José Félix Guerrero: the surname worked against me at Athletic | OneFootball

"Being Julen's brother was, in a way, a burden on my chances of playing for Athletic. It has taken me a long time to accept it, with psychologists, but that is how it is. In this case the surname did not help me," he told Radio Bilbao.

Guerrero came through Athletic’s academy, debuting in the Segunda División with Bilbao Athletic but never for the first team. He later played 36 games for Eibar, scoring six goals. After leaving Lezama he joined Racing, then moved to Real Sociedad for 400 million pesetas, 2.4 million euros, a club record at the time, before a right knee meniscus injury soured his spell.

"You analyse everything and for some things it is fantastic, but the surname weighed heavily, unfortunately it has determined what I have to do in my life, just for being Guerrero. I earned my place through good work and it was taken away, it took me a long time to understand it."

"I think Athletic will finish the year well and I hope the team can be close to the European places. Saturday helped restore justified optimism."

Next up are Girona at Montilivi and Betis at San Mamés before another league break. Getafe away follows once play resumes.

"Athletic have had too many injuries this season. There has been no continuity in the team’s structure and that ends up taking its toll. Games like the one against Barcelona can serve as a turning point, despite the defeat."

Source: AS