A young Guti under the watchful eye of Jorge Valdano
After 24 years in the club, 15 years in the first team, José María Gutiérrez Hernández aka Guti, Real’s favourite chameleon called it a day for the club. He won 15 trophies with the club which include 5 Liga and 3 Champions League titles, although he did not play one single minute in those CL finals. In all 526 appearances and 77 goals. Fifth in the all time Real Madrid list.
“As I said this was a right time for me and hopefully when you leave football one can return to this club. I was nine years old when I entered, now I’m 33 and all my development and values were learned at Real Madrid. It was not easy making this decision. “
Guti was a protean and unselfish actor, as the club transitioned him from the role of a second striker to that of attacking midfielder, roles that he slipped in and out of with shifting priorities when Morientes was injured, Ronaldo came on board, and Zidane retired. His minutes became even more limited with the arrival of Kaka which led to a falling out with Manuel Pellegrini over playing minutes.
Rumours are that he is bound for Besiktas.