Gurutze: ‘I’m going to continue fighting till I’m in my 30s.

Gurutze’s arrival in the Athletic EFT squad took place in the second season of the life of the division. Luckily, Iñigo Juaristi ‘scouted’ her for the rojiblanca cause just when the player from Urretxu was about to sign a commitment with Lagunak from Barañain. She made her debut with the rojiblancas on 21 August 2003; a special day indeed as it was the day the Athletic Ladies’ team debuted in the most influential continental competition, the UEFA Women’s Cup. Guru played all 90 minutes and scored the definitive 2-0 against the Austrian team, Neulengbach.

The excellent player from Guipuzcoa already possesses a notable record with the Athletic EFT, which includes two Superligas of the three that the Club has played since its founding and over 100 official matches played. She reached the centennial number on 19 November, against Barcelona, at the Ciudad Condal.

1- What has been the course of your career?
I began playing in the school sports program at the school in Urretxu; later, I began with indoor soccer and when I turned 16 and went to the Institute, I changed to soccer-11 playing for Urola. I have also played for the Eibartarrak and for Oiartzun, which was my last team before coming to Athletic.

2- What kind of balance to you make of your trajectory in the Club?
Phenomenal, because we have won two Superligas of the three consecutive ones we’ve played; a milestone that is going to take some time to repeat itself. Besides, when I came I knew almost everybody, so for me it was easy to adapt.

3- Were you excited when Iñigo summoned you?
Sure, I was on the verge of going to the Lagunak when he called me to see the facilities. I saw them; he explained his plans and I had no doubts…

4- Do you think you are living through your best moments on the field of play?
They say that the best age is between 27 and 29, but, each case is different, although there are players now who are only 22 or 23 and outperform … I hope though, in my case, that peak agrees with what I’ve just said, 27, 28, 29… give or take…

5- You have started the Liga like a bullet, scoring very special goals; two in derby against Real in Lezama, the 1-0 against Levante…
The Real goals were special because it was the first official derby between both teams and because I am from Guipuzcoa; and the Levante goal because we had just come out of a very complicated week with a draw in Oviedo and, if we had lost, Levante would have gone 7 points ahead, which would have left us without options to overtake.

6 What about the derby against your compatriots?
Fine; I think it was a match in which they must draw the conclusion that the Superliga is a very complex category and that the jump is enormous.

7- How do you see your opponents?
Teams like Sevilla and Rayo, from whom I expected more in the first half of the season, have disappointed me for now. Rayo has scouted and signed rather well, it has a good team. Sevilla, I suppose, will rise in the table. We have rid ourselves of some complicated matches. We have defeated Sevilla, Espanyol at home, Levante…

8- What do you have to say about your over 100 matches playing for Athletic…
That time flies. It’s been almost 4 years since my arrival here…For me time has flown. There are quite a few of us that have already reached the 100-game mark. I’ve really enjoyed it.

9- You are not a player that injures easily …
I’m quite lucky in that sense. The most serious injury I’ve had outside of Athletic; a bothersome knee ligament and collarbone sprain, while here they’ve been mostly muscular injuries. I am lucky considering what has happened to team-mates of mine, who’ve had more serious injuries…

10- How long do you see yourself playing soccer?
I don’t know. I will at least try to continue fighting until I’m 30, but it all depends on many factors; one of which is work, since unfortunately Ladies’ soccer is not considered professional, and there may come a time when combining both could get difficult.

11- How’s your job at the Athletic Club museum?
Quite well, I truly enjoy it, especially when youngsters visit us because, as I studied Teaching, I really like being around the ‘little ones’.