‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an teenage appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he scored. The second time he appeared in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, well, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the city to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the short journey to the airport and another trip to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partly because of the pressures of being here. 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 Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. But, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and debuting in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
He considered it difficult enough just to make the first team and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a relegation and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to live the best days of his career.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the first team but every phase you advance through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as a turning point because it shifted the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
