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Independence Land Gutman on Loan

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 02/22/19, 10:05AM EST

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2018 MAC Hermann Trophy winner joins Charlotte, McGuinness from Celtic FC


2018 MAC Hermann Trophy winner officially joined the Charlotte Independence on loan from legendary Scottish club Celtic FC. | Photo courtesy Charlotte Independence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence announced on Friday the club had acquired defender Andrew Gutman on loan from iconic Scottish Premiership side Celtic FC, pending league and federation approval. A former Indiana Hoosier, Gutman received the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate soccer player.

“I'm excited to join the Independence,” said Gutman. “While I'm here I want to contribute as much as I can. I want to do everything I can to help the team win. Being a professional brings new goals and new challenges, so I'm putting the Hermann Trophy behind me and trying to achieve new goals.”

During his senior season at Indiana University, Gutman lead the Hoosiers in scoring and anchored a defensive unit which led the NCAA in shutouts (14) as it claimed the Big Ten Regular Season Championship, Big Ten Tournament and reached the NCAA College Cup.

Indiana has been a top program with Gutman in their ranks, going 63-11-17 (win-loss-draw) since 2015, including an undefeated 2017 regular season culminating in an NCAA College Cup Final appearance. In his four-year collegiate career, Gutman scored 20 goals, logged 17 assists and made 90 appearances. As a senior, he was named NCAA First-Team All-American, Big Ten Defender of the Year and TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Year. The product of the Chicago Fire youth academy competed for USL League Two side Chicago United FC in 2016.

“It's absolutely fantastic to get Andrew,” said Independence Head Coach Jim McGuinness . “He's everything that we're looking for, with his energy, his dynamic ability and his attacking mentality. You want guys with a good attitude and a natural work ethic, and I think he's got all those things.”

Gutman signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Celtic on January 31st to begin his professional career and he’ll now work under someone familiar with the practices of the Scottish Premiership’s defending champion. New Independence Head Coach Jim McGuinness is a former Celtic U-20 assistant and is excited to expand the relationship with Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers and his club.

“We've got a strong connection with Celtic and obviously, I spent a number of years there,” said McGuinness. “Building a relationship with a world-renowned club like that is very exciting. We want to add more players to that, as well.”

“My goal is to get back to Celtic,” said Gutman. “Having Jim [McGuinness] here, he knows the Celtic way very well. I'm excited to learn under him, so I'm looking forward to getting the season going.”

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