Loan Confirmed! Ex-Celtic coach McGuinness signs Gutman for Charlotte Independence

“Loan lands Celtic’s Andrew Gutman with Charlotte Independence
MAC Hermann Award winner to play left back,” The Charlotte Post is reporting today.

Gutman signed for Celtic on deadline day last month and was on his way to a loan deal at MLS expansion side Nashville abut this was cancelled after the MLS refused to sanction the switch.

Chris Davies suggested that Gutman would return to Celtic before going out on another loan deal with the club having plenty of options for the full-back who was recently voted the best player in the league while playing for Chicago Fire.

Now he is heading for Charlotte Independence, who play in the USL Championship.

Charlotte Independence started their pre-season training this week and their first game is on 15 March and there is a big Celtic connection in this new move as Gutman explained.

“There is a good connection between Jim McGuinness the head coach here — he is a former Celtic coach,” Gutman told The Charlotte Post.

“I decided this was the best way to get better and develop more and hopefully get back to Celtic, but at the same time, help Charlotte as much as I can, win as many games and play the best soccer we can.”

Jim McGuinness was also very pleased to bring in the promising Celtic Star to assist with his own team in this new campaign. He talked through the qualities that he sees in Gutman.

“A very good left foot, a very good left back. We are delighted to have him here,” Jim said.

“We think he is going to be a really good fit for our style of play and what we want to do.

“We want to be intense. We want to be aggressive. We want to try and get up the field, and make things happen a lot. He has a lot of the qualities that we are looking for in relation to that.”

“I wouldn’t regret going four years at Indiana,” Gutman said. “I think it has helped me develop a lot. The biggest thing is, when you’re coming out of high school, you have to realize if you are actually ready [to play professionally].

For me, I wasn’t physically ready, mentally ready. Over my three and a half years at Indiana, it really made me ready for the next level. Hopefully, I can make a big impact at this level.

“I like to attack a lot, which is kind of rare for my position,” the Celtic player said.

“I like to score a lot of goals, a lot of assists. My thing is, I like to make the winger defend more than I have to defend him. The way that Jim wants to play, it fits right into my style. It’s exactly how Celtic plays.”

Also on The Celtic Star today…

A Brilliant Watch! ‘Paradise: Access All Areas’ from Celtic 2 Hibs 0

‘Celtic style of play is like Dortmund’s,’ Toljan’s happy in the Hoops

Jim Craig – Ex-Rangers player Willie Kivlichan scores twice for Celtic at Ibrox

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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