Guti Haz: A look at the legendary Real Madrid midfielder

José María Gutiérrez Hernández, also known as Guti (or Guti Haz), is a former Spanish footballer who triumphed at Real Madrid during the iconic 'Galacticos' era. He was regarded as the passing guru, with eyes behind his back at all times. His vision alongside his great technical skill made him one of the best midfielders in the game during the 2000s.

The former number '14' is the embodiment of the Real Madrid true DNA. An extremely talented player with a unique skill, but always tangled in controversy. The Spanish publication Marca described him as a "misunderstood genius, a rebel without a cause."

Born in Madrid, Guti left his mark in the Santiago Bernabeu. Fans adored him for his contributions to big titles during the 2000s. The 'local boy' was making it big in the Bernabeu.

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Guti soon stood out in his career as a world-class midfielder for his unique vision of the game. He would regulate the pitch tempo with a variety of short or long passes, keeping possession of the ball at all times.

His Real Madrid career has always been surrounded by controversy, mainly fueled by local sports media. The pressure was distracting Guti and would often cause him to lose his temper. "The '14' has wasted one of the greatest talents in the history of Spanish football...[Guti] Hated by many and loved by others, he was the boss of his own two feet," wrote Marca, describing the Real Madrid midfielder.

He was born on October 31, 1976 in Madrid, Spain, and spent most of his career at Real Madrid, where he became a local icon.

Guti joined the Real Madrid youth academy when he was just nine years old, standing out in the club's youth ranks as one of the most talented prospects.

He made his debut in the first team in the 1995/96 season under the direction of coach Jorge Valdano. He made his debut against Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabéu, with a 4-1 victory. However, he spent much of the season playing for Real Madrid 'B', which was then in the second division at the time.

With the arrival of Vicente del Bosque, Guti began to show his true potential and talent as an attacking midfielder. He went from being a squad player with a few minutes here and there, to an essential player on the pitch.

Along with his great growth at Real Madrid, Guti was called up to the Spanish national team and made his debut for his country in 1999, against Croatia, winning 3-1.

During the 2000/01 season, Guti established himself in the first team and began to enjoy more minutes due to an injury to Fernando Morientes. That season, Guti played in a forward position and scored 14 critical goals that gave Real Madrid the league title.

With the arrival of Zinedine Zidane, Guti lost his footing in the starting team and was relegated to a sub. He would maintain a backup role in the 2002 Champions League final, arguably one of the most important trophies of the 'galacticos' era.

With Zidane's retirement in 2006, Guti regained his 'skipper' role in the midfield, becoming the head orchestrator in the midfield. Fabio Capello saw something special in Guti, giving him more freedom with the ball.

Guti's great vision of the game unblocked difficult matches, generating pinpoint passes that ended in great goals. Games like the victory against Sevilla FC in 2006/07, a comeback (3-2) that would help them win the league title that season.

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With the arrival of Bernd Schuster to the Bernabeu in 2007, Guti led the league in assists with 18 world-class passes.

The Madrid midfielder would have his best football performance that same season against Real Valladolid, scoring two goals and providing five assists. Guti scored Real Madrid's 5,000th goal in the league that same year.

In his last season (2009/10) with Real Madrid, Guti would leave one of the most iconic assists in the history of the Spanish league: Guti's famous backheel pass to assist Karim Benzema in Riazor.

On July 25, 2010, Guti announced his departure from Real Madrid, after 15 years playing for the first team. "A very glorious period for me is coming to a finish. It has been very nice, but we have to make way for the next group of young players. I am very proud to have been here," Guti shared during his last press conference.

After 15 years, 542 games, 77 goals, and more than 100 assists, the former captain of Madrid took a step aside. The Madrid footballer would sign a two-season contract with Turkish club Besiktas JK, earning €2.7 million (£2.3m/$2.9m) per season.

Guti hung his boots up in 2012, closing his career as a footballer. However, he would start a new chapter as a coach in the world of football.

Guti went on to coach Unión Deportiva Almería and the Real Madrid youth team, with very little success.

At the same time, Guti continued to be involved with the world of football and entertainment, joining big football talk shows such as 'El Chringuito'.

Guti is a legend of Spanish football and a Real Madrid icon. His technical ability and his exceptional vision of the game made him one of the most outstanding midfielders of his generation, pure class.

Although his career had its ups and downs, his legacy as a talented and creative player will live on in football history. Let us know what you think in the comments!

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