‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker featured in English soil, an teenage playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he found the net. On his next visit he took the field in the country, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, sure enough, he scored again. Upon his comeback to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, also. “Actually,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I have no idea the validity, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Uttering the name lights him up. It has become a tough year for Athletic, due in part to the pressures of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, 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 along the Nervión river accompanied by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a demotion and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the senior squad but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and when eventually a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
