‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao

The debut appearance the Athletic striker featured in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in September 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the English side following that, he netted. The third time, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to Manchester to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they took him off.

“I was furious,” the forward reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the typical thing. 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.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and another flight to Britain, this time to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for the club, partially owing to the requirements of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.

In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and he was right. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced the Arsenal manager, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his first game and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.

“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.

“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

Game time is essential. He left upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the previous season which, sometimes, was about endurance. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|