‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from gurney to success with the Basque club

Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, an 18-year-old playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he took the field in England, against the English side following that, he converted. His third outing, against the Citizens soon after, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the usual talk. I have no idea if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”

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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to the UK, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the requirements of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the one-time rival player his father and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, being released, a demotion and a call back before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but every phase you go through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I suffered the ACL injury.

“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. 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 Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: do them.

“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”

Game time is essential. The striker moved emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears 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 qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Especially after the previous season which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|