‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to scoring with Athletic
The first time the Spanish forward played in the UK, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Adams Park in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in England, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens not long later, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. An excellent finish, too. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the forward reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed deal, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the usual talk. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to England, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a difficult season for the club, due in part to the demands of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in European competition. Yet, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the one-time rival player his father and a regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured the coach, the former star and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, being released, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his first game and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as something positive because it shifted the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in that season, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
