Interview with Diego Gutierrez

By: Johnathan | February 9th, 2009

JK: As someone who has spent his entire career in Major League Soccer, how would you judge the progress that the league has made, both on and off the field? What changes would you like to see implemented in the future?

DG: I have seen tremendous growth with our league. The level has picked up dramatically in the last 10 years and financially speaking, we have a very solid foundation. I anticipate that getting through this economic environment will be a massive boost for us. Once we do, the next five years will be a period where we need to capitalize and make bold moves to put it higher up in the American sports landscape. I think a limited free agency will help players want to stay in MLS and increase players’ income.

JK: How did you get involved with the Nothing But Nets campaign, and how can anyone who’s interested help out?

DG: I got interested in NBN through a friend who showed me the statistics with malaria and all the suffering around the world. I felt I needed to lead a fight. You can be involved by going on www.nothingbutnets.net and donating, creating your own raising team, or simply by creating awareness by directing people to the site.

JK: What was it like being appointed to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness? Was it a major surprise to you and how were you selected?

DG: Being selected to the Council is a major honor. The type of thing you tell your grandkids about. I was contacted by the White House letting me know that the President wanted me involved. As you might imagine, I was thrilled.

JK: You won a lot of trophies in your playing career, but is there one in particular that was especially memorable? Will we ever see a team like the one that won the double in ‘98 again?

DG: I think that the ‘98 trophy was the most special. Having said that, we had even more talent on the 2000 Fire team that lost MLS Cup to Kansas City. I don’t know if there will ever be a team in MLS as talented as that one.

JK: After being sworn in as a citizen in 2000, you featured for the American national team only once. Were you disappointed to not win more caps?

DG: I was terribly disappointed by winning only one cap not because I did not get picked, but it happened because of injuries. I had some injuries that were untimely and came at the worst time possible. Having said that, God did not have it in the books for me.

JK: I’m sure that everyone’s aware by now that you’re staying in the game after retirement, albeit on the business side of things. Did you ever consider going into coaching, or have you had your eye on being an agent for a while?

DG: I was never interested in coaching. Being an agent allows you to be close to the action, be involved with the guys, live the game through them, and also be your own boss. “Agent” seems at times to be a negative connotation, but it is a business that can be very serviceble and useful for the players. My idea is to continue helping, especially now that the players need it in this time of transition.

JK: I know that for the fans, there is no rivalry that surpasses that with New England. Do the players share this sentiment, or is another club even more reviled in the dressing room? New York perhaps? Do rivalries ever really leave the stands, or are they simply between fans and not the players?

DG: I would say New England is probably the biggest rival, although there is also some animosity with DC. What you see on the field at times reflects the way teams feel about eachother.

JK: No one who was there that night will ever forget your last match at Toyota Park, especially when you came over to say goodbye to the Section 8 fans for the last time. What have the fans in Chicago meant to you as a player? And what does the support mean to the team as a whole?

DG: The Chicago Fire fans have a special place in my heart. At a very crucial time in my career, I chose to take a paycut and come back to Chicago to finish my career here. That was because of how I felt (and feel) about the city and the fans. It was very special for me to be able to finish in front of our fans. That was the way it was suppossed to happen. I know that all of the guys appreciate the support.