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Javier “Chicharito” Hern\u00e1ndez becomes the first player in Atl\u00e9tico Dallas history.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: Atl\u00e9tico Dallas<\/p>\n
Javier \u201cChicharito\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez will extend his historic career by playing in North Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atl\u00e9tico Dallas announced Monday that it has reached a two\u2011year contract with the Mexican forward, with a club option for a third season, pending league and federation approval.<\/p>\n With two decades of experience across the world\u2019s top leagues, Hern\u00e1ndez said in a release that he is energized by the opportunity to help grow the sport in the region.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI believe Dallas deserves a club that reflects its passion for football, its diversity, and its future,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: New pro soccer clubs are cropping up across North Texas. Will they find success?<\/a><\/p>\n Atl\u00e9tico Dallas will debut in the 2027 USL Championship season, one tier below MLS, and will play its home matches at the Cotton Bowl.<\/p>\n Javier “Chicharito” Hern\u00e1ndez at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.<\/p>\n Courtesy: Atl\u00e9tico Dallas<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez, the Mexican national team\u2019s all\u2011time leading scorer with 52 goals, becomes Atl\u00e9tico Dallas’s first official signing.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the very beginning, our dream wasn’t simply to launch another professional soccer club,\u201d Matt Valentine, founder and chairman of Atl\u00e9tico Dallas, said in a release. \u201cOur dream was to build a club that truly belongs to Dallas. Javier believed in that vision.\u201d<\/p>\n Historic rise<\/p>\n Hern\u00e1ndez rose from Club Guadalajara academy to become one of Mexico\u2019s most recognizable soccer figures, breaking out with\u00a0Chivas before making history as the first Mexican player to sign with Manchester United in the Premier League.<\/p>\n His instinctive movement inside the box and his physical tools made him a threat to any opposing defender.<\/p>\n After his Premier League rise, Hern\u00e1ndez wore some of the sport\u2019s most iconic shirts, including Real Madrid\u2019s, with whom he played in the Champions League.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United, Sevilla\u00a0and eventually MLS \u2014 where he became the face of the LA Galaxy \u2014 were his other stops before joining Atl\u00e9tico Dallas.<\/p>\n \u201cHis 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 Atl\u00e9tico Dallas history,\u201d Valentine said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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