.jpg) Gutiérrez withColombia at the2016 Summer Olympics | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Teófilo Antonio Gutiérrez Roncancio | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-05-17)17 May 1985 (age 40) | ||
| Place of birth | Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Atlético Junior | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006 | Barranquilla | 40 | (16) |
| 2007–2009 | Atlético Junior | 75 | (42) |
| 2010–2011 | Trabzonspor | 17 | (4) |
| 2011–2012 | Racing Club | 40 | (20) |
| 2012 | →Lanús (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | →Atlético Junior (loan) | 18 | (5) |
| 2012–2013 | Cruz Azul | 21 | (6) |
| 2013–2015 | River Plate | 47 | (22) |
| 2015–2017 | Sporting CP | 23 | (11) |
| 2016–2017 | →Rosario Central (loan) | 21 | (5) |
| 2017–2021 | Atlético Junior | 129 | (30) |
| 2021–2022 | Deportivo Cali | 50 | (11) |
| 2023 | Atlético Bucaramanga | 13 | (0) |
| 2023 | Deportivo Cali | 17 | (3) |
| 2024 | Real Cartagena | 23 | (3) |
| 2025– | Atlético Junior | 12 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2009–2017 | Colombia | 51 | (15) |
| 2016 | Colombia Olympic | 6 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 October 2017 | |||
Teófilo Antonio "Teo" Gutiérrez Roncancio (Spanish pronunciation:[teˈofiloɣuˈtjeres]; born 17 May 1985) is a Colombian professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forAtlético Junior . He was aColombian international and captained the country at the2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
Gutierrez grew up in the impoverished neighborhood of La Chinita inBarranquilla along with six brothers.[2] The area is plagued with gang violence and many shootouts happened near his home.[3]
Gutierrez began his career withBarranquilla F.C.,Atlético Junior's second division team, in 2006. After scoring 16 goals in 28 appearances, he was called up to Junior's senior team in 2007.
In his first years with the main squad, Gutiérrez found it difficult to break into the starting eleven. He managed to score his first goal on 2 September 2007 in a 4–2 victory againstOnce Caldas.[3] During the2008 Finalizacion, he earned a spot in the starting lineup and managed to score 11 goals, finishing third place in the scoring charts, just behindFreddy Montero andCarlos Quintero and tyingAdrián Ramos andMilton Rodríguez.
During the2009 Apertura, Gutiérrez was in outstanding form, scoring a total of 16 goals and winning the Golden Boot of the tournament. During the playoffs, he scored six goals with hat-tricks againstCúcuta Deportivo andEnvigado. During the2009 Finalización he finished the season with 14 goals, finishing second toJackson Martínez's 18 goals.
He was named by theIFFHS as the fourth world First Division top scorer of 2009, having scored 30 goals during the year.
On 13 January 2010,Junior sold Gutierrez toSüper Lig clubTrabzonspor for $3 million.[4] During his first season in Turkey, he found it difficult to adapt, which prevented him from being a regular on the starting eleven. He played 11 league games and did not score any goals.
Gutierrez joined the team's preseason late due to visa problems, but began theseason on a high note, scoring a hat trick in the2010 Turkish Super Cup and earning the man of the match award; these were his first goals with the club.[5] In his Super Lig debut, he scored two goals againstAnkaragücü,[5] and added two more in a 6–1 victory overSivasspor on 13 September.[6] He also scored his firstEuropa League goal againstLiverpool on 26 August.[7] In October, he moved to his country withoutTrabzonspor's permission claiming to have some health problems.[8][9] However, doctors did not find any health problems after check-ups, and Trabzonspor terminated his contract later than month.[10]
On 15 February 2011, Trabzonspor accepted a bid from Argentine sideRacing Club worth around $2 million.[11] He made his debut five days later in a defeat toBoca Juniors,[12] and the following week he scored twice in a 2–1 victory overSan Lorenzo.[13] On 6 March, he scored and assistedLucas Licht in a 4–3 victory againstClub Olimpo.[14][15] The following week, he added another two in a 4–0 victory againstColón, bringing his tally to five goals in three games.[16] During a training session two weeks later, he got into a fight with goalkeeperMauro Dobler, which was the beginning of his tense spell at the club.[17] On 16 April, he scored and assisted in a 2–0Avellaneda derby victory atEstadio Presidente Perón.[18] On 14 May, he scored another brace in a 3–0 victory toNewell's Old Boys.[19] The Colombian striker finalized his tally for the campaign with a brace in a home defeat toGodoy Cruz.[20] He finished the2011 Clausura with 11 goals in 16 games, winning the golden boot as the league's top scorer.[21][22]
He began his second season in the club with a goal, in a 1-1 draw toTigre on 8 August 2011.[23] In the following matchday, he scored twice in a 3-0 victory against Godoy Cruz, despite missing a penalty kick.[24] He scored the only goals against Olimpo, Newell's, andAtletico Rafaela, and finished the season with 6 goals in 15 matches.[25]
Although he was performing at the top of his game forLa Academia, while linking up withselección teammateGiovanni Moreno, Gutierrez got into arguments with many of his teammates, causing tension between the fans and the club directors. After theAvellaneda derby on 14 April 2012, where he scored the opening goal but was eventually sent off in a 4–1 defeat, his teammateSebastián Saja confronted him over being sent off, and they allegedly got into a fight.[26] Shortly after, he threatened Saja and other teammates with a paintball gun in the locker room, and police had to intervene.[27][28] Finally, the club decided to terminate his contract, and he left the club the following day.[29]
A few days after his untimely departure from Racing Club, Gutierrez signed a short-term loan contract withLanús, for whom he would play in theCopa Libertadores.[30][31] He made his debut for the club on 2 May 2012, coming on as a substitute in the Copa Libertadores round of 16 loss againstVasco da Gama atEstádio São Januário.[32] He also played in the second leg a week later, where he scored a goal, but it was not enough as Lanús crashed out of the competition on penalties.[33] His time at Lanús was cut-short after he left Argentina for his native Colombia without permission from the club, claiming that he was on international duty.[34] When it was found out that he was not selected for the Colombia squad, Lanús cancelled his contract later that month.[35]
A six-month loan toJunior was then arranged, butLos Tiburones, who had made a considerable effort in the transfer market to reclaim theLiga Postobón title, failed to reach the finals.[36]
In December 2012, Gutiérrez was sold to Mexican sideCruz Azul and signed a three-year contract worth US$3 million, along with a salary of US$1.5 Million per year.[37] Despite being used as a substitute of Argentine strikerMariano Pavone for most of the season, he managed to score important goals for Cruz Azul in the Liguilla while Pavone was injured, including one in thefinal againstAmérica, although his team lost on penalties after a 2–2 draw over two legs. After a six-month spell at Cruz Azul, Gutierrez said he wanted to leave to Argentinian sideRiver Plate, even though he initially expressed his will to stay at the Mexican club.[38] He was part of the squad that won the2013 Copa MX Clausura, where he scored a crucial goal in the quarter final againstChiapas.[39]
After the relationship between Cruz Azul and the player worsened due to the persistent interest ofRiver Plate's coachRamón Díaz to bring the Colombian to his squad, Cruz Azul and River Plate reached an agreement thought to be around US$3 million in July 2013.[40] Gutierrez has said that it was his dream to play for theBuenos Aires-based club. However, River Plate did not have sufficient funds for the player, and eventually he made a return to Cruz Azul. However, the issues were resolved thanks to FIFA's involvement, and the transfer was made official in August 2013.[41][42]
He made his debut in a 2–1 loss againstColón on 25 August, where he scored his first goal.[43]He would later be part of the team that crowned itself champion in the following tournament, scoring 6 goals. Under the management ofMarcelo Gallardo, the Colombian scored 10 goals in 10 appearances in the2014 Torneo de Transición.
In December 2014 River Plate won the2014 Copa Sudamericana after a 3–1 aggregate victory overAtlético Nacional. This was Gutierrez's second title with the club. As a result of his great performances throughout the year, he was named as the 2014South American Footballer of the Year, becoming only the second Colombian to win the award, afterCarlos Valderrama.[44][45] In February 2015, River Plate won the2015 Recopa Sudamericana againstSan Lorenzo, with Gutierrez participating in both legs, hitting the post twice in the first leg.[46]
On 27 May 2015, he scored and assisted in a 3–0 victory in the2015 Copa Libertadores quarter-finals againstCruzeiro.[47] Four days later, in his last match for River, he scored in a 2–0 victory against Rosario Central.[48] In July 2015, shortly after Colombia's elimination from the Copa America, it became known that the Colombian striker had a desire to leave the club;[49] River later announced that if the player returned to the club, he would have to play for the reserve team.[50][51][52] Additionally, his agent stated that River Plate failed to pay the player's bonuses, but the club's president stated that nothing was owed to the player.
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On 19 July 2015,Sporting CP announced the signing of Gutierrez on a three-year contract and a €40 million release clause.[53] In August 2015, he scored in the first and second legs during the2015–16 Champions League play-off matches againstCSKA Moscow, although it was not enough as Sporting lost 3–4 on aggregate and failed to advance to the group stage. Sporting ended up placing third in their group, and were transferred to the Europa League, where they were eventually eliminated in the round of 32 byBayer Leverkusen.
On 31 October, Gutierrez scored Sporting's only goal in the victory againstEstoril Praia. On 10 December, he scored the last goal in a 3–1 victory overBeşiktaş, and made headlines for his bizarre goal celebration.[54][55] He scored two goals in Sporting's 5–1 one-sided victory overArouca on 18 March 2016. Two weeks later, he added another brace in a 2–5 away victory atBelenenses.[56] His last goal for the club was scored on 15 May in a victory overSporting Braga.[57]
On 6 August 2016, Gutierrez was announced as aRosario Central player, on loan from Sporting.[58] On 20 November 2016, he scored a goal againstBoca Juniors inLa Bombonera and was sent off shortly afterwards because of his controversial celebration, where he made a gesture across his chest signifying the diagonal slash of River Plate's uniform. This was a big deal because River Plate is Boca Junior's biggest rival.[59][60] As a result, he was handed a two-game suspension.
On 15 December, he played and assistedMarco Ruben in the2016 Copa Argentina Final, although Rosario lost 4–3 to his former club, River Plate.
In his last match with the club on 20 June 2017, he scored from the penalty spot and assistedMauricio Martínez, although he was later sent off in a 3–3 draw toTalleres de Córdoba.[61]
On 26 June 2017, Gutierrez was signed by his hometown teamAtlético Junior on a three-year deal.[62] He made his debut in a 3–0 victory againstLa Equidad, scoring the third goal from the penalty spot. He led his team to aCopa Colombia win in2017, scoring in the second leg of the finals againstIndependiente Medellín.[63] The next season, he scored against Independiente Medellin again, this time in the2018 Finalizacion tournament. The match finished in a 4–1 victory for Junior and although Junior lost the second leg 3–1, they still won the title due to a 5–4 aggregate score.[64] Junior also won the2019 Apertura after beatingDeportivo Pasto on penalties, completing a "bicampeonato" (two-time consecutive champion), with Gutierrez playing in both legs.[65] He left the club in July 2021.[66]
On 6 August 2021, Gutierrez signed withDeportivo Cali on a free transfer.[67] On 22 December, Deportivo Cali won the2021 Finalizacion tournament, with Gutierrez playing in both legs of the finals againstDeportes Tolima.[68][69]
On 4 February 2023, he was announced as aAtlético Bucaramanga player.[70] On 20 May 2023, Bucaramanga rescinded their contract with Gutierrez, with the player failing to score or assist in 13 appearances.[71]
On 18 July 2023, he returned to Deportivo Cali.[72]
In December 2023, Gutierrez received a four-match suspension and fine, with rumours spreading around saying that he touched a female staff member inappropriately in 2–0 loss againstDeportes Tolima on 25 November. He did not deny touching the woman, but denied touching her inappropriately and further stated that he had "nothing against women" and that they "have my respect".[73][74]
On 10 February 2025, he was announced as a Junior player, returning for his third spell at the club.[75]
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Gutiérrez scored in his international debut forColombia on 7 August 2009 in a 2–1 victory againstEl Salvador.[76] In his third call up to the Colombia national team, he made his first competitive appearance in aqualifying game for the2010 FIFA World Cup againstEcuador, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 victory.
During the2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Gutiérrez scored six goals in 11 matches, including a brace in a 4–0 victory againstUruguay on 7 September 2012, and Colombia's first goal in a 3–3 draw against Chile, after having trailed 3–0 on 11 October 2013. This result ensured Colombia's qualification to the 2014 World Cup.[77] In June 2014, he was named in Colombia's squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup finals and, after the withdrawal ofRadamel Falcao through injury, took the number 9 shirt forLos Cafeteros.[78][79]
In the team's opening match of the tournament, Gutiérrez scored Colombia's second goal in a 3–0 win againstGreece.[80]
In May 2018 he was named in Colombia's preliminary 35-man squad for the2018 World Cup in Russia.[81] However, he did not make the final 23.[82]
Gutiérrez is a prolific forward, since he gets into finishing positions easily and he can score from long range as well. He also has great passing and technical ability, because he started his youth career playing as aplaymaker, and has the ability to create plays and make through passes to his teammates using his superior vision.[83] He is often the connecting link between the midfielders and the forwards.[45] During his time with River,Juan Román Riquelme praised him, calling him "one of the best players in Argentinian football."[84] He is, however, sometimes criticized for being hotheaded and making rash decisions when he gets angry.[85]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 August 2009 | Robertson Stadium,Houston, United States |  El Salvador | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 5 September 2009 | Estadio Atanasio Girardot,Medellín, Colombia |  Ecuador | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 3 September 2011 | Red Bull Arena,Harrison, United States |  Honduras | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 2–0 | |||||
| 5 | 6 September 2011 | Lockhart Stadium,Fort Lauderdale, United States |  Jamaica | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 7 September 2012 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez,Barranquilla, Colombia |  Uruguay | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 3–0 | |||||
| 8 | 11 September 2012 | Estadio Monumental David Arellano,Santiago, Chile |  Chile | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 22 March 2013 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia |  Bolivia | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 11 June 2013 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia |  Peru | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 11 October 2013 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia | Chile | 1–3 | 3–3 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 31 May 2014 | Estadio Pedro Bidegain,Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Senegal | 1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 13 | 14 June 2014 | Estádio Mineirão,Belo Horizonte, Brazil |  Greece | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup |
| 14 | 14 November 2014 | Craven Cottage, London, England |  United States | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 15 | 8 October 2015 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia | Peru | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Trabzonspor
Cruz Azul
River Plate
Sporting
Junior
Deportivo Cali
Individual
| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded by | Deportivo Cali captain 2021–2022 | Succeeded by |
Colombia squads | |||||||||||||||||||
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