‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to success with Athletic
The initial occasion the Athletic striker featured in England, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he found the net. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against Sunderland weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the attacker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, now to play Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. As the child of the one-time rival player the former professional and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after making his senior debut in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a relegation and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but every phase you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All the minor details: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in that season, he netted three goals in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
