Jason Hernandez (born August 26, 1983) is the General Manager for Toronto FC. He has played for the Puerto Rico national team playing as a defender.

Jason Hernandez
Hernandez with Toronto FC in 2017
Personal information
Full name Jason Hernandez
Date of birth (1983-08-26) August 26, 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth New York, New York, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Seton Hall Pirates
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005 MetroStars 3 (0)
2006–2007 Chivas USA 50 (0)
2008–2014 San Jose Earthquakes 165 (0)
2015–2016 New York City FC 57 (0)
2017–2018 Toronto FC 18 (0)
2017–2018Toronto FC II (loan) 2 (0)
International career
2016 Puerto Rico 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 20, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 23, 2016

Hernandez played prep soccer at Paramus Catholic High School.[1]

College

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Hernandez played college soccer at Seton Hall University from 2001 to 2004, and captained the team in his final two seasons. He was also named Second Team ALL-BIG EAST in 2004.[2]

Club career

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MetroStars

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Hernandez was selected by the MetroStars with the sixth pick in the first round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft and signed a developmental contract with the team for the 2005 season.[3] After not playing a minute in the club's first 29 league games, he made his debut against Chicago on October 5, 2005. He started the last three games of the regular season, as well as both games in the playoffs.[4]

Chivas USA

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Hernandez was traded to Chivas USA in a trade that allowed the MetroStars to move up to the first selection of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft and select Marvell Wynne.[5]

In his initial campaign with Chivas, Hernandez went on to appear in 29 league matches, including 24 starts. During the 2007 season Hernandez saw his role reduced as he appeared in 21 league matches, starting only nine. He started three of the club's four playoff matches during his two-year stint at the Los Angeles-based club.[6]

San Jose Earthquakes

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Hernandez was picked up by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft.[7] He made his debut on April 3, 2008, starting against LA Galaxy.[8]

Hernandez would play for the club through the 2014 season, and would captain the team multiple times.[2] His 160 games started and 13,859 minutes played placed him third all time in both categories for the club.[8]

New York City

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Hernandez was selected by New York City FC as the 6th pick in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.[9] He would start in their first ever MLS game, a 1–1 draw with Orlando City SC on March 8, 2015.[10]

After the signing of Italian legend Andrea Pirlo in July 2015, Hernandez changed his number from 21 to 2 to honor his boyhood idol, New York Yankees legendary shortstop Derek Jeter.[citation needed] He was not retained following the 2016 season.[11]

Toronto FC

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Hernandez was signed by Toronto FC in March 2017.[12] He made his Toronto FC debut and his first start of the season on May 6, 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win against the Seattle Sounders FC.[13]

Hernandez was re-signed by Toronto FC on April 13, 2018,.[14] He was released at the end of the 2018 season following the expiration of his contract.[15]

Hernandez announced his retirement from professional football on April 2, 2019, and that he would be joining Toronto's front office as Manager of Player Engagement.[16]

Hernandez was named General Manager of Toronto FC on June 27, 2023.[17]

International career

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Hernandez was born in the United States to parents of Puerto Rican descent. In January 2009, he was called for a training camp with the United States, but he did not appear in a match for the team.[18] Eligible for Puerto Rico through his parents, he made his international debut with the team in March 2016 during a Caribbean Cup qualifier against Guyana.[19]

Management career

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After retiring as a professional player in April 2019, he became Toronto FC's Manager of Player Engagement.[16] He later became the team's Assistant General Manager, Player Personnel and Engagement Strategy in 2021, before being promoted to General Manager in June 2023.[20]

Career statistics

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As of match played March 20, 2019 [21]
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup Continental Total
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MetroStars 2005 Major League Soccer 5 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
Chivas USA 2006 Major League Soccer 31 0 2 0 0 0 33 0
2007 22 0 1 0 0 0 23 0
Total 53 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 56 0
San Jose Earthquakes 2008 Major League Soccer 28 0 0 0 28 0
2009 16 0 0 0 16 0
2010 30 0 3 0 0 0 33 0
2011 28 0 0 0 28 0
2012 27 0 2 0 1 0 30 0
2013 21 0 0 0 4 0 25 0
2014 20 0 1 0 21 0
Total 170 0 5 0 2 0 4 0 181 0
New York City FC 2015 Major League Soccer 26 0 1 0 27 0
2016 31 0 0 0 1 0 32 0
Total 57 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 59 0
Toronto FC 2017 Major League Soccer 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2018 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Total 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
Toronto FC II (loan) 2017 USL 1 0 1 0
2018 1 0 1 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career Total 305 0 10 0 4 0 4 0 323 0

Honors

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Club

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San Jose Earthquakes

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Toronto FC

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References

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  1. ^ Hernandez[permanent dead link], San Jose Earthquakes. Accessed October 20, 2022. "High School/Club: Four-year letter-winner at Paramus Catholic"
  2. ^ a b "Hernandez alumni report". shupirates.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  3. ^ "Metros sign Hernandez". bigapplesoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  4. ^ "Jason Hernandez statistics". metrofanatic.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  5. ^ "MLS SuperDraft". Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Jason Hernandez NYCFC profile". nycfc.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  7. ^ "MLS releases results of expansion draft". oursportcentral.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "San Jose profile". sjearthquakes.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  9. ^ "2014 MLS expansion draft". centerlinesoccer.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  10. ^ "NYCFC vs Orlando City". espnfc.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  11. ^ Booth, Mark (November 28, 2016). "NYCFC Announce Roster Options for 2017". NYCFC.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Toronto FC Sign Jason Hernandez". Toronto FC. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  13. ^ "TFC's strength in depth on full display in win over Sounders - Sportsnet.ca".
  14. ^ "Toronto FC welcome back Jason Hernandez, promote three from Toronto FC II". www.mlssoccer.com. April 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "Toronto FC decline Clint Irwin, Tosaint Ricketts options". www.cbc.ca. November 27, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Jason Hernandez Announces Retirement, Joins Front Office". Torontofc.ca. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  17. ^ torontofc. "Jason Hernandez named Toronto FC General Manager | Toronto FC". torontofc. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  18. ^ http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12189704.html. Retrieved January 7, 2009. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ "Jason Hernández le ve futuro a onceno boricua – elVocero". Archived from the original on October 26, 2016.
  20. ^ "Jason Hernandez named Toronto FC General Manager". Toronto FC. June 27, 2023.
  21. ^ Jason Hernandez at Soccerway
  22. ^ "San Jose clinch Supporters' Shield". sjearthquakes.com. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
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