‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from rehabilitation to goals with the Basque club
Thehe first time the Athletic striker competed in England, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in England, against the Black Cats following that, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he did it once more. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Thus the club did their duty: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the forward admits, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to England, this time to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for the club, partially owing to the requirements of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. But, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a million fans 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 European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player his father and a regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed the coach, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but each step you progress through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and when eventually a vacancy arises in your position, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
