Teófilo Gutiérrez

Barranquilla

Gutierrez began his career with Barranquilla F.C., Atlético Junior's second division team, in 2006. After scoring 16 goals in 28 appearances, he was called up to Junior's senior team in 2007.

Atlético Junior

In his first years with the main squad, Gutiérrez found it difficult to break into the starting eleven. He managed to score his first goal on 2 September 2007 in a 4–2 victory against Once Caldas. During the 2008 Finalizacion, he earned a spot in the starting lineup and managed to score 11 goals, finishing third place in the scoring charts, just behind Freddy Montero and Carlos Quintero and tying Adrián Ramos and Milton Rodríguez. During the 2009 Apertura, Gutiérrez was in outstanding form, scoring a total of 16 goals and winning the Golden Boot of the tournament. During the playoffs, he scored six goals with hat-tricks against Cúcuta Deportivo and Envigado. During the 2009 Finalización he finished the season with 14 goals, finishing second to Jackson Martínez's 18 goals. He was named by the IFFHS as the fourth world First Division top scorer of 2009, having scored 30 goals during the year.

Trabzonspor

On 13 January 2010, Junior sold Gutierrez to Süper Lig club Trabzonspor for $3 million. During his first season in Turkey, he found it difficult to adapt, which prevented him from being a regular on the starting eleven. He played 11 league games and did not score any goals. Gutierrez joined the team's preseason late due to visa…

Gutiérrez scored in his international debut for Colombia on 7 August 2009 in a 2–1 victory against El Salvador. In his third call up to the Colombia national team, he made his first competitive appearance in a qualifying game for the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Ecuador, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 victory. Gutierrez was selected for the 2011 Copa America, making 3 appearances as a substitute. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Gutiérrez scored six goals in 11 matches, including a brace in a 4–0 victory against Uruguay on 7 September 2012, and Colombia's first goal in a 3–3 draw against Chile on 11 October 2013. This result ensured Colombia's qualification to the 2014 World Cup. In June 2014, he was named in Colombia's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals and, after the withdrawal of Radamel Falcao through injury, took the number 9 shirt for Los Cafeteros. In the team's opening match of the tournament, Gutiérrez scored Colombia's second goal in a 3–0 win against Greece. In the 2015 Copa America Gutierrez made 4 substitute appearances. In May 2018 he was named in Colombia's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, he did not make the final 23.

Gutiérrez is a prolific forward, since he gets into finishing positions easily and he can score from long range as well. He also has great passing and technical ability, because he started his youth career playing as a playmaker, and has the ability to create plays and make through passes to his teammates using his superior vision. He is often the connecting link between the midfielders and the forwards. During his time with River, Juan Román Riquelme praised him, calling him "one of the best players in Argentinian football." He is, however, sometimes criticized for being hotheaded and making rash decisions when he gets angry.

Gutierrez grew up in the impoverished neighborhood of La Chinita in Barranquilla along with six brothers. The area is plagued with gang violence and many shootouts happened near his home.