Urko González’s Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Gabriel

Urko González de Zárate Quirós is a Spanish professional footballer whose family has remained closely involved throughout his journey from the youth ranks in Vitoria-Gasteiz to La Liga. Born on March 20, 2001, Urko developed at Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad before establishing himself with RCD Espanyol.

Unlike many footballers who keep virtually every aspect of their family background private, Urko has spoken openly about his parents and brother. His father, Alberto, remains one of the people whose football opinion he values most, while his mother, Mariló, and brother, Márkel, have also been identified in reliable Spanish reporting.

When it comes to his romantic life, however, Urko is considerably more private. There is currently no dependable public confirmation of a girlfriend, wife or children.

Who Is Urko González’s Girlfriend?

As of now, Urko González de Zárate has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend or partner.

Interviews with the Espanyol midfielder have covered his childhood, friendships, family, career at Real Sociedad and life in Barcelona, but reliable Spanish sports publications have not identified a romantic partner.

Urko also appears to maintain a relatively low-profile private life. Although he uses social media and has become increasingly recognizable since establishing himself in La Liga, he has not made his relationship status a significant part of his public profile.

It would therefore be inaccurate to name someone as Urko González’s girlfriend based solely on speculation or unverified social-media posts. His relationship status should be considered private unless he chooses to confirm it publicly.

Does Urko González Have Children?

There is no reliable public information confirming that Urko González has children.

Urko has spoken extensively about his parents, brother and close friends in interviews, but he has not publicly mentioned having a son or daughter. Established reports about his personal life likewise do not identify him as a father.

For that reason, there is currently no evidence that Urko González has publicly known children.

Who Are Urko González’s Parents?

Urko González de Zárate’s parents are Alberto and Mariló. The midfielder grew up with them in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Spain’s Basque Country, and has maintained an especially close relationship with his family despite spending much of his football career away from his hometown.

Spanish newspaper El País revealed additional details about the family in April 2026. The publication reported that Urko’s father, Alberto, operates a vending-machine business and that his mother, Mariló, also works in the business.

Football has always been particularly important in Urko’s relationship with his father. Alberto followed his development from childhood and continues to analyze his performances even after his son became an established La Liga player.

Who Is Urko González’s Father, Alberto?

Urko González’s father is Alberto González de Zárate. He has been one of the most influential figures in Urko’s football life.

Urko has revealed that his father calls him after virtually every match to discuss how he played. When work allows, Alberto also travels to watch his son in person.

The Espanyol midfielder values those conversations because he believes his father gives him an honest assessment rather than simply praising him. Urko has explained that Alberto tells him directly whether he believes he played well or badly.

Their connection with football began during Urko’s childhood. Balls were regularly around the family home, and Urko remembers spending long periods playing football with his father.

Even after reaching professional football, that relationship has changed very little. In an August 2026 interview with La Vanguardia, Urko again explained that he speaks with his father following matches because he knows Alberto will give him an honest opinion.

What Does Urko González’s Father Do?

Alberto works in the vending-machine industry. El País reported that he runs a company dedicated to vending machines.

The business has also involved Urko’s mother, Mariló, making it a family operation away from football.

Despite not being a professional football coach, Alberto has remained an important sporting reference for Urko. His son continues to seek his assessment of matches even while working with professional coaches at the highest level of Spanish football.

Who Is Urko González’s Mother, Mariló?

Urko González’s mother is named Mariló. She has maintained a considerably more private profile than her son but was publicly identified by El País when the newspaper profiled Urko and his family in 2026.

Mariló works alongside her husband Alberto in the family’s vending-machine business.

Urko has also recalled his mother being present during the countless childhood football sessions he shared with his father. While Urko and Alberto played with the ball around the house, Mariló sometimes had to intervene when their enthusiasm became too much indoors.

Those memories illustrate the ordinary family environment in which Urko developed before professional football became a realistic career.

Does Urko González Have Siblings?

Yes. Urko González has a brother named Márkel.

Márkel was publicly identified by Urko during an interview with El País. The Espanyol midfielder recalled growing up alongside his brother while explaining how football became such an important part of his childhood.

Unlike Urko, Márkel did not develop the same strong connection to football. Urko explained that his brother was not particularly football-oriented.

Márkel also suffered a knee injury when he was young, and the two brothers did not spend as much time playing football together as Urko did with their father.

There is currently no dependable public information suggesting that Márkel pursued professional football or another career in elite sport.

Who Is Urko González’s Brother, Márkel?

Márkel González de Zárate is Urko’s publicly known brother. Very little information about his personal life has been made available because he is not a public figure.

Urko has mentioned him while discussing his childhood but has not disclosed details such as his profession or current place of residence.

What is known is that Márkel did not share Urko’s intense interest in football. While Urko spent large amounts of time playing with his father, Márkel followed a different path.

There is also no reliable evidence confirming whether Urko has any additional brothers or sisters. Therefore, Márkel should be described as his publicly known sibling rather than definitively his only sibling unless the family confirms otherwise.

Urko González’s Childhood With His Family in Vitoria

Urko González grew up in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where football quickly became part of his everyday life.

He attended San Viator school and initially combined several sports. At weekends, however, he participated in Deportivo Alavés’ football program. By the Benjamin age category, he was already playing within the Alavés youth system.

Urko has recalled football being everywhere at home when he was little. Foam balls were common around the house, allowing him and his father to play without causing too much damage.

His performances eventually brought him to the attention of Real Sociedad. At around 14 years old, Urko left Vitoria to join the club’s academy in San Sebastián.

Why Did Urko González Leave His Parents at a Young Age?

Joining Real Sociedad meant Urko had to leave his family home while still a teenager.

He moved into Real Sociedad’s academy residence in San Sebastián and spent approximately three years there before moving into an apartment.

The transition was emotionally difficult. Urko later admitted that during his first year away, he greatly missed both his parents and the friends with whom he had grown up in Vitoria.

He had spent most of his childhood surrounded by the same family and school friends, meaning the change required considerable adjustment.

Urko believes the experience ultimately helped him mature. Living away from home forced him to become more independent while simultaneously dealing with the increasing demands of elite youth football.

Urko González’s Relationship With His Father Through Football

The relationship between Urko and Alberto remains one of the most interesting aspects of the midfielder’s family story.

Many professional footballers receive feedback primarily from coaches and analysts. Urko, however, still wants to hear his father’s assessment after matches.

Alberto follows his son closely and offers straightforward feedback. Urko has said that this honesty is precisely why he enjoys talking about his performances with him.

That routine continued after Urko left Real Sociedad and established himself at Espanyol. Despite living hundreds of kilometres away from Vitoria, post-match telephone conversations helped maintain the football connection that began when Urko was a young boy playing around the family home.

How Urko González’s Parents Supported His Football Career

Urko’s parents supported a football journey that required their son to leave home relatively early.

His development began with Alavés before Real Sociedad recruited him during his teenage years. Moving from Vitoria to San Sebastián meant the family had to accept that Urko would spend much of his adolescence living away from them.

Urko has acknowledged that this separation was initially difficult, but his family remained an important source of support.

The midfielder progressed through Real Sociedad’s academy, played under Xabi Alonso for the reserve team and eventually reached the first team. After struggling for consistent senior minutes in San Sebastián, he joined Espanyol on loan in January 2025.

The move transformed his career. Espanyol later completed his permanent transfer, allowing Urko to establish himself as an important La Liga midfielder.

Urko González’s Family and His Connection to Vitoria

Despite living in Barcelona because of his career with Espanyol, Urko has remained strongly connected to Vitoria-Gasteiz.

His parents, childhood friends and early football memories remain there. During a December 2025 interview, he explained that friends regularly visit him in Barcelona whenever possible.

His attachment to Vitoria also extends to Deportivo Alavés. Urko spent important years in the club’s academy and grew up close to Mendizorroza Stadium.

Those roots continue to form an important part of his identity even after spells in San Sebastián and Barcelona.

Frequently Asked Questions About Urko González’s Family

Who is Urko González’s girlfriend?

Urko González de Zárate has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or romantic partner. His current relationship status remains private.

Is Urko González married?

There is no reliable public information confirming that Urko González is married.

Does Urko González have children?

No children have been publicly confirmed for Urko González.

Who are Urko González’s parents?

Urko’s parents are Alberto and Mariló. They live a largely private life away from their son’s football career.

Who is Urko González’s father?

His father is Alberto González de Zárate. Alberto operates a vending-machine business and remains one of Urko’s most trusted sources of feedback about his football performances.

Who is Urko González’s mother?

Urko’s mother is named Mariló. She also works in the family vending-machine business.

Does Urko González have a brother?

Yes. Urko has a brother named Márkel. Urko has said that Márkel was not particularly interested in football and suffered a knee injury when he was young.

Does Urko González have a sister?

No reliable public source has identified a sister. It is therefore unclear whether Márkel is Urko’s only sibling.

Where is Urko González’s family from?

Urko was born and raised in Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain’s Basque Country, where his family remains closely connected to his childhood and early football story.

Is Urko González close to his parents?

Yes. Urko has repeatedly spoken positively about his parents. He still talks to his father after matches and has recalled how difficult it was to leave his parents when he entered Real Sociedad’s academy as a teenager.