‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to goals with the Basque club
Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an teenage playing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. The second time he played in the country, against Sunderland weeks after, he scored. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; after it, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to the UK, now to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for Athletic, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the first title in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of his career.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles repeatedly. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and when eventually a vacancy arises where you play, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
