‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from gurney to scoring with the Basque club
The debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an teenage appearing for the youth squad 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 the Black Cats following that, he converted. The third time, against the Citizens six weeks after that, well, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, 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.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker admits, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. They kept me out of the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the typical thing. I’m not certain the validity, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the training ground, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. Yet, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary flanked by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. He’s now the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the Arsenal manager, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the senior squad but every phase you advance through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, work on that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. The striker moved emotionally in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
