Julen Guerrero

Club career Born in Portugalete in Biscay, Guerrero joined Athletic Bilbao as an eight-year-old, and subsequently progressed through the junior ranks of the club. Along with Aitor Karanka, he was a member of the under-19 team that won a national double of cup and league in 1991–92, and also appeared and scored for the reserves in the Segunda División during the same season.

Guerrero made his senior debut on 6 September 1992 aged 18, under Jupp Heynckes. He quickly made an impact and, although a midfielder, totalled 28 La Liga goals in his first two seasons (65 in 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. In 1993–94 he scored a hat-trick against Albacete (4–1, home), adding four against Sporting de Gijón (7–0 also at the San Mamés Stadium); his arrival at the first team was met with unprecedented furor amongst the younger population due to both his footballing abilities and his charisma, and he became one of the first football celebrities as his pop-like figure boosted Athletic's image overseas. He finished the campaign with 18 – fifth in the charts – and was named the side's youngest-ever captain by Dragoslav Stepanović shortly after.

The early promise Guerrero showed attracted interest from, among others, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Lazio and Manchester United. However, he remained loyal to Athletic and, in 1997, signed a ten-year contract which was the longest in the club's history, and also made him the team's highest-paid player. Subsequently, however, his career went into decline and, in 2002, he was deemed surplus to requirements by coach Luis Fernández while still only 28;

Guerrero announced his retirement as a player at an emotional press conference on 11 July 2006. but did not win any major honours.

Among Guerrero's personal international highlights were hat-tricks against Malta (3–0 in Attard, on 18 December 1996) and Cyprus (8–0, 8 September 1999). His last international took place in October 2000.

Guerrero also played 11 times for the Basque Country autonomous team between 1993 and 2006, scoring six goals – this included another hat-trick in 1997, against Yugoslavia. Both were records for some years, although Xabi Prieto went on to appear in more matches and Aritz Aduriz scored more goals.

Style of play Often hailed as one of the greatest attacking midfielders of his generation,

Coaching career Immediately after retiring, Guerrero took charge of the Lezama youth ranks, He was subsequently in charge of Spain's youths, working with the under-16s, under-15s and under-17s until his departure on 5 June 2023.

On 20 June 2024, Guerrero was appointed manager of Amorebieta, recently relegated to Primera Federación. On 29 October, with only one win in ten matches and with his team bottom of the table, he was dismissed.

Personal life Guerrero's younger brother, José Félix, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He was also brought up at Athletic Bilbao, but only appeared for the reserve team.

Guerrero also opened the Restaurante Julen Guerrero in Zamudio, and worked as an online columnist for Eurosport. His son Julen Jon Guerrero is also a midfielder who developed mainly at Real Madrid, represented Spain at youth levels and briefly played under his father at Amorebieta.

On 16 April 2026, Guerrero's wife of 26 years Elsa Landabaso died; at the time of her death, both were aged 52.

Career statistics Club

International Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Guerrero goal. + List of international goals scored by Julen Guerrero

Individual La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 1993 Spanish Player of the Year: 1994