‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to success with the Basque club
The initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an teenage representing the reserve team against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens soon after, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, too. “In fact,” 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 was furious,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to Britain, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the pressures of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within 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 domestic final by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and that proved true. The son of the one-time rival player his father and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, the cut, 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 first team but each step you progress through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his debut and that period. “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 something positive because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually they need someone for your role, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
