‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward competed in England, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. The second time he played in the country, against the Black Cats two months later, he netted. Another occasion, against the Citizens soon after, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” 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: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the usual talk. I have no idea if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; following that, the brief trip to the airport and another flight to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a challenging campaign for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
He considered it challenging enough just to make the first team and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that nurtured the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to live the best days of their lives.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you progress through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it made me change the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it helps. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in 2020, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and should the time come the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
