‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he scored. On his next visit he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he converted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, indeed, he scored again. When he returned to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; after it, the quick travel to the airport and another trip to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a challenging campaign for the team, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about 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 the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices 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, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in 2020, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and should the time come a vacancy arises where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after last year which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|