‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in British turf, against the Black Cats following that, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, 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 got well angry,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to the UK, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a tough year for the club, partly because of the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. But, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the top level but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|