‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. The second time he appeared in England, against the Black Cats following that, he converted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
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At the facility, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the demands of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. But, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and he was right. As the child of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you progress through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as something positive because it shifted the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it aids growth. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in 2020, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in that season, he netted three goals in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
