The Incredible Journey of Mikel Arteta, Andoni Iraola, and Xabi Alonso: The Unforgettable Legacy of Antiguoko in the Basque Country

During last season's March international break, after enduring a demanding string of matches, Mikel Arteta seized the chance to return to his hometown of San Sebastian. This getaway provided a momentary respite from the pressures of contending for the Premier League title and allowed him to quietly mark his 41st birthday alongside loved ones and close friends.

Despite his busy schedule, Arteta always finds time to visit Antiguoko, the amateur youth club where his footballing career started. He recently took his sons to watch a U15s game against Real Sociedad on an artificial pitch near the city. Roberto Montiel, Arteta's former coach and current vice-president of Antiguoko, affectionately recalls that Arteta even reached out to him on his birthday while they were at the match, discussing Arsenal's season.

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Even after the game ended at 1.30pm, Arteta made a point to stay behind. Despite having a flight scheduled back to London at 4pm, he took the time to take pictures with everyone, showing great haste to reach the airport. He ensured that no one was left out.

Arteta dedicated his early years to Antiguoko, from ages nine to 15, and has always had a strong desire to make a positive impact. During his time at Barcelona as a teenager, he went as far as requesting training kits for his childhood club when signing his initial endorsement deal with adidas.

"Antiguoko is a grassroots club, so it meant a lot to us when Mikel demonstrated such generosity," remarks Montiel. "Our relationship has remained strong ever since. He has never overlooked his humble beginnings."

Arteta, Unai Emery, Julen Lopetegui, and the newly-appointed Bournemouth head coach, Andoni Iraola, form a group of four Premier League managers hailing from the northern region of Spain. What binds this quartet together goes beyond their shared Basque origins; they all belong to Gipuzkoa, one of the three provinces within the Basque Country and the third-smallest in terms of area in the whole country.

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Mikel Arteta, Andoni Iraola, Unai Emery, and Julen Lopetegui all hail from Gipuzkoa, a province in Spain's Basque Country. What is particularly noteworthy is that this relatively small province, comparable in size to Surrey, has produced nearly a quarter of the current managers in the Premier League. Furthermore, the bond between Arteta and Iraola is stronger due to their shared past as teammates at Antiguoko.

The story doesn't end there, though.

The Antiguoko team also included Xabi Alonso, another talented player from Gipuzkoa who had an impressive playing career. He has since ventured into management and could have potentially taken charge of a Premier League club this season if Tottenham had succeeded in luring him away from Bayer Leverkusen.

"It's amazing that there are five top-level managers who come from Gipuzkoa, but it's even more amazing that three of them came through our club," says Montiel.

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Xabi Alonso (bottom row, left) and Mikel Arteta (bottom row, right) were team-mates at Antiguoko (Credit: Antiguoko)

We have dedicated numerous years to nurturing talent, resulting in a significant presence of 250 players competing in the third division or higher in Spain.

These players have not merely joined our ranks as youngsters. For instance, Xabi Alonso and Iraola remained with us until their U18 years before departing. Similarly, Arteta joined Barcelona as a second-year U15 cadete.

'It's amazing they are even known'

Alonso, a childhood friend of Arteta's, has recently been visiting as well. Iraola also made a return in a coaching role, working with Antiguoko's U18s as he pursued his UEFA Pro Licence.

"That's where my playing career began, but it's also where I started coaching," Iraola shares with us. "They are doing exceptional work. It's remarkable that they have gained recognition. As a club, they may be small in San Sebastian, but in terms of academies, they are a prominent club."

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Despite being an amateur club with limited resources, Antiguoko has gained a commendable reputation for player development, comparable to that of prominent regional clubs such as Real Sociedad and Athletic Club Bilbao. These clubs closely observe Antiguoko's talented players and carefully select the cream of the crop.

"Montiel reveals that in the previous season, a remarkable 14 players from our club signed contracts with renowned teams such as La Real, Athletic and Real Madrid. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that out of the initial 16 players in our Alevin (U12) group from 2008, an impressive nine players have successfully transitioned to professional clubs."

However, Antiguoko is not merely a development club; it is also a formidable competitor. With each passing season, we consistently challenge and compete against high-level teams not only within the Basque Country and its neighboring regions, but also on a broader scale."

"We had to recruit 13 new boys when we lost those players from the 2008 Alevin group," Montiel explains. "However, in the first game of the following season, we faced La Real and emerged victorious, despite the fact that half of their team consisted of the players they acquired from us."

Montiel's immense pride is evident, and it shines through once more as he shares his recent return from the Oviedo Cup, a renowned youth tournament in the neighboring region of Asturias. There, Antiguoko's Juvenil B team triumphed over teams from Alaves, Espanyol, Real Valladolid, and Deportivo La Coruna to claim the prestigious trophy.

"We were the sole non-professional club present, and yet we emerged as the champions," he proudly declares. It is a prime illustration of Antiguoko exceeding expectations. Therefore, how does Montiel elucidate this achievement?

"The demands we place on children from a young age, along with our focus on discipline at the club, contribute greatly to their development," he explains. "Many players who leave us at 18 or younger often express that their experience at other clubs is not comparable.

"Likewise, when we approach talented young players and bring them onto our team, they are frequently taken aback by the initial intensity of the training sessions, our work ethic, our unwavering commitment to the players, and our coaching methods."

"This is a crucial advantage we have. When playing against other teams, they lack the same level of intensity. Their approach to the game differs greatly from ours. Players who join us from Valencia, for instance, acknowledge that our style of football is more physically demanding, emphasizing aggression and the willingness to fight.

"This difference definitely has an impact. Even if a team from Gipuzkoa or the Basque Country faces Real Madrid and doesn't emerge victorious, they will always excel when it comes to winning second balls, engaging in duels, displaying aggression, and fighting for every single ball."

On the outside, their approach to the game lacks the same intensity. Their concept of engaging in a battle differs greatly. This style of football emphasizes a higher level of aggression, focusing more on physicality and the spirit of combat.

Roberto Montiel on Basque football

Arteta, Iraola, and Alonso continued to display the same strong work ethic and competitive spirit throughout their playing careers. Similar to Emery and Lopetegui, they have now become renowned for these attributes as managers.

"This competitive spirit runs through our veins here in Gipuzkoa," Montiel asserts. "Since childhood, we are ingrained with the importance of competition. Whether we win or lose, the essence is always about competing."

Iraola shares a similar perspective.

"There's a prominent football culture," he comments. "Moreover, the dedication to hard work is assured. We are renowned for our work ethic, extending beyond just football. We are accustomed to putting in diligent efforts and maintaining self-discipline.

"These attributes hold immense value for a manager. However, they are merely a fraction of the whole. One must also have the constant desire for personal growth, and the continual need to demonstrate their worth on a daily basis."

Antiguoko's dedicated coaches strive to instill this mentality from a young age, and Ander Murillo is a prime example of a player-turned-coach who has reaped the rewards. Having progressed through the ranks at Antiguoko, this former defender later had the opportunity to showcase his skills alongside Iraola while playing for Athletic Club Bilbao.

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Andoni Iraola played 510 games for Athletic Club Bilbao after starting out at Antiguoko

"They are a club that is passionate about children and dedicated to enhancing their development, with the ultimate goal of preparing them for the next level," Murillo informs We.

"Here in San Sebastian, Antiguoko competes with Real Sociedad to recruit talented children at a very young age. Subsequently, they nurture and train these young talents for a professional career."

"They have a strong track record of success, which is underscored by the numerous players who have gone on to have thriving careers as professionals. This serves as an inspiration for more children to join their ranks.

"However, the utmost significance lies in their unwavering commitment to progress and their distinctive work ethic."

'Football is something euphoric here'

During the time when Arteta, Iraola, and Alonso were born, the Basque clubs held a significant stronghold in Spanish football. This was evident as Real Sociedad clinched consecutive Primera Division titles in 1981 and 1982, followed by Athletic Club Bilbao achieving the same feat in 1983 and 1984.

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A young Mikel Arteta poses with a trophy while at Antiguoko (Credit: Antiguoko)

"That created a huge passion here," explains Montiel.

Real Sociedad's victory marked their debut win in the competition, and since then, the team has consistently upheld their joy and drive to succeed.

Football holds an unparalleled euphoria for the locals, who wholeheartedly embrace the sport as their top passion.

In Basque, there exists a law that stipulates children must not solely partake in football during their time in school. Often, a child is required to engage in a term of basketball and a term of handball as well. However, their genuine desire is to exclusively play football due to the immense passion it evokes in them.

Antiguoko strives to nurture that passion, and their accomplishments in cultivating players, despite their status as an amateur club, can be attributed to the region's identity and their distinct methodology. Moreover, they are not the sole proponents of this approach.

They are a club who love children and love to improve children, in order to prepare them to the next step

Ander Murillo talks about Antiguoko

In the nearby province of Biscay, Athletic Club Bilbao has gained a reputation for their remarkable 94-year streak in the top division, exclusively employing players from the Basque Country.

Real Sociedad, known for their adaptable approach, share a similar mindset and achieved a Champions League qualification in La Liga last season. Remarkably, their first-team roster consisted of 17 individuals who successfully graduated from their academy.

However, it is important to acknowledge that Antiguoko, a respected academy, played a significant role in nurturing the talent of four among those 17 academy graduates. Notably, Martin Zubimendi and Igor Zubeldia, who emerged as key figures, began their journey with Antiguoko.

The extraordinary production line continues to thrive, displaying the same discipline, competitiveness, and desire for improvement as Arteta, Iraola, and Alonso. It is possible that Zubimendi and Zubeldia will follow in their footsteps, leveraging the skills they have developed at Antiguoko to pursue careers in management.