‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
The first time the Spanish forward competed in English soil, an young representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team soon after, well, he scored again. When he returned to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I was furious,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the short journey to the airport and another flight to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a difficult season for Athletic, partially owing to the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary flanked by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a serious knee problem, the cut, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but with every stage you go 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 first game and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then return home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. He left upset in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, work, believe, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after last year which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
