Diego Gutiérrez (soccer, born 1997)

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Diego Gutiérrez
A player reach behind him to grab the jersey of his opponent
Gutiérrez Zúñiga (right) in 2022
Personal information
Full name Diego Nicolás Gutiérrez Zúñiga
Date of birth (1997-02-18) February 18, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Cavalry FC
Youth career
Colo-Colo
Palestino
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Palestino 8 (0)
2019–2020 Valour FC 30 (0)
2021 Barnechea 12 (1)
2022–2023 Valour FC 49 (4)
2024– Cavalry FC 2 (0)
International career
2017 Canada U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 20, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 11, 2017

Diego Nicolás Gutiérrez Zúñiga (born February 18, 1997) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Early life[edit]

Gutiérrez was born to Chilean parents in Greenfield Park, Quebec in Canada and moved to Santiago in Chile when he was three years old.[1] He began playing soccer at age five in the Colo-Colo academy.[1] Afterwards, he joined the youth setup of Palestino.[2][3]

Club career[edit]

On November 6, 2015, Gutiérrez made his senior league debut for Palestino against Deportes Antofagasta.[4] He departed the club in March 2019.[5]

In March 2019, Gutiérrez signed a deal with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.[6] After the season, the club exercised his option for the 2020 season.[7]

In March 2021, Gutiérrez returned to Chile, signing with Primera B side Barnechea.[8]

In December 2021, Gutiérrez returned for a second spell at Valour FC for the 2022 season.[9][10] He was named the league's Player of the Month in April 2023.[11] After not scoring in his first three seasons with Valour (across both stints), he netted four goals in the 2023 season.[12] After the 2023 season, he chose to depart the club, after declining an extension offer.[13][14]

In January 2024, he signed with Cavalry FC on a two-year contract, with an option for 2026.[15][16]

International career[edit]

Eligible to represent both Canada and Chile internationally, Gutiérrez was called up to the Chile U20 team in June 2016 for a pair of friendlies against Paraguay.[17] However, he did not play in either match.[18]

In January 2017, Gutiérrez was called up to a camp for the Canadian U20 team for the first time.[1] He made his debut against the Panama U20 in a friendly on January 20.[citation needed] He subsequently made the roster for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship,[19] where he made two appearances.[20]

Personal life[edit]

His twin brother Cristián is also a professional soccer player.[21]

Honours[edit]

Palestino

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Diego Gutiérrez at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ McColl, Michael (January 22, 2020). "Move to Whitecaps and MLS not really a return home for Cristian Gutiérrez but it is an important "next stage" in his footballing growth". Away from the Numbers.
  3. ^ Saelhof, Todd (January 2, 2024). "Cavalry FC brings 'intelligent' midfielder Diego Gutierrez into force". Calgary Herald.
  4. ^ "Joven defensa de Palestino y hermano gemelo de Cristián Gutiérrez fue citado para jugar por la Sub 20 de Canadá" [Young defender from Palestino and twin brother of Cristián Gutiérrez was summoned to play for the Canadian U20]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). February 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Munizaga, Sebastián (March 4, 2019). "El chileno-canadiense Diego Gutiérrez deja Palestino y parte al Valour FC de Canadá" [Chilean-Canadian Diego Gutiérrez leaves Palestino and joins Valour FC in Canada]. RedGol (in Spanish).
  6. ^ "Valour FC sign Canadian youth international Diego Gutierrez". Canadian Premier League. March 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Jacques, John (January 16, 2020). "Valour FC Re-Signs Dylan Carreiro And Diego Gutierrez". Northern Tribune.
  8. ^ Jacques, John (March 3, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Signs For Chilean Side AC Barnechea". Northern Tribune.
  9. ^ "Valour FC signs Canadian midfielder Diego Gutiérrez". Valour FC. December 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Jacques, John (December 21, 2021). "Diego Gutierrez Completes Valour Return". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (May 4, 2023). "Valour FC's Diego Gutiérrez named CPL Player of the Month for April". Canadian Premier League.
  12. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (January 2, 2023). "All-action: Why midfielder Diego Gutiérrez is a perfect fit with Cavalry FC". Canadian Premier League.
  13. ^ "Valour FC announce 7 departures including Gutierrez, de Brienne". Canadian Premier League. December 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Jacques, John (December 20, 2023). "Big Shoes To Fill: Gutierrez And De Brienne Leave Valour FC". Northern Tribune.
  15. ^ "Cavalry FC Signs Diego Gutierrez to 2024 Roster". Cavalry FC. January 2, 2024.
  16. ^ Jacques, John (January 2, 2024). "Valour Captain Diego Gutierrez Comes To Cavalry". Northern Tribune.
  17. ^ "La Roja sub 20 practicó por última vez antes de viajar a Paraguay" [The Roja Under 20 practiced for the last time before travelling to Paraguay]. Football Federation of Chile (in Spanish). June 20, 2016.
  18. ^ Jacques, John (December 20, 2021). "Rumour: Gutierrez Poised For Valour Return". Northern Tribune.
  19. ^ Brisendine, Steve (February 9, 2017). "Canada names 20-man squad for CONCACAF U-20 Championship". Major League Soccer.
  20. ^ Tait, Ed (December 21, 2021). ""As soon as I came in, I knew he was a guy that I wanted to bring back to the club." - Gutiérrez returns to the club for 2022". Valour FC.
  21. ^ Tait, Ed (March 3, 2023). ""He's grown in leadership with the team." - Diego Gutierrez". Valour FC.

External links[edit]