‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s path from gurney to success with Athletic
The first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens soon after, well, he scored again. When he returned to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker reveals, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the morning session is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a challenging campaign for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. Born to the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed in tears in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the he found his form. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
