‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an teenage playing for the reserve team against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against the English side following that, he converted. The third time, against the Citizens soon after, indeed, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did their duty: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain the validity, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; post-session, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to Britain, now to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It has become a tough year for the team, partly because of the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that produced the Arsenal manager, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his top-level debut in that summer, he experienced a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to live the best days of his career.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but each step you advance through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his bow and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it shifted the perspective. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so do everything. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All the minor details: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and when eventually a vacancy arises for your role, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
