morientes • 8 Guerrero • 9 Pizzi • 10 Raúl • 11 Alfonso • 12 Sergi • 13 Cañizares • 14 Campo • 15 Aguilera • 16 Celades • 17 Etxeberria • 18 Amor • 19 Kiko • 20 Nadal • 21 Luis Enrique • 22 Molina • Coach: Clemente