‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to success with Athletic
Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an young playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the Black Cats two months later, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. 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 deal, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Man United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear the validity, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is about to start; after it, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a tough year for the club, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
The player believed it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but each step you advance through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then return home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, address that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All the minor details: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed upset in 2020, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day they need someone where you play, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
