‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao
The debut appearance the Spanish forward featured in the UK, an young playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in September 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he appeared in England, against the Black Cats following that, he scored. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he repeated the feat. When he returned to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is set to begin; after it, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. This is proving a difficult season for the club, due in part to the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are distinctive and debuting in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a turning point because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and when eventually a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
