Diego Gutierrez (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Diego Gutiérrez is a retired Colombian American
footballer, who spent his career between Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards
, both of Major League Soccer
, and is currently Head of Scouting and Player Development for Philadelphia Union.
Born in Colombia, Gutiérrez was part of that country's youth teams. He came to the United States to attend the University of Evansville
and Rockhurst College
, and was drafted by the then-Kansas City Wiz
in the second round of the 1996 MLS College Draft
. Gutiérrez spent two seasons in Kansas City, but missed all of 1997 with an ACL
injury.
Gutiérrez's career took off after he was taken by the Chicago Fire in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
. He helped the expansion club to the 1998 MLS Cup
and US Open Cup double, scoring his first goal as a professional in the 2-0 MLS Cup win over D.C. United
. Usually a left back, but equally adept at both defense and midfield, he spent four seasons in Chicago, winning a second Open Cup in 2000. Prior to the 2002 season, Gutiérrez was re-acquired by Kansas City, winning his third Open Cup in 2004. After the 2005 season, he was traded back to Chicago for Will John
and a draft pick. In his MLS career, Gutiérrez has scored ten regular season goals and 39 assists, adding that MLS Cup goal and two assists in the playoffs. With the season-ending injury of former Fire defender Jim Curtin
, the versatile professional filled in as a defender, joining fellow "Fire Original" C.J. Brown on the backline. In his new defending role, Gutierrez recorded an assist in the October 6 match against the New England Revolution
, ranking him fourth overall in Fire career assists leaders with 30 assists through six seasons. Gutierrez appeared in 23 league matches for Chicago through the 2007 season, starting in 22.
Gutiérrez became a United States citizen in 2000, and received one cap with the U.S. national team
, coming on December 9, 2001 against South Korea. He serves on the board of directors of the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire. On February 4, 2008, Gutierrez, the 2007 U.S. Soccer Federation/MLS Humanitarian of the Year, announced that the 2008 season would be the last of his professional playing career.
Gutiérrez was one of the few players in international soccer to resolve the controversy surrounding a players' ability to represent multiple countries, as he represented his native Colombia at the youth levels, but later became a senior international for the United States.http://soccerlens.com/diego-gutierrez-chicago-fire-interview/4871/.
and First Lady Laura Bush
at the White House on April 25, 2007 for World Malaria Awareness Day and he was invited to participate as a forum speaker in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Malaria Forum in Oct. of 2007. Traveled to Mali
in December 2007 for a United Nation's Foundation trip to observe the distribution of insecticide treated bed nets and speak about leading healthy lifestyles.
On January 6, 2009, the White House issued a Press Release from President George W. Bush appointing Diego to the Presidential Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, an appointment that he will continue to serve under President Obama until May 2010. Gutiérrez was named Head of Scouting and Player Development for MLS side Philadelphia Union on December 16, 2010.http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2010/12/gutierrez-joins-union-technical-staff
Colombian American
Colombian Americans are citizens of the United States who trace their nationality or heritage from the South American nation of Colombia. They are the largest South American ethnic group in the United States.-Causes of migration:...
footballer, who spent his career between Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, both of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, and is currently Head of Scouting and Player Development for Philadelphia Union.
Born in Colombia, Gutiérrez was part of that country's youth teams. He came to the United States to attend the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
and Rockhurst College
Rockhurst University
Rockhurst University is a private, coeducational Jesuit university located in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College. The school adheres to the motto etched into the stone of the campus bell tower: "Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition." It is one of 28...
, and was drafted by the then-Kansas City Wiz
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in the second round of the 1996 MLS College Draft
1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
. Gutiérrez spent two seasons in Kansas City, but missed all of 1997 with an ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury.
Gutiérrez's career took off after he was taken by the Chicago Fire in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
1997 MLS Expansion Draft
The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
. He helped the expansion club to the 1998 MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
and US Open Cup double, scoring his first goal as a professional in the 2-0 MLS Cup win over D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. Usually a left back, but equally adept at both defense and midfield, he spent four seasons in Chicago, winning a second Open Cup in 2000. Prior to the 2002 season, Gutiérrez was re-acquired by Kansas City, winning his third Open Cup in 2004. After the 2005 season, he was traded back to Chicago for Will John
Will John
Will John is an American soccer player.-Early life:John played high school soccer at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. John currently holds the Rockhurst single season scoring title with 36 goals and 20 assists...
and a draft pick. In his MLS career, Gutiérrez has scored ten regular season goals and 39 assists, adding that MLS Cup goal and two assists in the playoffs. With the season-ending injury of former Fire defender Jim Curtin
Jim Curtin
Jim Curtin is a former American soccer defender known for his time with the Chicago Fire.-College:Curtin played college soccer at Villanova University...
, the versatile professional filled in as a defender, joining fellow "Fire Original" C.J. Brown on the backline. In his new defending role, Gutierrez recorded an assist in the October 6 match against the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, ranking him fourth overall in Fire career assists leaders with 30 assists through six seasons. Gutierrez appeared in 23 league matches for Chicago through the 2007 season, starting in 22.
Gutiérrez became a United States citizen in 2000, and received one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, coming on December 9, 2001 against South Korea. He serves on the board of directors of the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire. On February 4, 2008, Gutierrez, the 2007 U.S. Soccer Federation/MLS Humanitarian of the Year, announced that the 2008 season would be the last of his professional playing career.
Gutiérrez was one of the few players in international soccer to resolve the controversy surrounding a players' ability to represent multiple countries, as he represented his native Colombia at the youth levels, but later became a senior international for the United States.http://soccerlens.com/diego-gutierrez-chicago-fire-interview/4871/.
Off field activity
Was asked to be the keynote speaker at his own citizenship ceremony, on July 4, 2000. Is very involved with The United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign. He was invited to the join President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and First Lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
at the White House on April 25, 2007 for World Malaria Awareness Day and he was invited to participate as a forum speaker in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Malaria Forum in Oct. of 2007. Traveled to Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
in December 2007 for a United Nation's Foundation trip to observe the distribution of insecticide treated bed nets and speak about leading healthy lifestyles.
On January 6, 2009, the White House issued a Press Release from President George W. Bush appointing Diego to the Presidential Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, an appointment that he will continue to serve under President Obama until May 2010. Gutiérrez was named Head of Scouting and Player Development for MLS side Philadelphia Union on December 16, 2010.http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2010/12/gutierrez-joins-union-technical-staff