CARSON, Calif. -- Diego Gutierrez started in the midfield in MLS Cup 2000, when the Kansas City Wizards captured their first and only MLS championship. At the time, though, the Colombian-born player wasn't wearing the blue-and-white of this year's Western Conference Champions. He was on the other side, trying to help the Chicago Fire win their second MLS Cup.
Gutierrez is back in the title game, this time hoping to win the trophy for the city and team that denied him a ring four years ago, and he'll do it against a team coached by his former midfield partner and Fire legend Peter Nowak.
Such is the life of a professional soccer player, said Gutierrez, who is in his second stint with the Wizards.
"It's interesting. My rookie year, the first year of the league in '96, I was with Kansas City, and I envisioned myself staying there for the rest of my career," he said Friday after practice. "Sports are such that things don't happen the way you expect. I ended up in Chicago, which at the beginning I had mixed feelings, but the next thing you know I've got two Open Cups and an MLS Championship.
"I feel that if I get a chance to win an MLS Cup with (the Wizards), that'll be coming full circle."
To get to the podium on Sunday afternoon, the Wizards will have to get through a D.C. United team that has played extremely well lately for Nowak, who was the Fire's midfield general for five years and was somewhat of a mentor for Gutierrez during their time together. At Friday's media luncheon at The Home Depot Center, the two hugged and chatted briefly. Gutierrez said he's happy to be facing his former teammate in the final.
"Peter and I throughout the years have had a great friendship. I had the privilege to play with him, obviously. He was someone I looked up to and respect a whole lot," Gutierrez said.
Nowak's leadership qualities may have rubbed off on Gutierrez, who has established himself over the years as a talented and vocal leader both on the field and in the locker room. With a series of injuries to the Wizards' star players, including 2003 MLS MVP Preki, Chris Klein and captain Tony Meola, Gutierrez has been a more visible player, wearing the captain's armband in Meola's absence during the final third of the season. But don't try to tell Gutierrez he wasn't a leader before this season.
"I've led in different ways before, mostly by example. I've always been one to have something to say, especially to younger guys. This year called for someone to be a little more vocal," Gutierrez said. "Coach (Bob Gansler) saw my ability to lead and handed me the captain's armband. I think that was pretty much a symbol of what I've been doing all along."
According to Gansler, there was never any question whether Gutierrez could captain his team.
"Diego has always led, but he didn't have the band," Gansler said. "He was next in line."
As Nowak's leadership seems to have aided Gutierrez, Gutierrez's leadership is now evident and beneficial to the Wizards' young players. Second-year Wizards forward Davy Arnaud said Gutierrez's guidance has been crucial in the absence of some of the team's other veterans.
"You lose Preki and you lose Chris Klein with his knee and you lose Tony; there's got to be someone on the field who takes that role. I think Diego has taken it," Arnaud said. "He's been around for a long time. He's been in an MLS Cup Final. He's an older player that everybody kind of looks to lead on the field, and he's done a good job of it."
Defender Jose Burciaga, Jr. said Gutierrez should get more credit for what he does for the team.
"People, they really don't talk about him that much. That surprises me," Burciaga said. "He works and works and works.
"Diego's been proving it all year. If they give (the captain's armband) to him, he's going to lead us to victory."
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
