According to reports from Sport, Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal is not only a key player for the club but has also completed his business management degree.
Oyarzabal's career has been closely tied to Real Sociedad, and he has become a role model for many young players through his dedication and humility. He is now part of the club's history, embodying the values of the txuriurdin team while continuing to elevate his status.
Before becoming a prominent figure in La Liga and the Spanish national team, Oyarzabal was clear that his future could not depend solely on football.
As his football career began, he decided to pursue a degree in Business Administration at the University of Deusto. He persevered with a determination uncommon among professional footballers, even sharing a student apartment with three longtime friends who were studying the same major.
By his own account, that period was "very positive," not only for the academic support but also because it allowed him to maintain a normal daily life and stay grounded. His experience demonstrates that with discipline and organization, academic studies can coexist with a professional sports career.
During his studies, the Champions League winner explained: "I managed my time very well. We trained in the morning, and in the afternoon, I studied. Many times I didn't feel like it, but I knew that besides football, I needed a backup plan. You never know what might happen."
Years later, Oyarzabal has become a role model for many young people, who see him as an example of hard work and consistency. He acknowledges that this admiration is a "responsibility," but he embraces it openly and takes pride in it.
His family life has also matured him: after becoming a father, his perspective shifted, with his child becoming his greatest motivation and primary concern outside of football. As a doctor in Pamplona, his partner is also an important support in his life, helping him maintain perspective and stay calm in the high-pressure world of professional football. This reflects his consistent emphasis on personal balance.
By age 22, Oyarzabal had accumulated thousands of minutes for Real Sociedad and the Spanish national team, earning his business management degree in just four years—the same time it took him to become a professional player.
He passed all his courses without failing any, even during the most demanding seasons.
His ability to study in the afternoons after training while keeping pace with his classmates challenged the old stereotype that "players don't have time to study." His example proves that effective time management can be key to achieving multiple goals.
Oyarzabal has consistently stressed the importance of having a second career option. The knowledge gained at university will help him better understand contract details in his professional career and prepare him for life after retirement—an increasingly important consideration in elite-level sports.
His story shows that education can complement a professional career while providing stability, perspective, and tools for life beyond that career.
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