‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
The first time the Athletic striker competed in England, an young appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he found the net. The second time he appeared in the country, against Sunderland following that, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and another flight to England, this time to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for the team, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. Yet, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the one-time rival player the former professional and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his bow and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All the minor details: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears where you play, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
