Julian de Guzman acknowledges he’s taking a bit of a risk. But he simply doesn’t care.
Out of contract at club level, de Guzman is set to represent Canada at this month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
The Canadian squad has been in California since June 26 for a training camp ahead of the 12-nation tournament. Canada kicks off Gold Cup play on July 7 against Martinique in Pasadena, Calif. It then faces off against Mexico in Seattle (July 11) and Panama in Denver (July 14).
Programming alert: Watch every game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup live on Sportsnet World and Sportsnet World Online | Match & TV schedule | Tournament preview
When interim coach Colin Miller unveiled his 23-man roster for the competition last week, de Guzman’s selection was a bit of a surprise. The Canadian midfielder parted ways with German second division side Jahn Regensburg in May and had yet to find a new team.
Fellow Canadian teammates Atiba Hutchinson and defender Andre Hainault, who are also out of contract at club level, were asked to take part in the tournament, but turned down Miller’s offer.
The expectation was that de Guzman, a 32-year-old native of Toronto, would also decline the invitation to play for Canada so as not to jeopardize his future – picking up a serious injury while on international duty at the Gold Cup might hurt his chances of signing with a new club.
But the former Toronto FC midfielder maintains not playing at the Gold Cup this summer was never an option.
“My natural reaction was I’m going to do this. … I would never let that chance (to play for Canada) slip away whenever that door is open. It’s a huge opportunity for me to still do something I enjoy,” de Guzman told sportsnet.ca.
“I just want to represent my country. I’m living in the moment, and whatever happens will happen.”
Really, we shouldn’t be surprised that de Guzman is taking such a gamble when his club future is so unsure. He was in a similar situation during the 2009 Gold Cup, when he was out of contract with Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna. After competing for Canada at the tournament, he ended up signing with TFC.
De Guzman revealed that his agent is currently in talks with clubs from Germany and Poland. A strong showing at the Gold Cup could seal a potential deal.
“I think it’ll be a lot easier for the teams to make a decision once I start playing in the Gold Cup. At my age, they want to see if I’m still fit, so being able to play for Canada will give them a confirmation of what I can do,” de Guzman explained.
If de Guzman had his choice, he’d like to go back to Germany, so he can be closer to his kids. His eight-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son live in Germany with their mother, who de Guzman is separated from.
When he played in MLS, de Guzman said he was only able to see his kids once or twice a year. When he left FC Dallas, he jumped at the chance to sign with Jahn Regensburg so he could be closer to his children.
He ended up playing half a season with Jahn Regensburg, and although they were relegated, de Guzman loved the experience because he not only enjoyed playing at a high level, but was able to see his son and daughter more often.
“My objective was to be back in Europe so I could be close to my kids, and being in the same country as them and playing. It was a perfect situation for me,” de Guzman offered.
“Being away from them when I was in MLS was one of the toughest experiences in my career. I didn’t know the kind of impact it would have on me. … It was really tough.”
With Canada in rebuilding mode, it’s a young and somewhat inexperienced side that will compete at the Gold Cup. No less than eight youngsters, many of whom have yet to earn their first cap, were named to the team, while a core of aging veterans have been phased out.
Most notably, Miller decided not to call up Dwayne de Rosario, Canada’s all-time leading scorer, and Patrice Bernier, regarded as one of the top midfielders in MLS.
But de Guzman retained his place, and with 63 caps to his credit, he is the most experienced player on the team, and will be looked upon to mentor the youngsters.
“It’s an eye opener to be one of the few veterans, but at the same time I’m really pleased to still be a part of this team at this stage in my career. I hope I can continue to play for Canada for a few more years,” de Guzman said.
“I really enjoy being a part of the new look team, and helping in the development of the young guys in camp. It’s a huge honour for me.”