‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic
The first time the Athletic striker competed in England, an young playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. When he returned to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the attacker admits, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, the city, the day’s first practice is about to start; after it, the short journey to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partly because of the requirements of being here. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that produced the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but every phase you advance through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his debut and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process 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 would go to training and then return home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. With hip imbalance, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact repeatedly. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
