‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to scoring with the Basque club
The initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an teenage representing the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he scored. The second time he played in the country, against the English side following that, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; after it, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another trip to the UK, now to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the team, partly because of the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. Yet, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that produced Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the senior squad but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his bow and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. He left emotionally in 2020, aged 23, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Particularly after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
