‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in English soil, an 18-year-old playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland weeks after, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens soon after, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in that year, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea the validity, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted 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 set to begin; following that, the short journey to the airport and another trip to England, now to face Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, partly because of the demands of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river flanked by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in four decades. Now he is the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to earn a spot and he was right. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the former star and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of his career.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you advance through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact repeatedly. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone in your position, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the previous season which, on occasions, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
