‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic Bilbao
The first time the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an young playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he took the field in the country, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the forward says, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the day’s first practice is about to start; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, due in part to the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. But, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it difficult enough just to make the first team and that proved true. As the child of the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, dropped, a relegation and a call back before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you progress through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then return home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All the minor details: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. He left upset in 2020, aged 23, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after last year which, sometimes, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
