Javier “El Chicharito” Hernandez

Javier Hernandez, aka “Chicharito”, is a Mexican soccer player who plays for Manchester United, being the first Mexican to do so. Before, he played for the Mexican team Guadalajara (a. k. a Chivas). He made his debut for the Mexico national football team in September 2009 in a match against Colombia and represented them at the 2010 FIFA World Cup scoring two goals. Javier was born in Guadalajara on June 1st, 1988 and first played soccer when he was seven years old.

His father, Javier Hernandez Gutierrez, an ex-Mexican soccer player, said he never thought his son would actually make it as a professional. His father’s nickname was “El Chicharo” after peas because of his identifiable green eyes. Hernandez joined C. D. Guadalajara at the age of nine and signed his first professional contract when he was 15. With all the talk about Hernandez in Mexico, it wasn’t known that Manchester United had an eye on Hernandez since October 2009 when a scout went to Mexico that December and reported positively after watching a few games.

Because of Javier’s age, it was club originally planned to wait before making a move to sign him, but since he was playing in the FIFA World Cup with the national team, the club rushed into making a bid. On April 8, 2010, Javier was officially signed to English team Manchester United. The 21-year-old was the first Mexican to join Manchester United. Back in Mexico it quickly became Chicharito-Mania as he became the most talked-about player just weeks before the World Cup. Javier was part of the list to represent Mexico in the World Cup.

On June 11, 2010, Hernandez made his FIFA World Cup debut during the opening game of the 2010 tournament against South Africa in a 1-1 draw, coming on in the 73rd minute to replace Guillermo Franco. On 17 June 2010, Hernandez again came off the bench and this time scored his first-ever World Cup goal, scoring the first in a 2–0 victory over France. On 27 June 2010, Hernandez made his first start at a World Cup and scored his second goal of the World Cup in Mexico’s 3-1 loss against Argentina in the Round of 16.

FIFA’s statistical analysis showed that Hernandez was the quickest player in World Cup 2010, reaching a top speed of 19. 8 miles per hour. World Cup now in the past Hernandez has the mission to succeed in Manchester United. Hernandez made his United debut in July 2010, coming on as a substitute for Nani in the 2010 MLS All-Star Game; he then scored his first goal for the club 18 minutes later. His career so far has been amazing for Hernandez but it’s just the beginning and will need to continue his progress in Manchester United if he wants to be considered a World-Class player up there with players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, etc.