‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe first time the Spanish forward featured in England, an young representing the reserve team against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in the country, against the English side weeks after, he scored. The third time, against the Citizens soon after, indeed, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea if it was accurate, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to England, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the club, partly because of the demands of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it difficult enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. As the child of the one-time rival player his father and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of his career.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in 2020, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
