‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he played in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he netted. Another occasion, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the attacker admits, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I have no idea if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the UCL on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the team, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. He’s now the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are unique and debuting in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a drop in category and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. He left emotionally in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, 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. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
