Manuel Hernandez (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Manuel "Mani" Hernandez (born August 2, 1948 in Madrid, Spain) is a retired Spanish-American soccer forward
. He played collegiate soccer at San Jose State University
where he won the 1968 Hermann Trophy
as the collegiate player of the year. He later spent three seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes of the North American Soccer League
. He currently coaches high school girls soccer at Presentation High School
.
. That year, Hernandez was selected as a first team All American
and the 1968 Hermann Trophy
recipient as the top collegiate player of the year.
(NASL) established a franchise in San Jose, naming it the San Jose Earthquakes. The Earthquakes signed Hernandez. He spent three season with the ‘Quakes, 1974-1976. In 1979, he signed with the Detroit Lightning
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
. After one season, he moved to the San Francisco Fog
.
as it began the qualification process for the 1972 Summer Olympics
. Hernandez scored one of the two goals in the U.S. victory over Jamaica which put the U.S. into the tournament. Hernandez earned two caps with the U.S. national team
in 1974, both losses to Mexico
.
in San Jose hired Hernandez. In 1982, he became the head coach of the girl’s soccer team. Over the decades since then, he has taken Presentation to seventeen league championships and eight Central Coast Sectional titles. Aly Wagner
and Danielle Slaton are among the players Hernandez has coached at Presentation.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He played collegiate soccer at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
where he won the 1968 Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as the collegiate player of the year. He later spent three seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He currently coaches high school girls soccer at Presentation High School
Presentation High School
Presentation High School is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for girls established in 1962. It is owned and run by the Sisters of the Presentation, and operates within the Diocese of San Jose in California...
.
Youth and college
Hernandez was born in Spain where he spent most of his youth. He joined a Madrid soccer club as a youth player, but his life took a turn when tragedy struck. After the death of both of his parents, Hernandez left Spain to live with his uncle in the United States. He arrived in the U.S. as a junior in high school. His senior year, San Jose State soccer coach Jules Menendez approached Hernandez about playing for him. Hernandez agreed and Menendez became a second father to him. In 1968, the Spartans went to the NCAA Final Four before falling to eventual co-champions MarylandMaryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
. That year, Hernandez was selected as a first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
and the 1968 Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
recipient as the top collegiate player of the year.
Club career
Following college, Hernandez spent several years with San Francisco semi-pro teams. In 1974, the North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL) established a franchise in San Jose, naming it the San Jose Earthquakes. The Earthquakes signed Hernandez. He spent three season with the ‘Quakes, 1974-1976. In 1979, he signed with the Detroit Lightning
Detroit Lightning
The Detroit Lightning was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1979-1980. The Lightning finished that season at 15-17...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. After one season, he moved to the San Francisco Fog
San Francisco Fog (MISL)
The San Francisco Fog was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1980-1981.-History:The Fog, which played their home games at the Cow Palace, finished their single season of existence at 11-29...
.
Olympics and national teams
In 1972, Hernandez was selected for the U.S. Olympic TeamUnited States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
as it began the qualification process for the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. Hernandez scored one of the two goals in the U.S. victory over Jamaica which put the U.S. into the tournament. Hernandez earned two caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1974, both losses to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
.
Coach
In 1980, Presentation High SchoolPresentation High School
Presentation High School is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for girls established in 1962. It is owned and run by the Sisters of the Presentation, and operates within the Diocese of San Jose in California...
in San Jose hired Hernandez. In 1982, he became the head coach of the girl’s soccer team. Over the decades since then, he has taken Presentation to seventeen league championships and eight Central Coast Sectional titles. Aly Wagner
Aly Wagner
Alyson Kay "Aly" Wagner is a former American soccer midfielder who last played for Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer. She was a member of the United States women's national soccer team...
and Danielle Slaton are among the players Hernandez has coached at Presentation.