‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an young playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he netted. The third time, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. When he returned to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; following that, the short journey to the airport and another trip to the UK, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it challenging enough just to make the first team and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of his career.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the first team but each step you go through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken 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. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, aged 23, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Particularly after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
