Wikipedia

Diego Gutierrez (soccer, born 1999)

Diego Gutierrez (born January 5, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Charleston Battery.

Diego Gutierrez
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-01-05) January 5, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Charleston Battery
Number 11
Youth career
Elite Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Omaha Mavericks 44 (10)
2020–2021 Creighton Bluejays 30 (15)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Chicago FC United 10 (7)
2022–2023 Portland Timbers 10 (0)
2022–2023 → Portland Timbers 2 (loan) 21 (7)
2024– Charleston Battery 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 17, 2024

Early life edit

Gutierrez grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.[1] In his youth, he played in the local latino Sunday league in Omaha.[2] He also played youth soccer with Elite Academy.[3]

Gutierrez played high school soccer at Ralston High School, finishing his time there as the state's all-time leading goal scorer with 112 goals as well as tallying 43 assists.[3] He was a four-time All-State selection and also earned All-Nebraska First Team honors.[3]

College career edit

In 2017, Gutierrez began attending the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he played for the men's soccer team.[4] On October 14, 2017, he scored his first collegiate goal, in a match against the Michigan Wolverines.[5] At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team and the All-Tournament Team.[6][4] In his sophomore season, he scored braces in two matches against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on September 29 and the Western Illinois Leathernecks on October 13,[7][8] earning Summit League Offensive Player of the Week for both performances.[9][10] At the end of the season, he was named to the All-Summit League First Team.[11] In his junior season, he helped them reach the Summit League final, where they were defeated by the Denver Pioneers.[12]

In 2020, Gutierrez transferred to Creighton University for his senior year to play for the men's soccer team,[13] The 2020 season was delayed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was drafted in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft in January 2021 before appearing in a match for Creighton.[14] However, rather than to turn professional, he opted to complete his collegiate eligibility with Creighton first. He scored his first goals for Creighton on March 6, 2021, netting a brace against the Xavier Musketeers.[15] In April 2021, he was named the Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Week.[16] At the end of the season, he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year, and was named to the All-Big East First Team and the All-East Region Second Team.[17][18] He then returned for a fifth collegiate season in the fall of 2021 and was named the Big East Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-Big East Preseason Team.[19] He earned another two Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors that season[20][21] and helped Creighton reach the NCAA Tournament.[22] At the end of the season, for the second consecutive season, he was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-Big East First Team, after leading the conference in both goals (10) and assists (7).[23][24] He was also named to the All-East Region First Team, All-American Second Team, and the TopDrawerSoccer Postseason Best XI Second Team.[25][26][27]

Club career edit

At the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Gutierrez was selected in the third round (70th overall) by the Portland Timbers.[28] However, he remained at his university for another year, before pursuing his professional career.[29] In the summer of 2021, he played with Chicago FC United in USL League Two.[30]

Gutierrez then joined the Timbers for their 2022 preseason, appearing in all their of the team's exhibition matches.[31][32] In February 2022, he signed a one-year contract with the club, with option years from 2023 to 2025.[33][34] He made his professional debut in Major League Soccer on March 12, 2022, appearing as an 87th–minute substitute during a 1–0 win over Austin FC.[35] He also spent some time with the club's second team, Portland Timbers 2, in MLS Next Pro.[36][37] In April 2022, he underwent foot surgery, causing him to miss the next five months of the season.[38][39] On September 19, 2022, while playing for the second team, he scored a brace in a 2-0 victory over the Tacoma Defiance,[40] and on August 9, 2023, he scored a hat trick in a 6-1 victory over LA Galaxy II.[41] After the 2023 season, the club declined his option for the 2024 season.[42]

Gutierrez signed with Charleston Battery of the USL Championship on January 17, 2024.[43]

Personal life edit

Gutierrez is of Mexican descent and holds dual American and Mexican citizenship.[citation needed]

Career statistics edit

As of November 24, 2023[44]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chicago FC United 2021[30] USL League Two 10 7 1 1 — — — 11 8
Portland Timbers 2022 Major League Soccer 1 0 — 0 0 — — 1 0
2023 9 0 — 2 0 – 0 0 11 0
Total 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Portland Timbers 2 (loan) 2022 MLS Next Pro 6 2 — — — — 6 2
2023 15 5 — — — — 15 5
Total 21 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 7
Career total 41 14 1 1 2 0 !0 0 0 0 44 15

References edit

  1. ^ Clarke, Ryan (February 25, 2022). "Portland Timbers sign forward Diego Gutierrez to first team". The Oregonian.
  2. ^ Aerni, Blake (May 18, 2023). "Soccer is growing in Nebraska, and two current MLS players are the proof". Nebraska News Service.
  3. ^ a b c "Diego Gutierrez Creighton profile". Creighton Bluejays.
  4. ^ a b "Diego Gutierrez Omaha profile". Omaha Mavericks.
  5. ^ "Michigan's Golden Goal in 105th minute Sinks Omaha". Omaha Mavericks. October 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "Men's Soccer Hauls in 11 All-League Honors". Omaha Mavericks. November 8, 2017.
  7. ^ "Men's Soccer Picks Up 4-1 Win at Purdue Fort Wayne". Omaha Mavericks. September 29, 2018.
  8. ^ "Gutierrez Leads Omaha Past Western Illinois". Omaha Mavericks. October 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Gutierrez Named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week". Omaha Mavericks. October 1, 2018.
  10. ^ "Gutierrez, Tritz Sweep Summit League Weekly Awards". Omaha Mavericks. October 15, 2018.
  11. ^ "Six Mavericks Collect Summit League Honors". Omaha Mavericks. November 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "Mavericks Fall in Summit League Final, 1-0". Omaha Mavericks. November 16, 2019.
  13. ^ Anderson, Rob (June 22, 2020). "Men's Soccer Adds Seven For 2020 Season". Creighton Bluejays.
  14. ^ Robinson, Anthony (January 21, 2021). "Men's Soccer's Diego Gutierrez Selected By Portland Timbers During 2021 MLS SuperDraft". Creighton Bluejays.
  15. ^ Robinson, Anthony (March 6, 2021). "Men's Soccer Returns To Morrison With 2-1 Victory Over Xavier". Creighton Bluejays.
  16. ^ Robinson, Anthony (April 5, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez and Duncan McGuire Garner BIG EAST Weekly Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
  17. ^ Robinson, Anthony (April 14, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Five Bluejays Listed On All-BIG EAST Teams". Creighton Bluejays.
  18. ^ Robinson, Anthony (May 11, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Earns Spot on United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team". Creighton Bluejays.
  19. ^ Robinson, Anthony (August 18, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Voted BIG EAST Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Bluejays Picked To Finish Third". Creighton Bluejays.
  20. ^ Anderson, Rob (October 18, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week". Creighton Bluejays.
  21. ^ Sisk, Glen (November 1, 2021). "Gutierrez, O'Neill and Ventura Claim BIG EAST Weekly Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
  22. ^ Schinzel, Gene (February 25, 2022). "Diego Gutierrez, former Creighton and UNO player, signs with MLS Portland Timbers". Omaha World-Herald.
  23. ^ Sisk, Glen (November 8, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Repeats as BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year". Creighton Bluejays.
  24. ^ Sisk, Glen (February 25, 2022). "Former Bluejay Diego Gutierrez Signs Official Contract with Portland Timbers". Creighton Bluejays.
  25. ^ Sisk, Glen (December 9, 2021). "Gutierrez and Watson Earn United Soccer Coaches Association Regional Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
  26. ^ Sisk, Glen (December 10, 2021). "Gutierrez Earns United Soccer Coaches Association All-America Honors". Creighton Bluejays.
  27. ^ Anderson, Rob (December 23, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Honored by Top Drawer Soccer". Creighton Bluejays.
  28. ^ Garcua, Kyle (January 21, 2021). "Timbers select Dawson McCartney, Diego Gutierrez in 2021 MLS SuperDraft". Stumptown Footy.
  29. ^ Nyatawa, Jon (February 26, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez has gone from Ralston to Creighton, and now he has a path to the pros". Omaha World-Herald.
  30. ^ a b "Diego Gutierrez 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  31. ^ "Timbers sign forward Diego Gutierrez". Portland Timbers. February 25, 2022.
  32. ^ Costigan, Fern (February 26, 2022). "Forward rookie draftee Diego Gutierrez joins the Portland Timbers". ProstAmerika.
  33. ^ "Portland Timbers sign SuperDraft selection Diego Gutierrez". Major League Soccer. February 25, 2022.
  34. ^ Svilar, Sam (February 25, 2022). "Timbers announce signing of Diego Gutierrez". Stumptown Footy.
  35. ^ Costello, Brian (March 13, 2022). "Match Recap: Timbers earn first win of the season with 1-0 victory over Austin FC". Portland Timbers.
  36. ^ Clarke, Ryan (April 22, 2022). "Portland Timbers forward Diego Gutierrez undergoes foot surgery". The Oregonian.
  37. ^ Clarke, Ryan (February 2, 2023). "Diego Gutierrez eyes comeback, contribution for Portland Timbers after injury limits rookie season". The Oregonian.
  38. ^ "Timbers forward Diego Gutierrez undergoes successful foot surgery". Portland Timbers. April 22, 2022.
  39. ^ "Timbers forward Diego Gutierrez recovering from foot surgery". Sportsnaut. April 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "Timbers2 earn 2-0 road victory against Tacoma Defiance in season finale". Portland Timbers. September 19, 2022.
  41. ^ "Timbers2 register 6-1 home win over LA Galaxy II". Portland Timbers. August 10, 2023.
  42. ^ "Timbers announce roster status ahead of 2024 MLS season". Portland Timbers. November 30, 2023.
  43. ^ "Battery sign ex-Portland Timbers forward Diego Gutiérrez". CharlestonBattery.com. Charleston Battery. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  44. ^ Diego Gutierrez at Soccerway

External links edit

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