:Txiki Begiristain

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Txiki Begiristain

| image = Txiki Begiristain 2016 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Begiristain in 2016

| full_name = Aitor Begiristain Mujika{{cite web|url=https://www.realsociedad.eus/es/historical-file/player/43|title=Aitor Begiristain Mújika|publisher=Real Sociedad|language=es|access-date=11 June 2023}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|8|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Olaberria, Spain

| height = 1.71 m

| position = Winger, forward

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Segura

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Easo

| youthyears3 = 1980–1982 | youthclubs3 = Real Sociedad

| years1 = 1982 | clubs1 = San Sebastián | caps1 = 9 | goals1 = 2

| years2 = 1982–1988 | clubs2 = Real Sociedad | caps2 = 187 | goals2 = 23

| years3 = 1988–1995 | clubs3 = Barcelona | caps3 = 223 | goals3 = 63

| years4 = 1995–1997 | clubs4 = Deportivo La Coruña | caps4 = 43 | goals4 = 4

| years5 = 1997–1999 | clubs5 = Urawa Red Diamonds | caps5 = 61 | goals5 = 16

| totalcaps = 523 | totalgoals = 108

| nationalyears1 = 1984–1988 | nationalteam1 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps1 = 19 | nationalgoals1 = 4

| nationalyears2 = 1988 | nationalteam2 = Spain U23 | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1988–1994 | nationalteam3 = Spain | nationalcaps3 = 22 | nationalgoals3 = 6

| manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ESP}}}}

}}

Aitor "Txiki" Begiristain Mujika (born 12 August 1964) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left winger or forward.

He was best known for his spells at Real Sociedad and Barcelona, winning eight major titles with the latter, including four La Liga championships and the 1992 European Cup.

Begiristain represented the Spain national team in one World Cup and one European Championship. He worked as a director of football after retiring, spending seven years at Barcelona and 13 at Premier League club Manchester City.

Club career

=Real Sociedad=

Born in Olaberria, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country,{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2006/05/28/deportes/1148767210_850215.html|title="Estaba hasta las narices de oír hablar del 'dream team"|trans-title="I had had it up to here with the dream team"|newspaper=El País|first=Luis|last=Martín|language=es|date=28 May 2006|access-date=11 June 2023}} Begiristain began his professional career with Real Sociedad in 1982 at the age of 18, being immediately cast into the first-team's setup. After 16 La Liga games in his first season, he became an essential member of the side that was coached by John Toshack, also including Luis Arconada, Roberto López Ufarte, José Mari Bakero and Luis López Rekarte; the highlights of his career at Real included scoring the second goal in the 1987 Copa del Rey final against Atlético Madrid, which was eventually won on penalties after the 2–2 draw.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1987/06/28/pagina-10/1160658/pdf.html|title=2–2: La Real entonó el alirón|trans-title=2–2: Real sang victory song|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Ricardo|last=Gil|language=es|date=28 June 1987|access-date=26 December 2014}}

In the 1987–88 campaign, Begiristain helped his team to finish runners-up in both league and cup, with Real Madrid winning the former and Barcelona claiming the latter. Within a month he, along with Bakero and López Rekarte, signed for the Catalan club.{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2005/10/30/deportes/1130623208_850215.html|title=Del 'Dream Team' a los despachos|trans-title=From the Dream Team to the offices|newspaper=El País|first=Àngels|last=Piñol|language=es|date=30 October 2005|access-date=29 October 2012}}

=Barcelona=

Begiristain scored in his league debut for Barcelona, a 2–0 home win over Espanyol,{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1988/09/04/pagina-6/1183981/pdf.html|title=El Barça volvió a explotar en la segunda parte|trans-title=Barça fired up in second half again|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Andrés|last=Astruells|language=es|date=4 September 1988|access-date=30 October 2012}} and finished his first year at the Camp Nou with 38 games and 12 goals, adding two in nine matches in the victorious campaign in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Alongside fellow Basque players Bakero, Andoni Zubizarreta, Julio Salinas and Ion Andoni Goikoetxea, he was part of the side dubbed Dream Team, winning numerous honours.

During seven seasons at the club, Begiristain played more than 300 official matches and scored 63 goals in the league, with a career-best 15 in 1992–93 as Barça won the third of four successive titles. Among his best moments were hat-tricks against Real Valladolid in 1991{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1991/02/25/pagina-4/1436640/pdf.html|title=Del susto... a la apisonadora|trans-title=From scare... to steamroll|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Carme|last=Barceló|language=es|date=25 February 1991|access-date=30 October 2012}} and Real Zaragoza two years later.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1993/09/27/pagina-2/1481277/pdf.html|title=El Barça ensaya la euro-remontada|trans-title=Barça rehearse euro-comeback|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Andrés|last=Astruells|language=es|date=27 September 1993|access-date=30 October 2012}}

=Later years=

In 1995, after gradually losing his importance with Barcelona (although he still registered 44 games and 13 goals over the last two seasons), Begiristain signed for Deportivo de La Coruña, where he linked up with two past acquaintances, Toshack and López Rekarte. He helped his new team win the Supercopa de España, scoring in the away leg for a 2–1 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1995/08/28/pagina-17/1329808/pdf.html|title=Otro golpe|trans-title=Another blow|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Carlos E.|last=Carbajosa|language=es|date=28 August 1995|access-date=26 December 2014}}

During the last season in Galicia, Begiristain only appeared ten times, but scored against Extremadura in the final round, granting Depor a third-place finish with the 1–0 win.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1997/06/23/pagina-25/378479/pdf.html|title=Riazor no cree en milagros|trans-title=Riazor does not believe in miracles|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Xoan|last=Ríos|language=es|date=23 June 1997|access-date=26 December 2014}} By this time, he had played more than 600 competitive matches in his country and surpassed the 100-goal mark.

Begiristain closed out his career in 1999 at 35, after three years with the Urawa Red Diamonds in the Japanese J1 League.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1998/03/21/pagina-29/390396/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=La J-League habla español|trans-title=The J-League speaks Spanish|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=21 March 1998|access-date=23 February 2021}}

International career

Begiristain earned 22 caps with six goals for Spain,{{cite web|url=https://elsitiodemiscromos.com/aitor-beguiristain-mugika|title=Beguiristain|publisher=El Sitio de Mis Cromos|language=es|date=12 August 2023|access-date=16 August 2023}} making his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Czechoslovakia on 24 February 1988 in a friendly held in Málaga.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1988/02/25/MD19880225-003.pdf|title=Ensayo fatal y derrota inquietante|trans-title=Fatal rehearsal and troubling defeat|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Javier|last=Díez Serrat|language=es|date=25 February 1988|access-date=19 May 2015}} He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1988 and the 1994 FIFA World Cup, playing his last game in the latter competition, a 3–0 round-of-16 win over Switzerland where he closed the score from a penalty.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1994/07/03/pagina-2/1286878/pdf.html|title=La selección aplasta a Suiza y está en cuartos|trans-title=National team crush Switzerland and reach last eight|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Andrés|last=Astruells|language=es|date=3 July 1994|access-date=26 December 2014}}

Post-playing career

After retiring as a player, Begiristain worked as a commentator for Televisió de Catalunya before becoming director of football at former club Barcelona in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0257-0de6838818aa-0311fa6d7549-1000--riquelme-leaves-barca-for-good/|title=Riquelme leaves Barça for good|publisher=UEFA|date=21 June 2005|access-date=16 September 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d9-0e722accf133-5923432425c3-1000/|title=Rome ready to welcome European superpowers|publisher=UEFA|date=11 May 2009|access-date=2 March 2021}} On 28 June 2010, he declared that, with president Joan Laporta leaving, it was the right time for him to part ways with the organisation as well.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtve.es/deportes/20100628/begiristain-deja-cargo-secretario-tecnico/337562.shtml|title=Begiristain deja el cargo de secretario técnico|trans-title=Begiristain leaves post of technical secretary|publisher=RTVE|language=es|date=28 June 2010|access-date=10 March 2020}}

Begiristain joined Manchester City of the Premier League on 28 October 2012 in the same capacity.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20114517|title=Manchester City appoint Txiki Begiristain as director of football|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 October 2012|access-date=30 October 2012}} During his tenure, the team won the national championship seven times – and the treble in the 2022–23 season – and several of his compatriots were also brought in as well as former teammate Pep Guardiola as manager.{{cite news|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/pep-guardiola-hails-txiki-begiristain/article27691214.ece|title=Guardiola hails 'incredible' Begiristain|newspaper=The Hindu|first=Daniel|last=Lewis|date=8 June 2019|access-date=10 March 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/03/manchester-city-pay-rodri-release-clause-atletico-madrid-transfer-window-football|title=City's new £62.8m signing Rodri says Manchester may be getting 'more blue'|newspaper=The Guardian|first1=Paul|last1=Wilson|first2=Jamie|last2=Jackson|date=4 July 2019|access-date=10 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/champions-again-guardiola-dragged-man-city-despair-more/vce9uctqpfbg19lkvi78hko0x|title=Champions again! How Guardiola dragged Man City from despair to even more glory|publisher=Goal|first=Jonathan|last=Smith|date=11 May 2021|access-date=12 May 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/22/trust-stability-breakfast-chats-pep-guardiola-premier-league-title-manchester-city|title=Trust, stability and breakfast chats: how Guardiola delivered another title|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Jamie|last=Jackson|date=22 May 2022|access-date=24 May 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-u23s-guardiola-begiristain-24133361|title=Txiki Begiristain and Pep Guardiola shape Man City U23 thinking more than ever|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|first=Simon|last=Bajkowski|date=3 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/guardiola-urges-city-players-seize-treble-chance-2023-06-03/|title=Now let's make it a treble, Guardiola urges Manchester City players|publisher=Reuters|first=Martyn|last=Herman|date=3 June 2023|access-date=11 June 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65845807|title=Manchester City 1–0 Inter Milan|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Phil|last=McNulty|date=10 June 2023|access-date=11 June 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/pep-guardiola-better-manager-sir-alex-ferguson-man-city-man-utd-premier-league-title/bltccc0f1f7ec078ab2|title=Pep Guardiola is a better manager than Sir Alex Ferguson: Fourth consecutive Premier League title gives Man City boss the edge over legendary Scot|publisher=Goal|first=Richard|last=Martin|date=19 May 2024|access-date=19 May 2024}}

In October 2024, Begiristain announced he would be leaving City the following June after 12 years, being replaced by Sporting CP's Hugo Viana.{{cite web|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/man-city-club-statement-63864262|title=Club statement: Director of football|publisher=Manchester City F.C.|date=12 October 2024|access-date=14 October 2024}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Copa del Rey, Emperor's Cup.}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes Copa de la Liga, J.League Cup.}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{BDFutbol\|34}}{{WorldFootball.net\|begiristain}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="7"\|Real Sociedad \|1982–83 \|rowspan="6"\|La Liga \|16	0	2	0	3	0	0	0	21	0
1983–84 \|33	3	7	0	4	1	colspan="2"\|–	44	4
1984–85 \|31	5	9	1	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	42	6
1985–86 \|29	1			6	1	colspan="2"\|–	35	2
1986–87 \|42	9					colspan="2"\|–	42	9
1987–88 \|36	5					4	0	40	5
colspan="2"\|Total !187	23	18	1	15	2	4	0	224	26
rowspan="8"\|Barcelona \|1988–89 \|rowspan="7"\|La Liga \|38	12	5	0	colspan="2"\|–	9	2	52	14
1989–90 \|37	10	7	0	colspan="2"\|–	6	1	50	11
1990–91 \|33	6	7	0	colspan="2"\|–	8	2	48	8
1991–92 \|34	7	4	0	colspan="2"\|–	8	2	46	9
1992–93 \|37	15	7	5	colspan="2"\|–	7	2	51	22
1993–94 \|20	7	4	0	colspan="2"\|–	10	2	34	9
1994–95 \|24	6	2	2	colspan="2"\|–	6	0	32	8
colspan="2"\|Total !223	63	36	7	colspan="2"\|–	54	11	313	81
rowspan="3"\|Deportivo \|1995–96 \|rowspan="2"\|La Liga \|33	2	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	7	1	42	3
1996–97 \|10	2	3	0	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	13	2
colspan="2"\|Total !43	4	5	0	colspan="2"\|–	7	1	55	5
rowspan="4"\|Urawa Red Diamonds \|1997 \|rowspan="3"\|J1 League \|15	4	2	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	19	4
1998 \|30	9	3	0	4	2	colspan="2"\|–	37	11
1999 \|16	3	0	0	4	1	colspan="2"\|–	20	4
colspan="2"\|Total !61	16	5	0	10	3	colspan="2"\|–	76	19
colspan="3"\|Career total !514	106	64	8	25	5	65	12	668	131

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web\|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1520\|title=Txiki Begiristain\|publisher=European Football\|access-date=18 February 2016}}
rowspan="7"\|Spain \|1988	6	0
1989	2	1
1990	1	0
1991	1	0
1992	3	3
1993	4	1
1994	5	1
colspan="2"\|Total	22	6

:Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Begiristain goal.

class="wikitable" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	22 January 1989	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	{{fb\|Malta}}	0–2	0–2	1990 World Cup qualification
2.	11 March 1992	José Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain	{{fb\|USA}}	1–0	2–0	Friendly
3.	16 December 1992	Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain	{{fb\|Latvia}}	4–0	5–0	1994 World Cup qualification
4.	16 December 1992	Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain	{{fb\|Latvia}}	5–0	5–0	1994 World Cup qualification
5.	24 February 1993	Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain	{{fb\|Lithuania}}	3–0	5–0	1994 World Cup qualification
6.	2 July 1994	Robert F. Kennedy, Washington, D.C., United States	{{fb\|Switzerland}}	3–0	3–0	1994 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Real Sociedad

Copa del Rey: 1986–87; runner-up 1987–88{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancuphist.html|title=Spain – List of Cup Finals|publisher=RSSSF|first=José Vicente|last=Tejedor Carnicero|access-date=28 May 2025}}
Supercopa de España: 1982{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spansupcuphist.html|title=Spain – List of Super Cup Finals|publisher=RSSSF|first1=José Vicente|last1=Tejedor Carnicero|first2=Roberto|last2=Di Maggio|first3=Raúl|last3=Torre|first4=Carles|last4=Lozano Ferrer|access-date=28 May 2025}}

Barcelona

La Liga: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94{{cite web|url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/648071/aitor-txiki-begiristain|title=Aitor 'Txiki' Begiristain|publisher=FC Barcelona|access-date=28 May 2025}}
Copa del Rey: 1989–90
Supercopa de España: 1991, 1992, 1994; runner-up 1988, 1990, 1993
European Cup: 1991–92
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1988–89{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/00ea-0e6a0cbbcd31-ed2cf8bfadce-1000--1988-89-hat-trick-for-barcelona/|title=1988/89: Hat-trick for Barcelona|publisher=UEFA|date=1 June 1989|access-date=28 May 2025}}
UEFA Super Cup: 1992

Deportivo La Coruña

Supercopa de España: 1995

Spain U21

UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1986{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1986/10/30/pagina-3/1144661/pdf.html|title=¡¡¡Campeones!!!|trans-title=Champions!!!|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Francesc|last=Perearnau|language=es|date=30 October 1986|access-date=22 April 2022}}