‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic

The first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, 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 weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. When he returned to Manchester to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “Truly,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the attacker admits, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”

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At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is about to start; post-session, the short journey to Loiu and a further journey to England, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.

In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.

The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but every phase you go through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.

“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”

Game time is essential. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and when eventually the requirement appears for your role, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”

Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|