‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
The initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against the English side weeks after, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They kept me out of the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I have no idea the validity, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, Bilbao, the morning session is about to start; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, now to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the team, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation 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 ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to live the best days of his career.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so do everything. Training, prehab. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All the minor details: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was involved suffering. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
