Endika Guarrotxena

Athletic Bilbao

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Endika was a graduate of Athletic Bilbao's youth system. He made his senior debut with the reserve team, Bilbao Athletic, in the regionalised third tier during 1979–80. Midway through his second campaign, he made his league debut for the Athletic senior team on 30 November 1980, a 4–1 defeat away to Real Sociedad, scoring a late consolation goal for his side. He was promoted at the start of the following campaign, but only made seven league appearances and three in the Copa Del Rey, usually appearing from the bench or himself being substituted. Under coach Javier Clemente, Athletic were beginning were one of the most successful periods in club history, in which they were champions of Spain in 1982–83 and 1983–84 before finishing third in the next two seasons. Endika missed the first of those league wins, having been loaned back to the third tier to play for AD Ceuta for the whole of 1982–83. On his return to Bilbao, he began to feature more regularly and appeared 23 times as they retained the championship. He played and scored in the second leg of the 1983 Supercopa de España which Athletic lost on aggregate to FC Barcelona, and featured in six matches during the run to the 1984 Copa del Rey Final including both legs of the semi-final in which Athletic overcame Real Madrid C.F. on penalties. He was then selected to start the final against Barcelona, and scored what would be the only goal of the match in the 14th…

Endika studied in sports medicine while still playing, and after retiring he became a physical education teacher at an ikastola in Sopelana, as well as a football coach. He had a spell as manager of amateurs CD Getxo (his childhood club as a player), taking over in 2011 after previously coaching its youth teams and winning promotion from the Biscay División de Honor to the Tercera División (regionalised fourth tier) at the first attempt, with his son Markel among the players. However the club were relegated back on the final matchday of the 2012–13 season after rivals SD Balmaseda won their fixture.

Endika is the uncle of footballer Iker Guarrotxena, who also came through the ranks at Athletic Bilbao but played professionally for teams such as CD Mirandés. He has been involved in politics, favouring left-wing organisations such as EH Bildu (a coalition of Basque nationalist parties); in 2012, he coached one of the teams in an Athletic Bilbao vs Real Sociedad veterans match for the benefit of ETA prisoners. He is the uncle of Spanish and European Champion, the surfer Leticia Canales.

Athletic Bilbao

La Liga: 1983–84 Copa del Rey: 1983–84 Runner-up: 1984–85 Spain Under-21

UEFA Under-21 European Championship runner-up: 1984