‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic
The first time the Athletic striker played in English soil, an young representing the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in the 2015 season, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against the English side following that, he scored. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to England, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for Athletic, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
He considered 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 season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in that summer, he went through a ACL injury, the cut, a drop in category and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the top level but each step you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his debut and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
