‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s path from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an teenage playing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in the 2015 season, he found the net. The second time he appeared in the country, against the Black Cats following that, he scored. The third time, against the Citizens soon after, well, he did it once more. As he revisited to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and a further journey to the UK, now to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partly because of the pressures of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a domestic final by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. He’s now the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but with every stage you advance through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his first game and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved emotionally in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he scored three times in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and when eventually they need someone for your role, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign 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|
