Mikel Arteta

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.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the pitch at San Mamés as the clock ticked past eighty minutes. Arteta dropped deep, shielding the ball with a calm that belied his youth. The roar of the *Kale Borroka* section swelled behind him, a wall of red and white demanding one more pass. He found the winger in space, a simple touch that ignited the attack. In that moment, he wasn't just playing for points; he was carrying the weight of every boy who had ever dreamed of wearing the stripes.

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.