Mikel Arteta
Spanish midfielder turned Arsenal manager, forged at Barcelona and La Masia.
Mikel Arteta Amatriain (born 26 March 1982) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of club Arsenal. He began his senior club career at Barcelona in 1999, and later played for Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton, and Arsenal before retiring in 2016.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Midfielder; Playmaker
- Affiliation
- None (never played for Athletic Club)
- Origin
- La Masia Graduate (Barcelona youth academy)
- Status
- Former Player & Manager
Lore & Background
Born in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Arteta began his football career at Antiguoko and befriended Xabi Alonso. He left San Sebastián aged 15 in July 1997 to trial with Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, where he became roommates with Víctor Valdés and Andrés Iniesta. He met Pep Guardiola during this time. Arteta never played for Athletic Club or its academy.
Reader's Guide
Arteta is best known as a central midfielder with playmaking ability. He won the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, the Scottish league and league cup with Rangers, and two FA Cups with Arsenal as a player. As a manager, he won the FA Cup in his debut season and the Premier League in 2026 with Arsenal.
Did You Know?
- Arteta scored a 93rd-minute penalty on the final day of the 2002–03 season to help Rangers complete the domestic treble.
- He was named Everton's Player of the Season twice, in 2005–06 and 2006–07.
- Arteta never played for the senior Spain national team, despite representing Spain at youth levels.
- He was appointed assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in 2016 before becoming Arsenal manager in 2019.
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