Sporting Kansas City announced on Friday that Diego Gutierrez will join SKCTV as a commentator alongside Callum Williams (play-by-play) and Jake Yadrich (sideline) for all locally televised matches on KMCI-TV during the 2014 season. KMCI-TV was announced in December as the team's new local broadcast partner and will feature pre-game and post-game shows on the station as well as a monthly, hour-long Sporting KC program produced by SKCTV.
"We are excited to add Diego as a commentator as we feel that he will be an excellent complement to Cal and Jake," said Chris Wyche, Sporting Club's Executive Vice President of Stadium Operations. "Diego's addition to our team will allow us to take fans even more in-depth into the strategies and tactics of the game as we continue to add new features for our television audience."
"I'm glad to be back with Kansas City and join the club again," Gutierrez said. "It's something that is really rewarding, for me especially being a Kansas City guy. I find myself in a dream type scenario where we are now with a beautiful stadium, great fans and a championship team. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season."
A Blue Springs High School graduate and two-time NSCAA All-American at Rockhurst University, Gutierrez began his 13-year MLS career in Kansas City as a club original in 1996 for the first of six seasons with the team. He recorded 13 goals and 46 assists in 316 career MLS matches (including postseason), earning MLS All-Star honors and a debut for the U.S. Men's National Team in 2001.
In 2004, Gutierrez captained Kansas City to the U.S. Open Cup championship and a berth in MLS Cup. He was a member of four U.S. Open Cup championship teams and won MLS Cup in 1998, scoring his first professional goal in the final. His 40 career playoff appearances rank third most in MLS history, and included starts in three MLS Cup finals.
Gutierrez retired following the 2008 season and joined the Philadelphia Union in 2010 as the Head of Scouting and Player Development, then became the team's Sporting Director until 2012. He now serves as an on-air analyst for FOX Sports 1. Launched in August, the network's programming includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF Champions League and FA Cup matches, as well as FOX Soccer Daily.
Gutierrez is actively involved in The United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign and has been widely honored for his extensive philanthropic efforts. He was the recipient of the 2007 MLS Humanitarian of the Year, 2008 MLS Commissioner's Award and 2010 Jerry Yeagley Award for Exceptional Personal Achievement (NSCAA). He was appointed to the Presidential Council for Physical Fitness and Sports by George W. Bush, and was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 2009.
Gutierrez is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian and he resides in Lee's Summit, Mo. with his wife Ginna and their three children.
