‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from gurney to goals with the Basque club
Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in England, an 18-year-old playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. Another occasion, against Manchester City not long later, well, he scored again. When he returned to Manchester to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, too. “Truly,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the pressures of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage 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 those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he suffered a ACL injury, the cut, a demotion and a recall before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but with every stage you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact repeatedly. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
