‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to success with the Basque club
Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he appeared in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he converted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another flight to the UK, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partly because of the demands of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he suffered a serious knee problem, the cut, a demotion and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you progress through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then head home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come the requirement appears in your position, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
