‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to success with the Basque club
The debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in England, an young playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he took the field in British turf, against the English side weeks after, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; post-session, the short journey to the airport and another flight to England, this time to play Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Uttering the name lights him up. It has become a tough year for the club, partly because of the demands of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. However, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the first team but each step you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow 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 outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved in tears in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day they need someone in your position, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
