Women's football has made significant progress in Urretxu and Zumarraga since the pioneers of the Ikastola Seirak team launched the initiative. Sociedad Deportiva Urola took over, and currently boasts more teams and players than ever before. As a result of the work carried out in recent years, local players are reaching the elite level, with others on their way.

One of them is Izaro Tores Lopez from Urretxu. She plays for the reserve team of Alavés and hopes to join the first team next season. Alavés' first team has successfully secured promotion to Liga F.

Tores has loved football since childhood. "My father was always a football fan. He played for Ilintxa in Legazpi as a goalkeeper. That influenced me, of course. My cousin is my age, and we've played together forever. I also played football during recess with the boys," she recalls.

As soon as she was old enough, she enrolled in the Urola football school. "I played for Urola for five or six years. Then I went to Beasain, to Goierri Gorri. I was there for two years. From Goierri Gorri, I moved to Real, where I played for three seasons. After a year at Eibar, I've been with Alavés for four seasons," summarizes the footballer from Urretxu.

She joined Real at 14 and played for their second team. She played alongside some footballers who are now in the elite. "I played with some who are in the first team and with others who play abroad: Cecilia; the two goalkeepers; Izarne Sarasola, who is in Nantes; Elene Lete, who is in London; Adriana Nanclares, the goalkeeper for Athletic..." she remembers.

At Eibar and Deportivo Alavés, she also played for the reserve team. This season, she trained with the first team and played with the second. "In the Cup, I was called up to the first team but didn't get to play," comments the young footballer from Urretxu.

Alavés will compete in the first division next season, and Tores hopes to get the chance to debut in the top flight. "The first team has been promoted to the first division, which is great news. On a personal level, however, it has been a difficult season. I had never been injured, only a few minor sprains, but this year I suffered a long-term injury. It's still giving me some trouble. That's the nature of sport. It would have been worse to have a torn cruciate ligament," she consoles herself.

She has signed for two more seasons and hopes to debut with the first team. "I'm a winger, but I can also play as a forward. I've also played as a full-back. The important thing is to play. I'm fast and explosive."

She is very comfortable in Gasteiz. "I signed for a year at Eibar. I went through a bad patch and lost motivation. When Deportivo Alavés called me, I decided to give football another chance. It's the best decision I've made. I'm very happy in Gasteiz: the people are very nice, it's a great place to live... I've been in Gasteiz for four years. I took the opportunity to come here to study Nursing. I'm in my third year."

She is very happy in Gasteiz, but she hasn't forgotten Urretxu. "On weekends, I go to Urretxu because my family and friends are there. I really enjoy being at home with my family," concludes the footballer from Urretxu.