‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from gurney to goals with Athletic
Thehe initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in English soil, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he scored. On his next visit he played in the country, against the English side weeks after, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did their duty: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the attacker says, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; following that, the brief trip to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for Athletic, due in part to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he states.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and that proved true. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he went through a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a recall 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 each step you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“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 aids growth. You develop habits new to you. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then head home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles repeatedly. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved emotionally in 2020, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone for your role, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
