‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to success with the Basque club

The debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an teenage playing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in England, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he scored again. When he returned to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they took him off.

“I was furious,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other

At the training ground, the city, the early training is about to start; following that, the brief trip to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partially owing to the pressures of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.

In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.

The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the former star and the tactician. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of their lives.

“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and my knee gave way.

“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.

“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and when eventually a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|