Gonzalo Gutiérrez (footballer, Born 1981)

Enrique Gonzalo Gutiérrez Torres (born February 20, 1981), nicknamed "Matraca", is a Uruguayan former football player. He currently serves as assistant coach of Al Rayyan. Gutiérrez also played in the 2001 South American Youth Championship for Uruguay.

Gutiérrez started his professional career in Uruguayan club Danubio FC. Since then he has played professional football worldwide, including countries such as Honduras and Qatar.

Early life

Gutiérrez was born in the suburb of Aires Puros in Montevideo to a stay-at-home mother and a father who worked at a printing press. He had one sibling - a sister. He was baptized as a young child.

Like most children in Uruguay, Gutiérrez began his footballing career at a very young age. At the age of five, while playing football in his neighbourhood, Gutiérrez was scouted by Sagrada Familia, a football club, and was offered a chance to play for them. Afterwards, he played for Maguá FC, until he eventually ended up playing for a first division club, Danubio FC, despite interest from other clubs at the time. During this period, he converted to a striker.

Career

Danubio

Gutiérrez debuted for Danubio as a back-up player in a very competitive squad, with around five strikers ahead of him. He had the choice to go to Chilean club Everton on loan, but he declined. Alternatively, he had a choice to go on loan to Racing Club de Montevideo, which his then-coach, Piazza, convinced him was the right decision. Gutiérrez was further swayed by the idea as he would finally be able to make his debut in the Uruguayan Primera División.

After returning to Danubio, who was now under the leadership of Gregorio Pérez. Gutiérrez was getting playing time as part of a squad rotation system. By the end of the season, he was regularly starting games. Having successfully integrated into the squad, Danubio went on to win the Primera División in 2004 under Manuel Keosseian.

Loans

=Oriente Petrolero

=
Gutiérrez, now not playing as regularly for Danubio, had the chance to go on loan for Bolivian side Oriente Petrolero. This was the first time he had ever played abroad, though his tenure proved to be unsuccessful.

=Motagua

=
Once again gaining a chance to prove himself abroad, Gutiérrez was sent on loan to one of the most successful clubs in Honduras, F.C. Motagua. He showed good performances in the Liga Nacional.

Rentistas

Upon his return to Uruguay, Gutiérrez was inexplicably cut from the Danubio squad. Without any contact from officials of the club, it was announced that he would be leaving the team, despite playing for the club for over ten years.

He then received an offer from one of the bottom clubs in the Primera División, Rentistas.

Fénix

Gutiérrez played for Segunda División side Fénix from 2006 till 2007, eventually winning the league.

Al-Markhiya

The first time he had played outside of the Americas was with Qatari 2nd Division team Al-Markhiya. He had great success with Markhiya, scoring 15 goals in 19 games to earn the top scorer award for the second division, nearly managing an average of a goal every game.

Al-Mu'aidar

After playing a season with Markhiya, he transferred to another second division club, Al-Mu'aidar Sports Club. Gutiérrez described life in Qatar as "spectacular", stating it was very quiet and safe. He once again won the top scorer before moving back to South America to be closer to his family and friends.

Deportivo Maldonado

He returned to Uruguay and played for Deportivo Maldonado, which was led by Julio Ribas. Ribas acted as a mentor for Gutiérrez, giving him advice in many aspects of the game, including coaching.

Bella Vista

Gutiérrez transferred to Bella Vista in August 2012.

Coaching career

In July 2015, he was announced as the assistant coach of Qatari club Al Rayyan.

Honours

Club

Danubio F.C.

*Uruguayan Primera División: 2004

Fénix

*Segunda División: 2007

Individual

Al-Markhiya

*Qatari 2nd Division Top Scorer: 2008

Al-Mu'aidar

*Qatari 2nd Division Top Scorer: 2009

References

External links

*

Player profile at Eurosport

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gutierrez, Gonzalo
1981 births
Living people
Uruguayan footballers
Danubio F.C. players
Racing Club de Montevideo players
C.A. Rentistas players
F.C. Motagua players
Centro Atlético Fénix players
C.A. Bella Vista players
C.D. Suchitepéquez players
Expatriate footballers in Bolivia
Expatriate footballers in Honduras
Expatriate footballers in Qatar
Expatriate footballers in Guatemala
Footballers from Montevideo
Al-Markhiya SC players
Muaither SC players
Qatari Second Division players
Association football forwards