Hernandez set to headline Atlético Dallas roster

By Josh Ortega

Mexico’s all-time leading goal scorer, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, has played for a plethora of clubs across his career, each starting a new path on a new road. 

The Mexican striker’s latest new road leads right through Dallas. 

Atlético Dallas announced Hernandez as the club’s first signing this week, with the little pea joining the club on a two-year deal with a club option for a third year on a free transfer. Atlético Dallas doesn’t begin play in the USL Championship until its inaugural season in 2027, starting in March. In a statement released by the club, Hernández spoke of his move to Dallas as part of helping establish a club that reflects passion and diversity. 

“I’ve been fortunate to live the dreams that every young footballer hopes to experience,” Hernández said. “I’ve worn some of the biggest shirts in the world and played in incredible stadiums in front of passionate supporters. Opportunities like this, though, are different,” Hernández said. “Atlético Dallas isn’t asking me to continue someone else’s story. They’re inviting me to help write the very first chapter. I believe in what Matt, Sam, and everyone at the club are building. I believe Dallas deserves a club that reflects its passion for football, its diversity and its future. I want to help create a winning culture, inspire young players across North Texas and give our supporters a team they can believe in from the very beginning. I didn’t come here simply to finish my career. I came here to help build the future of football in Dallas.”

At 38 years old, Dallas will be Chicharito’s ninth club in his illustrious career. Hernandez earned the nickname of Chicharito, meaning the little pea, early on in his career after his father, who also played professionally, was named El Chircharo, meaning “the pea,” for his green eyes. 

Hernandez burst onto the scene in the early to mid 2000s through his local club of Chivas de Guadalajara, in which he had spent most of his youth through the club’s youth academy before breaking into the club’s first team in his late teens and early 20’s. After four seasons with Guadalajara with 40-plus appearances and 23 goals, Hernandez earned a move to English side Manchester United, becoming the first Mexican to play for the Red Devils. He spent the bulk of his career in Manchester, playing in 70-plus games, winning multiple Premier League titles, two Community Shields and scoring 30 goals on the red side of Manchester. 

While internationally, Hernandez has represented Mexico at three different World Cups while becoming El Tri’s all-time leading goal scorer in 2019 with 52 goals in 109 appearances for his country. 

Chicharito has played for many major clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid in Spain, Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, and a return to England with West Ham for three seasons from 2018-2020. After a quick return to Spain with Sevilla, Hernandez made his first move stateside in his career. 

Hernandez spent three seasons with the LA Galaxy in Southern California in Major League Soccer. He appeared in 70-plus games for the Galaxy as one of the club’s designated players, scoring 38 goals. However, a serious knee injury during his final season in Los Angeles led the Galaxy to part ways with the Mexican striker, who has spent the last three seasons back in Guadalajara with Chivas, where he has played in 28 games, scoring three times. In a statement released by the team, Founder and Chairman of Atlético Dallas Matt Valentine discussed the early conversations with Hernandez as much more than another superstar looking to be the first player on the roster, but to help the expansion side continue to build a deep-rooted soccer culture in Dallas. 

“From the very beginning, our dream wasn’t simply to launch another professional soccer club. Our dream was to build a club that truly belongs to Dallas, one that honors the people and cultures that have made this city one of the great soccer communities in North America,” Valentine said in a statement. “Javier believed in that vision from our very first conversations. He understands that this isn’t about being the first player on a roster. It’s about helping build a culture that supporters, families and future generations will be proud of for decades. His career speaks for itself, but it’s his leadership, humility, competitive spirit and genuine love for the game that make him the perfect person to help write the first chapter in Atlético Dallas history.”

Hernandez was unveiled to the public as an Atlético Dallas player at Gilley’s South Side Ballroom in South Dallas on Friday, less than a 10-minute drive down the road to where Hernandez will play for Dallas at the Cotton Bowl. 

Dallas Trinity FC, which is under the same ownership group as Atlético Dallas, has called the Cotton Bowl home since the Trinity’s inaugural season in 2023. Although Atlético Dallas doesn’t officially see action until next March, with Hernandez set to headline the roster, the club has made a monumental move with months until kickoff.