Guti (footballer)

Real Madrid

Born in Torrejón de Ardoz, Community of Madrid, Guti began playing for Real Madrid's cantera in 1986, initially as a striker but being later moved to midfield, and remained there for the vast majority of his career. On 2 December 1995 he made his first-team debut, in a 4–1 home win against Sevilla FC; he finished the season with one goal in nine appearances.

In 1997, Guti added two trophies to his cabinet, La Liga and the Supercopa de España, playing 17 competitive games during the campaign and failing to score. In 1997–98 he helped the Merengues lift the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup, while the player himself added the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

1999–2000 started badly for Guti: struggling with the responsibility of replacing Clarence Seedorf, he was sent off for kicking a fallen adversary in a home fixture against Real Sociedad. This negative trait was often recurrent, as he was shown his marching orders eight times during his career in the league alone. In the season, in which he also captured the Champions League, he scored six goals in 28 games; the following year he had his best individual input, netting 14 times and playing mostly as a striker due to injuries to Fernando Morientes, and contributing greatly to the team's 27th league title and subsequently another domestic Supercup.

After the purchase of Ronaldo in 2002, Guti returned to midfield, and his goalscoring rate went down drastically. During the next two seasons combined he would score eight goals in 63 games, contributing with three in nine matches as the 2001–02 Champions League ended in conquest.

During 2004–05, Guti had his lowest season in terms of scoring, as he failed to find the net for the first time in seven years with the first team. He only managed one official goal, in an international against San Marino in February 2005; in 2005–06, he played 43 games and netted six times (four in the league and two in European competition).

With the election of Ramón Calderón as club president and his subsequent vow to bring A.C. Milan's Brazilian star Kaká to Real Madrid, Guti's future at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium appeared insecure. He was linked with a move away to cross-town rivals Atlético Madrid but, in the end, decided to stay with Real while Kaká stayed in Italy.

With Zinedine Zidane retired, Guti found himself as the creative playmaker for 2006–07, his preferred position. His excellent short and through pass abilities, especially a performance in a 3–2 home win against Sevilla on 6 May 2007 in which he played just 32 minutes from the bench, contributed to many of the goals which helped Real Madrid become league champions for the 30th time.

On 10 February 2008, Guti scored two goals and three assists in a home game against Real Valladolid, for which he was named Man of the match– his team won the game 7–0 and ultimately lifted another champions trophy. On 14 September he netted their 5,000th league goal, in a 4–3 win over CD Numancia.

In 2009–10, already with Kaká on board, Guti still managed to appear significantly in the early stages, netting twice in the league. However, in late October, following the 0–4 shock defeat at AD Alcorcón for the campaign's Copa del Rey, he allegedly insulted coach Manuel Pellegrini at half-time, being then left out of the playing squads for a lengthy period; after being reinstated he suffered with some injuries but, due to the Brazilian also having physical problems, managed to appear regularly until the season's end.

Beşiktaş

On 25 July 2010, Guti left Real Madrid after nearly 25 years of service. He said: "I have an offer from Beşiktaş JK, but I haven't decided yet". The deal was concluded the following day, with the player signing a two-year contract. He started in his first official match for the Istanbul-based club, assisting in the game's only goal against Bucaspor.

On 28 November 2010, Guti contributed to Beşiktaş' victory against Galatasaray SK with one goal and one assist. It was the team's first win at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in eight years. On 11 May 2011, he started as they won the Turkish Cup against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor on penalties (4–3, 2–2 after extra time); it was the first domestic cup of his professional career.

Guti was deemed surplus to requirements at Beşiktaş for 2011–12, following the appointment of new manager Carlos Carvalhal. On 15 November 2011, the 35-year-old was released.

Guti announced his retirement from football on 21 September 2012, and further went on to say that "I'm going to train to become a sporting director or a coach and I'd like to train youngsters... I'd really like to coach the Real Madrid youth team. That's my dream." He started working as a manager in 2013, going on to work with Real Madrid's youths for several years.

International career

A Spain international since 5 May 1999 (Spain–Croatia, 3–1), Guti nevertheless failed to appear in any tournament's final stage for his country, winning a total of 13 caps in approximately six years.

Previously, he won the UEFA European Under-18 Championship in 1995, followed by the under-21 one in 1998.

Style of play

Originally a striker, Guti later developed into a talented playmaker, who was known in particular for his vision, technique, creativity, passing range and ability to provide assists for teammates. A versatile player, he was usually deployed as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards, which was his preferred position, but was also capable of playing as a second striker, a winger or in a defensive midfield role as a deep-lying playmaker.

Personal life

Guti married Arancha de Benito, a Spanish television celebrity, on 22 June 1999. The couple divorced after almost ten years of marriage and two children, Zaira and Aitor, but remained close friends.

His cousin, Javi Hernández, also played youth football for Real Madrid.

Other ventures

Guti played himself in two motion pictures, Torrente 3: El Protector and Goal II: Living the Dream. He also appeared in a 2005 documentary/movie about Real Madrid called Real, The Movie.

Club

International