Wrexham fans of a certain age will remember Juan Ugarte fondly as the Spanish striker became something of a cult hero at the STōK Cae Ras.
Wrexham haven’t really explored foreign markets since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds completed their 2021 takeover.
The higher Wrexham go on this incredible journey, the more likely we are to see Phil Parkinson look abroad for additions.
Some real Wrexham favourites have jetted in from around the world in years gone by, including the Trinidadian trio of Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam.
Joslain Mayebi springs to mind as something of a cult hero, and Juan Ugarte would certainly join him after his goalscoring exploits.
Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images
Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images
New Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso helped Wrexham sign Juan Ugarte
Ugarte was a real find for Wrexham back in 2005, as he went on a rather unfamiliar path to the STōK Cae Ras.
The Spanish striker came up in the Real Sociedad ranks before heading to Eibar, Real Union and Barakaldo.
Ugarte’s first taste of English football came with lowly Dorchester Town, and his goalscoring exploits in non-league football ultimately resulted in a move to Wrexham.
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The move to North Wales was inspired by a surprise figure – Xabi Alonso.
Alonso has just been named as the new Real Madrid boss but goes way back with Ugarte from their time in the Real Sociedad ranks.
Speaking to Wales Online back in 2005, Ugarte talked of how Alonso was destined for a huge future in the game from a young age.
A friend managed to land Ugarte a trial at Dorchester, but it was Alonso who set the wheels in motion for a move to Wrexham.
Alonso asked his agent to find Ugarte a club and Liverpool’s Rick Parry then recommended the striker to Wrexham, paving the way for a deal.
Ugarte told Wales Online that he knew Alonso had passed his name directly on to Parry, helping tee up the move to Wrexham.
“I’m slightly older than Xabi, but we were at school together and played youth football together back in Spain for an amateur club called Antiguoko,” explained Ugarte.
“I was offered an apprenticeship at Real Sociedad and Xabi followed me there, although he went for a big fee. Xabi and I played in Real’s reserves, but it was quite obvious he was destined for higher things than me and he went on to play regularly in La Liga and for Spain.
“I was released last summer and another friend, who was playing in England for Dorchester, invited me over for a trial. But it was when I met up with Xabi again that my league chance came about. We got together at Stamford Bridge when Liverpool played at Chelsea last October and Xabi asked his agent to try and find me a Football League club.
“The next thing I knew was that Rick Parry, Liverpool’s chief executive, had arranged a trial for me at Wrexham. Since then, I’ve not looked back,” he added.
Ugarte went on to score 16 goals in 30 league games for Wrexham, becoming an almost instant cult hero with his goalscoring prowess.
That run included five goals against Hartlepool United, equalling the Wrexham record for most goals scored by one player in a single game.
The Spaniard also fired the winner against rivals Chester City, securing a 1-0 win in the LDV Vans Trophy.
A move to Crewe Alexandra didn’t work out for Ugarte, and despite returning to Wrexham on loan and then permanently, he couldn’t recapture that goalscoring brilliance and retired at the age of just 27.
Ugarte’s purple patch will live long in the memory of Wrexham fans, and the Spaniard remains in the game.
Ugarte has become an agent, working for the You First agency over in Spain.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz, Athletic Club’s Mikel Jauregizar, Real Betis striker Mucho Hernandez and former Liverpool midfielder Luis Alberto are some of their notable clients.
Ugarte hasn’t been involved in Alonso’s huge move to Real Madrid, but will certainly have immense pride for his old friend as he embarks on one of the biggest jobs in the game.
Who knows, maybe Ugarte will manage to take one of his clients to Wrexham in the future and contribute to the club’s remarkable rise almost 20 years after leaving.