MBFC Signs Former Club Querétaro and San Diego Loyal SC Defender Carlos Guzmán

SEASIDE, California (Monday, December 4, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defender Carlos Guzmán on a two-year contract, pending league and federation approval. A versatile defender, Guzmán is set to bring a wealth of Liga MX experience to the back line for the Crisp and Kelp over the next two seasons.

Guzmán, 29, played his first season in USL Championship last year after inking a deal with San Diego Loyal SC over the summer – his first move away from Mexico since the start of his professional career in 2011. The defender started 14 of his 15 matches played for San Diego, including all 120 minutes of the Southern California club’s final playoff game. Guzmán recorded 52 clearances, 51 duels won and 20 interceptions defensively for San Diego, in addition to adding one goal. That one goal – a header from outside the six-yard box – just so happened to be a game-winner at home on October 1 against none other than Monterey Bay. Two months later, the Morelia, Michoacan native now joins the Union ahead of the 2024 USL Championship campaign.

“I am very happy and excited to sign with Monterey Bay,” said Guzmán. “I believe this club is the right fit for me. I’ve had a lot of communication with Frank [Yallop], Ramiro [Corrales] and also with Rafa Baca. I like the ideology and the infrastructure of the club – I think we are going to have a very good couple of years. I like the way that Frank sees the game of football, I like the way his teams play. I loved the area when we played there, it’s beautiful, not to mention the stadium and the environment as well. It was very important for me and my family to love the place that I play.”

Prior to joining San Diego, Guzmán played 12 and a half seasons in Mexico, with many of those seasons in Liga MX, Mexico’s top-flight league. After developing within the youth system of his hometown team, Club Atlético Morelia, Guzmán made his professional debut for the club in November 2011. Throughout seven seasons with Morelia, the defender spent time on loan at Atletico San Luis, Club Puebla, Club Tijuana and Club Leon. He then spent two seasons with Necaxa before rejoining his first professional club for a year in 2021. After that, Guzmán returned to Liga MX with Club Deportivo Toluca in 2022 before playing the first half of the 2023 season with Club Querétaro.

“Carlos came to our attention last year when he joined the league with San Diego in July,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He put together some very good performances and he fits into what we’re trying to do here at Monterey Bay. He is a versatile player, which is great for us. He plays a number of positions at the back, mainly centerback last season. He’s technically sound, clean on the ball, and makes good decisions. He is an all-around solid defender and really adds to the guys that we already have. He has good character and the young guys are going to learn a lot from him. We are really excited to have Carlos join us.”

Guzmán has also spent time with the Mexico national team. In 2011, Guzmán was a part of Mexico’s squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Three years later, the defender answered the call to join El Tri’s U-21 side for the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. In addition, Guzmán won a silver medal with Mexico in the 2015 Pan American Games.

“Playing for Frank is such a privilege, it is an honor,” continued Guzmán. “Everyone knows his history and I think he’s a legend. I’m really excited to play with Monterey Bay and learn the way he sees football. I just want to play every minute that I can to help the team. Hopefully we can have a lot of clean sheets, because I know championship teams start with defense. I am going to contribute all of my experience from the places that I’ve been before, my leadership, my attitude – I have a lot of enthusiasm to play here. We have to be in the playoffs, that is the first goal. But hopefully it can be a really good year for Monterey Bay overall.”

NAME: Carlos Guzmán
POSITION: Defender
AGE: 29
HEIGHT: 5’10
WEIGHT: 157
DATE OF BIRTH: May 19, 1994
HOMETOWN: Morelia, Michoacan
NATIONALITY: Mexico
PREVIOUS CLUB: San Diego Loyal SC
TRANSACTION: Monterey Bay F.C. has signed Carlos Guzmán to a two-year contract on December 4, 2023.