Seville, 19 January 2023. Andrés Guardado's brilliant spell at Real Betis is coming to an end. At 37 years of age, the Mexican midfielder is returning to his country, leaving behind an unforgettable spell at Club Verdiblanco, with four qualifiers for European competitions (2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023) and the Copa del Rey title achieved in 2022. The captain, a reference in the dressing room and the foreign player who has worn the green and white shirt the most times with 218 official matches, says goodbye.
Real Betis wanted to give a well-deserved recognition to the '18' of the last six and a half seasons. The event, which took place at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol, was attended by members of the first team squad, the coaching staff, former captain and Club legend Joaquín Sánchez, the board of directors and the player's family and friends, as well as the national and Mexican media.
Ángel Haro, president of the Club, opened the event with an emotional speech addressed to the captain: "In today's football it is not normal for a player to stay seven years in the same team. Andrés arrived in July 2017 at a great moment of footballing maturity and, almost seven years later, he leaves as the foreigner with the most games played and a Copa del Rey. With his football and leadership he has made the Betis fans happy. He has always been a loyal captain and a great team-mate. Here you will always have an open door".
Joaquín, a legend at the Club, and the current captains of the squad, Nabil Fekir and Germán Pezzella, World Cup winners with France and Argentina respectively, also spoke warmly of Andrés Guardado, who wanted to symbolically hand over his baton to Nabil Fekir by putting the captain's armband on him. "A legend is leaving. For Betis he is a very important player who will go down in history and for me it has been an honour and an honour to play with him. I have learnt a lot from him. It will be difficult to forget a captain like Andrés," commented the French player. Another former captain, Sergio Canales, also dedicated some warm words to his former Real Betis team-mate.
The farewell ceremony was attended by Javier Tebas, president of LALIGA, the main competition in which Guardado has played during his career, and Iker Casillas, another Spanish football legend. "We thank you from all of us who make up the great LALIGA family for your effort and dedication. Congratulations on your career," commented the former Real Madrid and Spanish national team goalkeeper.
Manuel Pellegrini also showed his appreciation to one of the heavyweights in his dressing room during his time as Real Betis coach. "As a coach, you try to get the commitment of a squad and, when you achieve this, it is because there are leaders in the squad who are extremely important. Leaders are made through a personality, through a trajectory. I was lucky enough to have captains like Joaquín and Andrés. That's what has allowed us to be a competitive team. It's a merit of the squad and of those leaders. It cost us a lot to let him go, but he had done enough to open the doors for him to return to Mexico for a new challenge. I only have words of thanks.
The epilogue was brought to a close by Andrés Guardado with a final speech thanking coaches, teammates, staff and, obviously, his family. "We achieved something that has never been achieved at the Club. In six years we have qualified for Europe four times. We have achieved very healthy, strong groups that have always put the group objective before the individual. That belongs to everyone. I always tried to maintain the harmony and strength of the group," he explained.
And of course, he sent a message to all the Beticismo: "They made me feel like a Bético from day one. For 17 years I carried my Mexican flag and represented my country. Now I'm taking my Betis scarf and I'll be 'Andrés el mexicano bético'. I hope that when people remember me, they will say 'Andrés Guardado is one of us'. I love the club, the city, the fans, but I repeat, this is not goodbye, it's see you later.
