Urko González de Zárate It is the last promise from Zubieta to make his debut in the First Division. He did it this past Sunday at the Reale Arena against Real Madrid. With only 19 years old, without almost stepping on the subsidiary, and going from playing third to having to play balls with Toni Kross in just six months. He is the last player trained in the inexhaustible source of the talented Real Sociedad, that quarry well that seems to have no bottom and that in the last two years has been able to make their debut in the highest category no less than 15 'foals' trained in Zubieta, of which eleven already have a contract with the first team , an unequivocal example of the commitment to the San Sebastian club's quarry, despite the signings that are logically also made and that are very important.
Of those fifteen young soccer debutants in the First Division in these last two years, more than half, eight, have done so at the hands of Imanol Alguacil, the current coach of the first team. It is not surprising, taking into account the impeccable service record of the Oriotarra coach in the lower categories, especially in the subsidiary, having finished training those young values who had been growing from below. Imanol has had them in the Sanse, has molded it and has tightened them. And now you know what they can contribute. This is the case of Aihen Muñoz, Roberto López, Alex Sola, Ander Guevara, Martin Zubimendi, Näis Djouahra, Jon Pacheco and the last of this long list, Urko González de Zárate, although in the latter case he did not train him in the subsidiary , which is now directed by Xabi Alonso.
The previous footballers who have reached the first team have not debuted with Imanol Alguacil, but with Eusebio Sacristán and Asier Garitano; But the Oriotarra was very close to those debuts, because he directed them in the subsidiary. They are Andoni Gorosabel, Robin Le Normand, Luca Sangalli, Martin Merquelanz, Ander and Barrenetxea. All of them passed through his hands, but just like today the dialogue between the main technicians of the Real was continuous. Today Roberto Olabe meets daily with Alguacil and Xabi Alonso to determine which team players go up to train with the first team, for the needs of the professional staff or also to follow the evolution of the portrillos with more projection. Direct the progression, train the progression, put it to compete with the 'older' and give real opportunities. Therein lies the success of Zubieta at this time of the Real.
Because most of the foals that have made it to the first team in the last two years have been due to a mixture of need and conviction. The most curious of all is that amount of midfielders who have been leaving Zubieta in recent years. Captain Illarramendi was injured, Zubeldia debuted. The Azkoitiarra was injured, Ander Guevara made his debut. Jon Guridi in between also had his opportunity before the ordeal of injuries that led to a fruitful assignment at Miranda that has allowed him to return to Real. Guevara was injured and Martin Zubimendi appeared. And since the San Sebastian cannot play, Imanol calls the young Urko González de Zárate. And in the chamber, another pivot who has done the entire preseason with the first team, Olasagasti, awaits his opportunity. The source of talent for Zubieta's center field is inexhaustible. A curious case to study.
But the bet on the quarry does not end there. He is still in the youth of the Real project. And for that you have to be very brave. This last day against Real Madrid, Imanol Alguacil lined up an eleven with an average age of 23 years. And of the 15 players that the Oriotarra coach used in that tie against Zidane's team, nine of them are kids trained in the Zubieta quarry. Because do not forget that not long before the Oyarzabal, Aritz Elustondo, Bautista, Zaldua, Zubeldia had already debuted … Well, that, Zubieta is an inexhaustible source of talent. A bottomless quarry pit.