‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to success with Athletic
Whenhe debut appearance the Athletic striker played in England, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain 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, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is set to begin; post-session, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to the UK, now to face Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it difficult enough just to make the first team and he was right. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day the requirement appears where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Especially after the previous season which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
