EKAITZ SAIES

Sport, perhaps more than any other arena, strips leadership of its comforting myths. Talent does not guarantee victory. Preparation does not insure against bad refereeing, injury or a ball deflecting the wrong way in the final minute. In sport, control is always partial, and the margin between success and failure is often cruelly thin. That…

This dish is a great Post-Training Recovery meal. After a morning session, your body is in a state of high sensitivity; it is “hungry” to replenish glycogen and repair muscle fibers. By pan-toasting sourdough in olive oil and pairing it with poached eggs and avocado, we provide the perfect ratio of Complex Carbs, Rapid Protein,…

As part of my new project, The Champion’s Diary, I will share some exciting recipes designed for athletes. There’s a word from my mother tongue, Euskara—the oldest living language in Europe—that I’ve carried with me all my life.That word is sasoiko. It means two things at once: strong, full of life, at your best—and of…

Long before performance metrics and leadership frameworks, Basque communities had a simple principle that kept them alive and thriving: Auzolan. It was the act of coming together to repair, build, or improve what belonged to everyone, a practice grounded in responsibility, shared effort, and visible contribution. Today, that same principle offers a lens for high-performing…

Mikel Arteta and I entered the world in the same year and the same month, our childhoods unfolding along the same streets of San Sebastián. We kicked balls across the same beach, and according to friends, we even played in the same youth league — though, truthfully, I don’t remember ever lining up against him…