Former Spain and Athletic Club midfielder Julen Guerrero recovers at home after heart attack in Bilbao

Hospitalization and discharge in Bilbao

Former Athletic Club and Spain midfielder Julen Guerrero is recovering at home after suffering a myocardial infarction during a visit to Bilbao. The 52-year-old felt unwell on Sunday and was admitted to Basurto Hospital for immediate medical attention. Medical staff confirmed the cardiac episode upon admission and kept the former player under observation for several days to track his progress. After his condition stabilized and medical tests indicated he was out of danger, hospital staff authorized his discharge to continue resting at his residence. Guerrero had no known history of prior health complications before experiencing this cardiac event.

University conference alongside Raúl García

Guerrero had travelled to the Basque city to participate in an institutional conference held at the Universidad del País Vasco. During the event, he shared the stage with fellow former Athletic Club footballer Raúl García to review their respective playing careers. The two former players addressed a range of subjects connecting professional sports, health science, and physical performance. The meeting also gave both figures an opportunity to discuss current team form and organizational affairs at Athletic Club. The medical emergency occurred in the days following his participation in the university event.

Fourteen seasons at Athletic Club and national team caps

Guerrero remains one of the defining figures of Spanish football during the 1990s and an iconic player in Athletic Club history. Born in Portugalete, he made his first-team debut for the Bilbao club in 1992 at the age of 18 under German head coach Jupp Heynckes. He spent his entire 14-season senior playing career with Athletic Club, scoring 116 goals in all competitions before retiring from competition in 2006. For the Spanish national team, the attacking midfielder earned 41 caps and scored 13 goals. His international career included appearances in two FIFA World Cups, representing Spain in the United States in 1994 and in France in 1998.

Sporting management and family circumstances

Following his retirement as an active player in 2006, Guerrero remained involved in football through coaching and sports management. He worked inside the Athletic Club youth academy, relocated to Málaga, and held positions with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and SD Amorebieta. In late 2025, he accepted the role of general manager and sporting director at CD Estepona in Segunda Federación. Guerrero took charge of a squad sitting in the relegation zone, 14 points away from league safety, but worked alongside his coaching staff through the second half of the season to avoid relegation to Tercera RFEF.

The health emergency follows a difficult period in Guerrero's personal life. In April, his wife Elsa Landabaso passed away at the age of 52 after 26 years of marriage. The couple had two children, 25-year-old Karla and 22-year-old Julen Jon Guerrero, who plays as a footballer for Getafe's reserve team. Guerrero remains at home under medical supervision to complete his recovery.