‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club
The first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an teenage appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team soon after, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, also. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did their duty: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the forward says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I’m not certain how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; following that, the short journey to the airport and a further journey to the UK, now to take on the Magpies in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the club, partially owing to the demands of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and he was right. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a drop in category and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down 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 turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in 2020, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and should the time come a vacancy arises for your role, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was involved suffering. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
