‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to goals with Athletic
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. The second time he played in the country, against the English side weeks after, he netted. Another occasion, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he states, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the attacker admits, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another flight to England, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a difficult season for the team, partly because of the demands of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in European competition. However, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway accompanied by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. As the child of the one-time rival player his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a ACL injury, being released, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it aids growth. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, you have everything, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. With hip imbalance, work on that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after last year which, sometimes, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
