Newcastle United favourite Jonas Gutierrez lands first management job nearly a decade on from beating cancer

Newcastle United cult hero Jonas Gutierrez has landed his first role in football management almost a decade on from his recovery from testicular cancer.

The Argentine midfielder was signed from Real Mallorca in 2008 by former Magpies boss Kevin Keegan who described him at the time as an “exciting player who the fans will enjoy watching.”

Over the course of seven years, Gutierrez lived up to Keegan’s comments and was part of a team which won promotion from the Championship in 2009/10 under Chris Hughton. He is also remembered fondly for his 37 appearances during the 2011/12 season, when Newcastle defied expectations to finish fifth under Alan Pardew.

Gutierrez was a fan favourite throughout his time on Tyneside and was renowned for his iconic goal celebration where he would wear the mask of superhero Spiderman.

However, Gutierrez’s most iconic moment for Newcastle came during the 2014/15 season, in what ultimately proved to be his final season at the club. The midfielder had missed a large chunk of the campaign recovering from testicular cancer, but emerged as a vital member of the first team squad that survived relegation under John Carver.

His defining moment came on the final day of the season in a 2-0 victory over West Ham when he scored and assisted in a game which secured the Magpies’ status in the top-flight. Gutierrez was released from Newcastle over the phone at the end of that season and hit back at owner Mike Ashley for his harsh treatment.

Gutierrez tweeted at the time: “Two things I learn from my illness how you can support a player (Newcastle fans) and how you leave a player alone (Newcastle owner).”

The popular midfielder spent the final six years of his career with a host of Argentinian clubs including his hometown Almagro, where he hung up his boots in 2021.

However, he is now returning to the game as manager of Almagro. He has a tough job on his hands after the club narrowly avoided relegation from the Primera Nacional last season.

The club is based in the capital city of Buenos Aires and their stadium has a capacity of 19,000. Almagro last competed in the Argentine top-flight during the 2003/04 campaign before their relegation.