‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic
Whenhe initial occasion the Athletic striker played in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland following that, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens soon after, well, he did it once more. When he returned to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay 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 morning session is set to begin; post-session, the short journey to the airport and another trip to England, this time to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the team, partly because of the demands of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. He’s now the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he states.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of their lives.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you advance through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his debut and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then head home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in 2020, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, work, believe, and when eventually they need someone where you play, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
