‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to scoring with the Basque club
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an teenage appearing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he played in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. The third time, against the Citizens six weeks after that, well, he scored again. When he returned to the city to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, too. “In fact,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker says, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea the validity, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to Britain, now to face Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. He’s now the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You adopt practices new to you. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. He left in tears in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he got three strikes in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and when eventually a vacancy arises where you play, a return could happen. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
