Julian de Guzman is a retired Canadian professional soccer player and current sporting director of the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS). Born in Toronto, Ontario, he had a 19-year playing career beginning with Olympique de Marseille’s youth and reserve teams. De Guzman was a pioneering figure in Canadian soccer, becoming the first Canadian Designated Player in MLS when he joined Toronto FC in 2009. He made 93 appearances for Toronto FC, winning the Canadian Championship three times from 2010 to 2012. He also played for FC Dallas, Jahn Regensburg, Skoda Xanthi FC, and ended his playing career at Ottawa Fury FC, where he served as captain and reserve team coach in 2016. Internationally, de Guzman earned 89 caps for the Canadian national team over 14 years, captaining the side in 25 matches. He participated in six CONCACAF Gold Cups, earning the tournament MVP award in 2007 and being named to the All-Tournament Team in 2007 and 2009. He held the record for most Canadian international appearances from 2016 until 2021. De Guzman also represented Canada in four FIFA World Cup qualifying cycles and one FIFA U-20 World Cup. He retired from international soccer in 2016. After retiring from playing, de Guzman transitioned into soccer management and coaching. In 2022, he was appointed Sporting Director of the New York Red Bulls, aiming to contribute to the club’s success in MLS. His career is marked by significant contributions to Canadian soccer as a player and now as an executive, maintaining relevance in the sport through leadership roles[1][2][5].