‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to scoring with Athletic
The debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in England, an teenage representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he appeared in the country, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker says, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; after it, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by 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 four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
The player believed it difficult enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a torn cruciate, being released, a demotion and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of his career.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you advance through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a turning point because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. In the facility, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact countless occasions. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. He left upset in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and when eventually the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was about endurance. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
