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.
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.