‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to success with Athletic
Whenhe first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. The third time, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. As he revisited to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear the validity, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is about to start; following that, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a difficult season for the club, due in part to the requirements of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. But, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a domestic final by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river flanked by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the first title in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and making their first appearance in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the Arsenal manager, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he suffered a ACL injury, the cut, a demotion and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the first team but each step you advance through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then return home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
