Iker Guarrotxena

Iker Guarrotxena Vallejo (born 6 December 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tercera Federación club Badajoz.

Club career Athletic Bilbao Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Guarrotxena joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup in 2002, aged nine. Notably, his uncle, Endika Guarrotxena, had also played for Bilbao, having made 113 appearances for the club's senior team from 1980 to 1987. He played his first match as a professional on the 24th, starting in a 0–1 away loss against SD Ponferradina.

Return and release from Bilbao Guarrotxena returned to the B-side for the 2015–16 season, with the club also in the second tier. On 7 June 2016, after suffering relegation, he was released by the Lions.

CD Mirandes On 12 July 2016, Guarrotxena signed a two-year deal with CD Mirandés, also in the second tier.

Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa Roughly one year later, after Mirandes suffered relegation, he moved to fellow league team Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.

Pogoń Szczecin On 4 August 2018, Guarrotxena moved to Pogoń Szczecin in the Polish Ekstraklasa, signing a three-year deal with the club.

Volos On 2 January 2020, Greek Super League club Volos officially announced the signing of Guarrotxena on a free transfer.

Western United FC On 14 January 2021, A-League club Western United FC officially announced that Guarrotxena had signed on a one-year deal with the club.

FC Goa In June 2022, Guarrotxena moved to Indian Super League, after signing with Peña who managed FC Goa. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win against Jamshedpur FC. On 8 July 2023, Guarrotxena mutually terminated his Goa contract a year before its expiry, citing personal reasons for his early departure.

Real Murcia On June 7, 2023, Real Murcia CF confirmed that Guarrotxena had signed for the club on a one-year deal, until the end of the 2023-24 season.

Mumbai City FC Following the early termination of his Real Murcia CF contract, Guarrotxena was snapped up by Mumbai City FC on a 6-month deal until the end of the 2023-24 season. He made his debut for the club off the bench in the 56th minute, at home against Jamshedpur FC in an eventual 2–3 loss. Guarrotxena scored his first goal for The Islanders away against East Bengal in the 24th minute of the match, picking up an Alberto Noguera pass and turning to score into the bottom corner. In the Islanders' next game at home versus Bengaluru FC, he assisted Vikram Partap Singh for his towering back post header in the 58th minute, allowing him to complete a brace in a match that ended in a 2–0 win.

Continuing this rich vein of form, he contributed an assist to Bipin Singh's second goal in the following game away against Chennaiyin FC in another 0–2 win. While he failed to put up a goal contribution versus former club FC Goa at home, he scored a brilliant brace away versus Punjab FC, scoring the equalizer and the eventual winning goal in a thrilling 2-3 comeback victory. However, as he scored the winner, Guarrotxena went down injured, and after attempting to come back onto the pitch, went to ground again and had to be substituted. Mumbai City FC confirmed that the injury was season-ending for Guarrotxena.

Badajoz Following a second stint at Goa and a stint at Indonesian side Persijap Jepara, Guarrotxena returned to Spain, signing for Badajoz.

Personal life He is the nephew of retired footballer Endika, who also came through the ranks at Athletic Bilbao and won trophies with the club in the 1980s.

Career statistics

Honours

Individual Indian Super League Hero of the Month: December 2022