Gonzalo Gutiérrez

Gonzalo Gutiérrez
Matraca
Personal information
Full nameEnrique Gonzalo Gutiérrez Torres
Date of birth20 February 1981
Place of birthMontevideo, Uruguay
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Bella Vista
Youth career
1986–1990Sagrada Familia
1990–1995Maguá FC
1995–2002Danubio
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002–2005Danubio36(5)
2002Racing Club (loan)28(6)
2004Oriente Petrolero (loan)
2005–2006Motagua (loan)
2006Rentistas11(1)
2006–2007Fénix8(1)
2007–2008Al-Markhiya Sports Club19(15)
2008–2010Al-Mu'aidar Sports Club21(14)
2010–2011Deportivo Maldonado26(15)
2011–2012Suchitepéquez43(24)
2012–Bella Vista6(1)
National team
2001Uruguay U-20
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Gutiérrez and the second or maternal family name is Torres.

Enrique Gonzalo Gutiérrez Torres (born February 20, 1981), nicknamed "Matraca", is a Uruguayan football player. He currently plays for C.A. Bella Vista as a forward. 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.[2]

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, C.D. 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.[3] 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

After Julio Ribas moved to manage Bella Vista, Gutiérrez joined the club shortly after.

Personal life

Gutiérrez is married and has one child. He aspires to be a coach after retiring from football.

Honours

Club

Danubio F.C.

Fénix

Individual

Al-Markhiya

Al-Mu'aidar

References

External links