The 2022 MLS campaign was fruitful for Chicago Fire FC’s Homegrown players. For 19-year-old Brian Gutiérrez in particular, it was the season in which he showed more consistency and became a playmaker for the Fire.
Prior to becoming the Club’s 16th Homegrown signing ahead of the 2020 MLS regular season, Gutiérrez was a Chicago Fire Academy standout. In the Academy, he appeared in 79 matches (73 starts), while tallying 28 goals and 39 assists. Under Academy coach Jeff DeGroot, Gutiérrez developed into one of the most talented midfield prospects in the United States.
On the international scene, Gutiérrez has been a mainstay since 2017 on the U.S. Men’s Youth National Teams. At the 2019 Nike International Friendlies, Gutiérrez earned an assist in the final to lift the U.S. U-16 Men’s Youth National Team to a comeback victory against Turkey. Gutiérrez has become a regular, making a name for himself with the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Youth Team.
In 2022, Gutiérrez’s development showed positive signs as he gained the trust of head coach Ezra Hendrickson in first season at the helm, making 20 starts in his 32 appearances. His presence in the Fire’s midfield brought pinpoint passing, effective dribbling, and offensive creativity.
Some of Gutiérrez’s highlights include an outrageous backheel flick assist to teammate Jhon Durán against Toronto FC at Soldier Field, and inclusion in Major League Soccer’s Team of the Week in Week 33. When asked about the play against Toronto FC, Gutiérrez responded, “I just tried to do it and it worked out. He made most of the play. I just saw him. I knew he was there. He is always a threat to the backline. The first goal, he was kind of in the same place. His runs in behind are really good, so I just did it and it worked out.”
The MLS Team of the Week for Week 33 saw both Brian Gutiérrez and Jhon Durán included for their stunning performance against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 1. The two have formed somewhat of a partnership and unique chemistry up top for the Fire. Gutiérrez’s role as a winger or attacking midfielder allows him the freedom to showcase dribbling, opposing defenders and finding the final pass to Durán to run behind the opponent’s defensive line with his threatening pace and physicality.
That chemistry was on display in Gutiérrez's brightest performance of the season. An expertly-placed pass in the 56th minute placed Durán one-on-one against Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano and Durán calmly put the ball in the back of the net. Three minutes later, Gutiérrez got himself on the scoresheet with a composed finish in the box that doubled the Fire lead.
To put a bow on the night, Gutiérrez found the Colombian forward once again in the 75th minute of the match, teeing up Durán to hit a first-time chip shot from distance to stun the Cincinnati crowd.
There is no doubt that Gutiérrez has a high ceiling, with 2022 serving as his breakout season. He finished the campaign with two goals, seven assists, and a passing accuracy of 78.5%. This compared to his first season, where he tallied a single assist in six starts and 17 appearances. He provides the team with an electrifying threat going forward, and finds the right passes to get teammates opportunities to find the back of the net. His hard work was rewarded with a contract extension, making him a long-term part of the Fire’s project to build success.
As the 2023 season approaches, the Homegrown midfielder will look forward to retaining his starting role and making an even more significant impact. His development with the Fire and U.S. Men’s National Youth Teams has helped him grow as one of MLS’s youngest prospects. Gutiérrez surely will want to continue adding to his goal and assist contribution in the upcoming season.
