‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s path from injury table to success with the Basque club
Whenhe debut appearance the Spanish forward competed in England, an young playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against the Black Cats following that, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens soon after, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the attacker says, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. They kept me out of the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the facility, the city, the morning session is about to start; following that, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a tough year for the team, partially owing to the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. Yet, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at his teens but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and if one day they need someone where you play, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Especially after last year which, on occasions, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
