‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe first time the Athletic striker competed in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he played in England, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, well, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, too. “In fact,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward says, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea the validity, 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 facility, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; post-session, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to England, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words lights him up. This is proving a tough year for Athletic, due in part to the demands of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. But, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a domestic final by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway surrounded by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it aids growth. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|