‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao
The first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an teenage representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he took the field in England, against the English side two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other
At the training ground, the city, the morning session is about to start; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to the UK, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, due in part to the requirements of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. But, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river flanked by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are unique and debuting in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
The player believed 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 regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in that summer, he suffered a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could earn his place, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but each step you go through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a turning point because it shifted the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in that year, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
