‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with the Basque club
Whenhe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an young appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. The second time he appeared in the country, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; post-session, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the team, partially owing to the pressures of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
The player believed it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of his career.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the top level but with every stage you progress through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then return home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, you have everything, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in 2020, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
