‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s path from rehabilitation to success with Athletic
Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in English soil, an teenage playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. The second time he took the field in England, against the English side two months later, he scored. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear how true it was, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to the UK, now to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a challenging campaign for Athletic, partly because of the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in the continental stage. But, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a final at home by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
He considered it difficult enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, being released, a demotion and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to experience the peak of his career.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his debut and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
