Teófilo Gutiérrez facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Gutiérrez and the second or maternal family name is Roncancio.

Quick facts for kids
Teófilo Gutiérrez
Personal information
Gutiérrez with Colombia at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Date of birth	(1985-05-17) 17 May 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth	Barranquilla, Colombia
Height	1.78 m
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Real Cartagena
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)
National team^‡
2009–2017	Colombia	51	(15)
2016	Colombia Olympic	6	(4)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 November 2023. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 October 2017

Teófilo Antonio "Teo" Gutiérrez Roncancio (born 17 May 1985) is a Colombian professional footballer. He plays as a forward for Real Cartagena. Teo also played for the Colombian national team. He was even the captain for Colombia at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Teófilo Gutiérrez's Early Life
Teófilo Gutiérrez's Club Career
Teófilo Gutiérrez's International Career
Teófilo Gutiérrez's Style of Play
Career Statistics
Honours and Awards
See also

Teófilo Gutiérrez's Early Life

Teo Gutiérrez grew up in the La Chinita neighborhood in Barranquilla, Colombia. He lived there with his six brothers.

Teófilo Gutiérrez's Club Career

Playing for Barranquilla F.C.

Teo started his football journey with Barranquilla F.C. in 2006. This team is the second division club for Atlético Junior. He scored 16 goals in 28 games. Because of his great performance, he was moved up to Junior's main team in 2007.

Time at Atlético Junior

Teo on the training field of Atlético Junior in 2009

When he first joined the main team, it was hard for Teo to become a regular starter. He scored his first goal on 2 September 2007. This was in a 4–2 win against Once Caldas. During the 2008 Finalizacion tournament, he became a starter. He scored 11 goals, finishing third in the scoring list.

In the 2009 Apertura tournament, Teo was in amazing form. He scored 16 goals and won the Golden Boot award. He scored six goals in the playoffs, including three goals in two different games. In the 2009 Finalización, he scored 14 goals. The IFFHS named him the fourth best top scorer in the world's first divisions in 2009. He had scored 30 goals that year.

Joining Trabzonspor

On 13 January 2010, Junior sold Teo to the Turkish club Trabzonspor for $3 million. In his first season in Turkey, he found it hard to get used to things. This meant he did not play much as a regular starter. He played 11 league games but did not score any goals.

Teo joined his team's preseason late due to visa problems. But he started the next season very well. He scored three goals in the 2010 Turkish Super Cup and was named man of the match. These were his first goals for the club. In his first league game, he scored two goals. He later added two more goals in a big 6–1 win. He also scored his first Europa League goal against Liverpool. Later that year, he left the club.

Playing for Racing Club

On 15 February 2011, Trabzonspor accepted an offer from the Argentine team Racing Club. In his first game for the club, he scored two goals in a 2–1 win. He scored two more goals two weeks later. On 16 April 2011, he scored and helped with another goal in a 2–0 win. He finished the 2011 Clausura tournament with 11 goals. This made him the league's top scorer.

Even though he was playing very well, Teo had some disagreements with teammates. After a game where he was sent off, he had a problem with a teammate. The club decided to end his contract, and he left the team.

Loans to Lanús and Junior

After leaving Racing Club, Teo signed a short loan deal with Lanús. He was to play for them in the 2012 Copa Libertadores. He played his first game for Lanús on 2 May 2012. He scored a goal in another game, but it was not enough for Lanús to win. His time at Lanús ended early when he left for Colombia without permission. Lanús then cancelled his contract.

He was then loaned to Junior for six months. However, the team did not reach the finals of the league.

Time with Cruz Azul

In December 2012, Teo Gutiérrez was sold to the Mexican team Cruz Azul. He signed a three-year contract. Even though he often played as a substitute, he scored important goals for Cruz Azul. This included a goal in the final against América. His team lost the final on penalties. After six months, Teo wanted to leave for the Argentine team River Plate. He was part of the team that won the 2013 Copa MX Clausura. He scored a key goal in the quarter-final.

Success at River Plate

River-plate-2014-primera-división-sudamericana

Teo played a big part in River Plate winning the 2014 Copa Sudamericana.

After some discussions, Cruz Azul and River Plate agreed on a transfer in August 2013. Teo had said it was his dream to play for the Buenos Aires-based club.

He played his first game for River Plate on 25 August, scoring his first goal. He then helped the team win the next tournament, scoring 6 goals. Under coach Marcelo Gallardo, Teo scored 10 goals in 10 games in the 2014 Torneo de Transición.

In December 2014, River Plate won the 2014 Copa Sudamericana. This was Teo's second title with the club. Because of his great play, he was named the 2014 South American Footballer of the Year. He was only the second Colombian to win this award. In February 2015, River Plate won the 2015 Recopa Sudamericana. Teo played in both games.

On 27 May 2015, he scored and assisted in a 3–0 win in the 2015 Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. Four days later, in his last game for River, he scored in a 2–0 win.

Moving to Sporting CP

Teo lining up for Sporting CP in a UEFA Champions League match in 2015.

On 19 July 2015, Sporting CP announced they had signed Teo. He signed a three-year contract. In August 2015, he scored in two Champions League play-off matches. Sporting did not make it to the group stage. They then played in the Europa League.

On 31 October, Teo scored Sporting's only goal in a win. On 10 December, he scored the last goal in a 3–1 win. He scored two goals in Sporting's big 5–1 win on 18 March 2016. Two weeks later, he scored two more goals in a 5–2 away win. His last goal for the club was on 15 May in a victory.

Loan to Rosario Central

On 6 August 2016, Teo Gutiérrez joined Rosario Central on loan from Sporting. On 20 November 2016, he scored a goal against Boca Juniors. He was sent off shortly after for his celebration. He made a gesture that showed the diagonal stripe of River Plate's uniform. This was a big deal because River Plate is Boca Junior's biggest rival. He was suspended for two games.

On 15 December, he played in the 2016 Copa Argentina Final. Rosario lost 4–3 to his former club, River Plate. In his last game with the club on 20 June 2017, he scored a penalty and assisted a goal. He was later sent off in a 3–3 draw.

Return to Atlético Junior

On 26 June 2017, Teo Gutiérrez signed a three-year deal with his hometown team Atlético Junior. He played his first game in a 3–0 win, scoring the third goal from a penalty. He helped his team win the Copa Colombia in 2017. He scored in the final. The next season, he scored again against Independiente Medellin. Junior won the title with a 5–4 total score. Junior also won the 2019 Apertura after winning on penalties. Teo played in both final games. He left the club in July 2021.

Playing for Deportivo Cali

On 6 August 2021, Teo Gutiérrez signed with Deportivo Cali. On 22 December, Deportivo Cali won the 2021 Finalizacion tournament. Teo played in both final games.

Time at Atlético Bucaramanga

In December 2023, Teo Gutiérrez received a four-match suspension and a fine. This was after a game on 25 November.

Teófilo Gutiérrez's International Career

Teo (Right) during Colombia's 2014 World Cup quarter-final match against Brazil.

Teo Gutiérrez scored in his first game for Colombia on 7 August 2009. This was in a 2–1 win. In his third call-up, he played his first important game in a qualifying match. He scored the second goal in a 2–0 win.

During the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Teo scored six goals in 11 matches. This included two goals in a 4–0 win against Uruguay. He also scored Colombia's first goal in a 3–3 draw against Chile. This result helped Colombia qualify for the 2014 World Cup. In June 2014, he was chosen for Colombia's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. He wore the number 9 shirt.

In the team's first game of the tournament, Teo scored Colombia's second goal. This was in a 3–0 win against Greece. In May 2018, he was named in Colombia's first team list for the 2018 World Cup. However, he did not make the final team of 23 players.

Teófilo Gutiérrez's Style of Play

Teo Gutiérrez is a very good forward. He often gets into good positions to score goals. He can also score from far away. He is also good at passing and has great technical skills. This is because he started playing as a playmaker when he was younger. He can create plays and make passes to his teammates. He often connects the midfielders and the forwards. A famous player, Juan Román Riquelme, once said Teo was "one of the best players in Argentinian football."

Career Statistics

Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gutiérrez goal.

List of international goals scored by Teófilo Gutiérrez
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	3 September 2011	Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States	Honduras	2–0	2–0	Friendly
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	7 September 2012		Uruguay	3–0	4–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
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