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As Hartford Athletic began its rebuild this past offseason, one area of need was forward, especially as 2019’s leading scorers, Wojciech Wojcik (now Forward Madison) and Jose Angulo (now free agent), both departed. One key signing arrived in January via Ever Guzman, a Liga MX and Ascenso MX veteran who’s the all-time leading scorer at fellow USL Championship side San Antonio FC. Guzman, 32, was out of contract with San Antonio and drawn to the project new head coach Radhi Jaidi was building. He saw that Jaidi used to lead Southampton’s U-23 team, and wanted to learn from the ex-defender who twice represented Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup (2002, 2006). “The past year and history, I wasn’t really looking at that,” Guzman said via a translator about Hartford’s expansion-year struggles. “I was more interested in going forward and learning about the project.

“The coach has changed the mentality for many of the players on the team. The team itself feels like a winning one, we’ve been scoring goals and the fans feel very engaged. We feel we’ve been doing a good job and getting results, so that’s what I base my knowledge off of.”

Guzman has scored four goals through Hartford’s first five games. They’re second in Group F ahead of hosting New York Red Bulls II on Saturday at Dillon Stadium, with the top two teams advancing to the postseason as part of the USL’s reworked schedule.

A No. 9 who’s proven efficient, Guzman is quick to give credit to his teammates. He highlighted midfielder/captain Danny Barrera and Southampton loanee Tyreke Johnson as other key parts of the retooled offense.

“I don’t think that I’m bringing anything special to the team,” Guzman said. “ … The team doesn’t just need one player, the team has (23) players and we’re giving our best to show our quality.”

Guzman is the oldest player on Hartford’s roster, and with that status comes experience. Look no further than in 2005 when he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with Mexico, playing alongside global stars like LAFC forward Carlos Vela, Club America forward Giovanni dos Santos and 104-cap center back Hector Moreno.

The quick, intelligent forward tallied four goals that tournament, trailing just Vela (five) for the overall lead. Guzman scored in the 86th minute of the final, a 3-0 win over a Brazil side that included Real Madrid left back Marcelo and former Premier League midfielders like Denilson (ex-Arsenal) and Anderson (ex-Manchester United). His family even travelled to the Estadio Nacional in Peru for the match.

“For many of the players who participated in the U-17 championship, success came fairly quickly,” Guzman said. “For others it was delayed and for some it disappeared. I felt Vela, Giovanni and Hector Moreno found great success, and their success is also my success. I wish them the best, but I also can’t really question my path. I’ve been enjoying my soccer, what life has given me, the ups and downs.”

After impressing for Mexico’s U-17s, Guzman embarked on improving his standing at Monarcas Morelia, a club that’s since relocated to the Pacific Coast city of Mazatlan. He made 50 appearances for Morelia over 13 years, and was loaned out six different times.

Guzman said he needed a new challenge, hence why he signed for San Antonio in August 2017. He ultimately scored 25 goals in 65 games across all competitions, learning to thrive in the USL Championship’s style.

“I think it’s more physical here,” Guzman said. “In Mexico we work more with the ball and everyone has good technique, that’s the difference. In San Antonio it was more the physical aspect, but we worked with the ball as well.

“And now that I’ve come to Hartford, with a new system, a new ideology, still the physical aspect is important for the coaches. We’re working towards being physically fit and able to play 90 minutes. It’s more about working with the physical aspect than the technical.”

Looking long-term, Guzman said he hopes to play another five years and feature in Major League Soccer. He’s proven vital to Jaidi’s plans and said earning Hartford’s first postseason berth is their main objective. But like any striker, he also carries a lofty benchmark he’s trying to reach.

“I’m very close to reaching 100 career goals, which is one of my goals as a professional,” said Guzman, who has 85 career tallies. “The players are supporting me and I feel like my body is enduring the games. As long as my body continues to endure the physical demands, I’ll continue to play because this is what I’m passionate about.”

Jonathan Sigal is the Director of Content for New England Soccer Journal, overseeing all print and digital efforts. You can email him at jsigal@nesoccerjournal.com or follow him on Twitter @JonathanSigal.