‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, an teenage playing for the reserve team against German opponents at Adams Park in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he played in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he did it once more. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker says, 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 final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea if it was accurate, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other
At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and another trip to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for Athletic, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and he was right. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but with every stage you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his bow and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed in tears in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
