Daejeon Hana Citizen has bolstered its offense with the signing of Latvian international forward Vladislavs Gutkowskis.
Gutkowski, who Daejeon announced the signing of on Nov. 11, made his professional debut with JFK Olympics of the Latvian League and has been playing in the Polish League since 2016 through Sconto FC of the same league. He went on to play for LSK Niesykja and then Rakow Częstochowa since 2020, where he scored 24 goals and provided nine assists in 90 appearances. His best season came in 2022-23, when he scored eight goals and added three assists in 32 games, helping his team win the league title. He also represented Latvia at the national level, scoring 11 goals in 43 A-match appearances, and was named Latvian Player of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2021 and 2022.
Gutkowskis’ physical stature at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds gives him the strength to compete with opposing defenders, and he is also an excellent header. Daejeon will be looking to Gutkowski to finish off their offense from the front line. With 32 goals this season, Daejeon is third in the K League 1 in scoring behind Ulsan and Seoul, and Gutkowski’s addition will give the club an even more devastating attacking lineup to go along with its existing foreign players, including Thiago and Leandro. Daejeon, who are sixth in the K League 1, will look to capitalize on their newfound offensive prowess to leapfrog into the top half of the table in the second half of the season.
At the player’s request, Gutkowski will play in the K League under his old name, Gutek, which he used while playing in the Polish league. “I’ve heard that Daejeon Hana Citizens is a team with very high goals and visions, and I know that they have a great team spirit and the passion of their fans. I’m very excited to be a part of such a great team and take on new challenges in the K League 안전놀이터추천. I will do my best to contribute to the team with everything I have,” he said.