José Mari Bakero

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Bakero and the second or maternal family name is Escudero.

José Mari Bakero
Bakero in 2010
Personal information
Full name José María Bakero Escudero[1]
Date of birth (1963-02-11) 11 February 1963 (age 61)[1]
Place of birth Goizueta, Spain[1]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1988 Real Sociedad 223 (67)
1988–1996 Barcelona 260 (72)
1997 Veracruz 17 (3)
Total 500 (142)
International career
1980 Spain U16 3 (1)
1980–1981 Spain U18 9 (2)
1982–1986 Spain U21 5 (1)
1986 Spain U23 1 (0)
1987–1994 Spain 30 (7)
Managerial career
1999 Puebla
2005 Málaga B
2006 Real Sociedad
2009–2010 Polonia Warsaw
2010–2012 Lech Poznań
2013 Juan Aurich
2023 Slavia Sofia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

José María Bakero Escudero (born 11 February 1963) is a Spanish former professional footballer, currently a manager. Having played mainly for Real Sociedad and Barcelona,[2] he began his career as a forward (not being a prolific scorer) but was converted into an attacking midfielder, possessing passing and scoring ability (with both his right foot and his head, the second despite his short stature) and great leadership skills.[3]

In a 17-year professional career, he amassed La Liga totals of 483 games and 139 goals, winning a total of 17 titles. A Spain international for seven years, he represented the nation in two World Cups and one Euro 1988.

Bakero began working as a manager in 1999.

Club career

Bakero training with Spain in 1994

Born in Goizueta, Navarre, Bakero made his senior debut with Real Sociedad on 6 September 1980 when only 17, coming from the bench in a 3–2 away loss against Valencia CF, and finished his debut season with 27 scoreless appearances. Featuring only in two games in 1981–82 due to a serious injury, he was however part of the Basque sides that won back-to-back La Liga titles, his teammates including Luis Arconada, Jesús María Satrústegui and Jesús María Zamora.[3]

Bakero then signed for FC Barcelona, where he was joined by several other Real and Basque players: Txiki Begiristain, Luis López Rekarte, with Julio Salinas coming from Atlético Madrid but having also played with Athletic Bilbao, as another Real player, Jon Andoni Goikoetxea, joined two years later – they would form the backbone of the legendary Dream Team. He (who scored 47 league goals in his first four years) played 347 competitive matches for the Catalans during his spell, being instrumental in their league conquests from 1990 to 1994 and also appearing in the historic 1992 European Cup final;[4][5] in the latter tournament, as his team was trailing 3–0 at 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the second round after a 2–0 home win, his 90th-minute header secured qualification.[6]

Having appeared scarcely during 1996–97, his last game coming on 18 November 1996 in a 6–1 home thrashing of Real Valladolid in which he scored,[7][8] Bakero retired later that campaign after a small abroad stint with Mexico's C.D. Veracruz. He also had unsuccessful trials with Middlesbrough and Norwich City.[9][4]

International career

Bakero earned 30 caps for Spain, netting on seven occasions. His debut came on 14 October 1987 during an UEFA Euro 1988 qualifier against Austria, replacing future Barcelona teammate Francisco Carrasco in a 2–0 home win.[10]

Bakero would subsequently represent the nation at Euro 1988, as well as in two FIFA World Cup editions, 1990 and 1994.[11]

Coaching career

Bakero moved into management after retiring in 1997, first as an assistant under both Lorenzo Serra Ferrer and Louis van Gaal. He also worked as a sports adviser with the Generalitat de Catalunya and, in 2004–05, had his second head coaching experience, joining Málaga CF's B side in January 2005[12] and helping them narrowly escape relegation from Segunda División.[13]

In August 2005, Bakero was appointed director of football at Real Sociedad, and would be promoted to coach towards the end of 2005–06.[14] Seven games into the following season, he was sacked.[15][16]

In October 2007, Bakero joined Ronald Koeman's (another Barcelona teammate) coaching staff at Valencia, being dismissed in late April 2008.[17] On 10 November 2009, more than a year after his last job, he signed with Polonia Warsaw, again as head coach.[18] While the team was last in the league at that point, not only did he manage to prevent relegation but also led them to a win against city neighbours Legia Warsaw, the first in ten years.[19][20] He was relieved of his duties on 13 September 2010, after suffering the first loss of the campaign.[21]

Bakero signed with another club in the Ekstraklasa on 3 November 2010, now Lech Poznań.[22] In his official debut, he led the side to a 3–1 victory over Manchester City in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.[23]

On 25 February 2012, following a 3–0 away loss to Ruch Chorzów, Bakero was fired. In 2013, he moved to South America to coach Juan Aurich from Peru, being dismissed in September of that year due to poor results.[24]

In 2015, Venezuelan club Deportivo La Guaira hired Bakero as interim technical director, to help the new coaching staff by running training sessions.[25] He returned to Barcelona on 10 July 2017, as head of the youth academy alongside former teammate Guillermo Amor.[26]

On 19 June 2023, Bakero became manager of PFC Slavia Sofia in the First Professional Football League (Bulgaria).[27] In September, having collected six losses and one draw in seven matches, he was fired.[28]

Personal life

Bakero was the third of 11 children. His brothers Santiago and Jon were also footballers, and both forwards.[29] After he joined Polonia as a coach he was accompanied, at his request, by Jon as an assistant.[30]

Bakero's sister, Itziar, was also a footballer, who played at international level.[31] His son, Jon, played college soccer in the United States for Wake Forest University, winning the Hermann Trophy in 2017.[32]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[33]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Sociedad 1980–81 La Liga 27 0 2 0 — 2[c] 0 — 31 0
1981–82 La Liga 2 0 0 0 — 2[d] 0 — 4 0
1982–83 La Liga 33 4 5 1 — 6[d] 1 2[e] 0 46 6
1983–84 La Liga 31 10 8 2 4 1 — — 43 13
1984–85 La Liga 30 9 8 4 2 0 — — 40 13
1985–86 La Liga 29 16 4 3 — — — 33 19
1986–87 La Liga 39 11 8 4 — — — 47 15
1987–88 La Liga 32 17 8 7 — 4[f] 0 — 44 24
Total 223 67 43 21 6 1 14 1 2 0 288 90
Barcelona 1988–89 La Liga 22 10 0 0 — 6[f] 2 2[e] 2 30 14
1989–90 La Liga 30 13 7 1 — 2[f] 0 2[g] 0 41 14
1990–91 La Liga 34 13 4 1 — 6[f] 1 0 0 44 15
1991–92 La Liga 33 11 1 0 — 9[d] 3 1[e] 1 44 15
1992–93 La Liga 37 9 3 1 — 3[d] 0 5[h] 0 48 10
1993–94 La Liga 34 5 1 0 — 9[d] 2 2[e] 1 46 8
1994–95 La Liga 34 4 0 0 — 7[d] 3 1[e] 0 42 7
1995–96 La Liga 32 6 4 1 — 10[c] 3 — 46 10
1996–97 La Liga 4 1 0 0 — 1[f] 0 1[e] 0 6 1
Total 260 72 20 4 — 53 14 14 4 347 94
Career total 483 139 63 25 6 1 67 15 16 4 635 184
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes Copa de la Liga
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in European Cup/UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in Supercopa de España
  6. ^ a b c d e Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup
  7. ^ Appearances in European Supercup
  8. ^ Two appearances in European Supercup, one appearance in Intercontinental Cup, two appearances in Supercopa de España

International

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bakero goal.[34][10]
List of international goals scored by José Mari Bakero
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 18 November 1987 Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain  Albania 1–0 5–0 Euro 1988 qualifying
2 2–0
3 5–0
4 19 December 1990 Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain  Albania 9–0 9–0 Euro 1992 qualifying
5 20 February 1991 Parc des Princes, Paris, France  France 1–0 1–3 Euro 1992 qualifying
6 16 December 1992 Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain  Latvia 1–0 5–0 1994 World Cup qualification
7 24 February 1993 Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain  Lithuania 2–0 5–0 1994 World Cup qualification

Managerial statistics

As of 8 September 2013[35]
Team From To Competition Record
G W D L Win % GF GA GD
Puebla July 1999 September 1999 Liga MX 8 1 3 4 012.50 6 11 –5
Total 8 1 3 4 012.50 6 11 –5
Málaga B January 2005 August 2005 Segunda División 22 6 6 10 027.27 13 25 –12
Total 22 6 6 10 027.27 13 25 –12
Real Sociedad 23 March 2006 26 October 2006 La Liga 16 3 5 8 018.75 18 24 –6
Copa del Rey 1 0 0 1 000.00 1 4 –3
Total 17 3 5 9 017.65 19 28 –9
Polonia Warsaw 10 November 2009 13 September 2010 Ekstraklasa 22 9 6 7 040.91 23 20 +3
Total 22 9 6 7 040.91 23 20 +3
Lech Poznań 3 November 2010 25 February 2012 Ekstraklasa 39 18 8 13 046.15 53 27 +26
Polish Cup 7 4 2 1 057.14 13 7 +6
Europe 5 3 1 1 060.00 6 4 +2
Total 51 25 11 15 049.02 72 38 +34
Juan Aurich 5 January 2013 7 September 2013 Peruvian Primera División 31 8 9 14 025.81 38 39 –1
Copa Sudamericana 2 0 0 2 000.00 2 6 –4
Total 33 8 9 16 024.24 40 45 –5
Career totals League 138 45 37 56 032.61 151 146 +5
Cup 8 4 2 2 050.00 14 11 +3
Europe 5 3 1 1 060.00 6 4 +2
South America 2 0 0 2 000.00 2 6 –4
Total 153 52 40 61 033.99 173 167 +6

Honours

Real Sociedad

Barcelona

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bakero: José María Bakero Escudero". BDFutbol. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  2. ^ "José Mari Bakero" (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e Vázquez de Balmaseda, Ignacio (29 March 2016). "Leyendas de la Real: José Mari Bakero" [Real legends: José Mari Bakero] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Blanco, Jordi (18 November 2019). "Hoy hace 23 años que Bakero dejó al Barça y se volvió 'tiburón'" [Bakero left Barça and became a 'shark' 23 years ago today] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Porras, Darío (12 February 2024). "Hija de crack del Barça deshace a los fans en un día muy especial: "¡¡Padrazo, enhorabuena!!"" [Daughter of Barça star has fans tear-jerking in very special day: "Father of all fathers, congratulations!!"]. El Nacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  6. ^ Murray, Andrew (22 October 2015). "How Johan Cruyff reinvented modern football at Barcelona". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  7. ^ Besa, Ramón (18 November 1996). "Robson alineará a Ronaldo y Bakero ante el Valladolid" [Robson will play Ronaldo and Bakero against Valladolid]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  8. ^ Bañeres, Enric (19 November 1996). "Bakero dicta una lección magistral" [Bakero puts on show for the ages]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  9. ^ Steel, Adam (29 June 2017). "Trialists and tribulations: Three players who Middlesbrough declined to sign during pre-season". TeessideLive. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b Pla Díaz, Emilio. "José María Bakero Escudero – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  11. ^ Bernarte, Borja; Ciordia, Luca (21 October 2022). "Bakero, el pelotari del fútbol" [Bakero, football's pelotari]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Bakero, nuevo entrenador" [Bakero, new manager]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 15 January 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  13. ^ "2001–2006: Primera participación Europea" [2001–2006: First appearance in Europe] (in Spanish). Málaga CF. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  14. ^ López, Ángel (18 May 2006). ""Era mi sueño desde hace tiempo"" [It had been a dream of mine since a long time]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  15. ^ "La Real Sociedad destituye a José Mari Bakero" [Real Sociedad dismiss José Mari Bakero]. El País (in Spanish). 26 October 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Real Sociedad: Cesado el entrenador José Mari Bakero" [Real Sociedad: Coach José Mari Bakero fired] (in Spanish). El Futbolín. October 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  17. ^ Urrutia, Carlos (22 April 2008). "Koeman, a la calle" [Koeman, out you go] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  18. ^ "José María Bakero zostanie trenerem Polonii Warszawa" [José María Bakero will be Polonia Warsaw's coach] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  19. ^ "Ekstraklasa 2009/2010" (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  20. ^ Kamiński, Emil (11 May 2010). "Derby dla Polonii" [Polish derby]. Legia Warsaw. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  21. ^ "Jose Bakero zwolniony. Nadszedł Paweł Janas" [Jose Bakero released. Paweł Janas in] (in Polish). TVN24. 13 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  22. ^ "José María Bakero trenerem Lecha" [José María Bakero trains Lech] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  23. ^ Ornstein, David (4 November 2010). "Lech Poznan 3–1 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  24. ^ "José Mari Bakero dejó de ser técnico del Juan Aurich" [José Mari Bakero is no longer manager of Juan Aurich]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 8 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  25. ^ "José María Bakero es el nuevo director deportivo de La Guaira" [José María Bakero is La Guaira's new sporting director] (in Spanish). Balonazos. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Bakero y Amor, responsables del fútbol formativo profesional del Barça" [Bakero and Amor, in charge of Barça's professional formative football]. Sport (in Spanish). 10 July 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Официално: Хосе Мария Бакеро пое Славия" [Official: José María Bakero took over Slavia] (in Bulgarian). Topsport. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  28. ^ "OFICIAL: Slavia Sofia, rescisión del técnico José Mari Bakero" [OFFICIAL: Slavia Sofia, manager José Mari Bakero rescinds] (in Spanish). Todo Mercado Web. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  29. ^ Parcero, Bruno (9 January 2018). "La saga continúa" [The saga continues]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Bakero se lleva a su hermano de ayudante a Varsovia" [Bakero takes his brother to Warsaw as assistant]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 January 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  31. ^ Reizabal, Gorka (9 February 1985). "Bakero, una intensa vida de 22 años" [Bakero, an intense 22-year-old life]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  32. ^ "Wake's Jon Bakero wins Hermann Trophy as top college player". ESPN. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  33. ^ José Mari Bakero at BDFutbol
  34. ^ "Bakero II". European Football. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  35. ^ José Mari Bakero coach profile at Soccerway