Some superheroes don’t wear capes. They just wear a Spiderman mask when they score. Occasionally, at least. Jonas Gutierrez is the name. The former Argentina winger has officially played his last match, appearing off the bench for his boyhood team Almagro in Argentina’s second tier. The match ended in a 3-2 defeat against Ferro, but looking at his career as a whole – he’s a true winner.Two decades of professional football in Argentina, Spain, England, a single title with his first professional club Velez Sarsfield and 22 appearances for Argentina, including three in the 2010 World Cup – it seems respectable if unspectacular career. But there is so much more to this proud 38-year-old pensioner.🖤🤍🖤 Thanks forever @NUFC and fans🏟️👏👏#NUFC pic.twitter.com/sZ0wb1LBZt— Jonas Gutierrez (@elgalgojonas) October 27, 2021 Jonas used to carry a Spiderman mask in his shorts and would put it on every time he’d score. But he needed no mask to prove that he was a superhero. He shocked the world in late 2014 by announcing that he’s been battling testicular cancer for over a year. He first felt discomfort towards the end of the 2012/13 season but the fans didn’t know what was going with their beloved Argentine. He flew back to his homeland to undergo surgery that would save his life. When he returned to England, he found first-team opportunities hard to come so Newcastle sent him to Norwich City on loan in January 2014. ##EDITORS_CHOICE##Unfortunately, he didn’t get to play much for the Canaries either – because a routine check found that cancer has spread and that he’d have to have further treatment. Gutierrez remembered those dark days in a later interview with The Chronicle.”Firstly, I went through an operation. And then a few months after that, I had the first test – a result that indicated the need for chemotherapy. During the weeks you go through chemotherapy, you always feel very tired, to the point where when you get home, you always sleep. You hardly get off the bed. Then I had a two-week break, which is when my body would start recovering from the treatment. But, as soon as your body is nearly recovered, you need to go for more treatment sessions.”Maradona’s favourite player was great today. Love Jonas – bet Ashley won’t mind paying that bonus now!!! #NUFC pic.twitter.com/PHt40Gwocj— Mike Holt (@MikeHolt12) May 24, 2015 Raising awareness of the disease is the key to saving lives in the future and brave Jonas found a way to get everyone talking. He pushed himself into completing the Buenos Aires marathon just two weeks after completing his last course of chemo. The man is a superhero, remember?But returning to England provoked more bitterness than joy. He found that his club Newcastle is showing him no respect whatsoever. Gutierrez sued the club, controlled by the ruthless businessman Mike Ashley, after managers told him he would no longer feature in the club’s future just two months after he had surgery. The midfielder said the club did not play him after that so that he did not reach the 80 games needed to trigger a one-year extension of his contract. But they still needed him to save them from relegation at the end of the 2014/15 season.Wednesday, 02.30: (2.30) Argentina (3.15) Brazil (3.60)Beating West Ham on the last day of the season was a must and Jonas produced one of the most memorable moments of his career, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 victory. His wild celebration remains a symbol of the long struggle of the fans against Ashley. Jonas took of his shirt and was shouting something to the directors’ box. It was his expression of rebellion against the club management who didn’t even have the courtesy to inform him personally that his contract would not be renewed. He was treated like dirt in the end, but the mutual respect and love with the fans wasn’t tarnished.”I will always be grateful to the Newcastle fans for the way they supported me throughout the problems I faced, and for all of the outpourings of affection I have received. They knew that when I was playing, I would always give 100 per cent. The memories I keep from my time in Newcastle will always be about the fans and the city. Everything else is not worth remembering, or even talking about. I don’t hold grudges.”Cancer-fighting Jonas Gutierrez completed Marathon race to raise funds in aid of an Argentine Cancer Charity. pic.twitter.com/9xusQ9rsZc— Argentina Football Media (Eng) (@ARG_soccernews) October 14, 2014 Not only did football fans love him everywhere he went, but Jonas was also adored by the sport’s larger-than-life character Diego Maradona. The legendary El Pibe, who was in charge of the Argentinean national team at the time, respected the hard-working compatriot so much that he kept picking him for the national team even when he was playing in the English second tier during the 2009/10 campaign. And surely enough, Maradona took Jonas to the World Cup finals in South Africa. Maradona had famously said that his team consisted of “Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano, Jonas Gutierrez and 8 more players”. That’s what you call confidence!
After another year of playing in Spain for Deportivo La Coruna and five more seasons back in his homeland, Jonas has called it quits.”After so many years this career has given me great satisfaction, and everything comes to an end in a moment. I was able to fulfil many of my dreams that I set for myself when I started this career. I played in Europe, I played for the national team and I retired playing for the club I supported as a kid. Not everyone can do it and I’ve had that possibility. I’m grateful to end my career on the pitch.”Enjoy your retirement, Jonas!