Gutierrez joins Union as head of scouting

Chester, Pa. (December 17, 2010) –   Former Major League Soccer player Diego Gutierrez has joined Philadelphia Union’s technical staff as the Head of Scouting and Player Development, effective immediately, the club announced today. Gutierrez will utilize his extensive domestic and international contacts to help the club identify talent around the globe, as well as assisting Team Manager Peter Nowak with player acquisition and roster management.

“It is an honor for me to come on board with such a fantastic organization like the Philadelphia Union,” expressed Gutierrez. “Knowing the foundation already laid, the fans, the philosophy of the club and the vision for the future, it’s a true delight for me to become part of the Union’s technical staff.  I believe we have all the components to continue to build a team that will challenge for MLS Cups for many years to come.”

Gutierrez also brings his philanthropic and humanitarian background to the club, as he supports over a half dozen organizations on a national, regional and local level, collectively helping to raise millions of dollars for worthy causes. Gutierrez functions as a national spokesperson for the Nothing But Nets malaria campaign, is a current member of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Player Advisory Council and served on the Presidential Council for Fitness and Sport, appointed by the White House, until May 2010. For his charitable efforts, Gutierrez was named the 2007 U.S. Soccer Federation/MLS Humanitarian of the Year.



As a player, the Colombian midfielder emerged from Independiente Santa Fe’s ranks, but spent his entire professional career with the Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City).  His first goal as a professional came in Chicago’s 2-0 victory against D.C. United in the 1998 MLS Cup as a teammate of Nowak. Overall, Gutierrez has won a total of four U.S. Open Cups, three conference titles and one MLS Cup, tallying 12 goals and 49 assists in 256 regular season appearances. On December 9, 2001, Gutierrez received his first and only cap with the U.S. Men National Team against South Korea.