bˈɔːɹn ɪn ɑːlˈæbɚɹˌiə, dʒˌɪpəzkˈoʊə, bˈæsk kˈʌntɹi, bᵻdʒˈɪɹɪstˌeɪn bɪɡˈæn hɪz pɹəfˈɛʃənəl kɚɹˈɪɹ wɪð ɹˈiːəl sˈoʊsɪdˌæd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv ˈeɪtiːn, bˌiːɪŋ ɪmˈiːdɪətli kˈæst ˌɪntʊ ðə fˈɜːsttˈiːmz sˈɛɾʌp.
Born in Olaberria, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Begiristain began his professional career with Real Sociedad in 1982 at the age of 18, being immediately cast into the first-team's setup.