Dani Hernández

1.1. Birth and family

Daniel Hernández was born on 21 October 1985, in Caracas, the capital city of Miranda State, Venezuela. He comes from a family with a strong connection to football, as his older brother, Jonay Hernández, also pursued a professional football career. Jonay, a defender, shared a similar path, spending most of his professional playing time in Spain and also representing the Venezuela national team.

1.2. Youth career

Hernández began his formal football education at a young age within the Spanish system. He was part of the youth academy, known as cantera (cantera_kahn-TER-ah^Spanish), of CD Tenerife from 2000 to 2002. This early training laid the foundation for his professional journey as a goalkeeper.

2.1. Early career in Spain

Until the age of 25, Hernández competed mainly in the Community of Madrid, within the Spanish lower league and amateur football system. During this period, he represented several clubs, including CF Rayo Majadahonda (2002-2003), CD Guadalajara (2003-2004), CU Collado Villalba (2004-2005), Real Madrid C (2005-2007), Rayo Vallecano B (2007-2010), Real Jaén (on loan in 2008-2009), Valencia B (on loan in 2010), and Real Murcia CF (2010-2011). He also had a loan spell at SD Huesca in the Segunda División during the first part of the 2009-10 campaign, though his contributions were limited to two domestic cup appearances.

A significant moment in his early career occurred on 26 October 2010, when he delivered a "Player of the match" performance for Real Murcia in a Copa del Rey round of 32 match against Real Madrid. The match ended in a 0-0 home draw, frustrating the much larger club, despite Murcia eventually losing 5-1 on aggregate. Following this impressive display, Hernández famously stated he would rather ask for Iker Casillas's shirt than Cristiano Ronaldo's. Throughout these early years, he often found himself in a backup role, even within the youth systems of larger clubs like Real Madrid and Valencia, which prevented him from breaking into their respective top teams.

2.2. Real Valladolid

On 19 August 2011, Hernández signed a 1+2 contract with Real Valladolid in the Segunda División. In his first season, he primarily served as an understudy to Jaime Jiménez. However, due to an injury to his teammate, Hernández excelled in the promotion playoffs, helping Real Valladolid return to La Liga after a two-year absence. He conceded only one goal in his four appearances and three starts during these crucial playoff matches. This achievement made him the first Venezuelan goalkeeper to play in the Spanish top flight.

Hernández continued as the first-choice goalkeeper in the 2012-13 season, playing a key role in helping the Castile and León-based club retain its league status by finishing 14th. For the 2013-14 season, he was loaned to Asteras Tripolis F.C. in the Super League Greece. Upon his return to Valladolid in the 2014-15 season, he largely served as a backup to Javi Varas.

2.3. CD Tenerife

On 15 January 2015, Hernández joined CD Tenerife in the Segunda División as a free agent on a short-term deal. His tenure with the club proved to be significant. By May 2018, he had achieved the distinction of becoming the club's third goalkeeper with the most appearances in Spanish competitions, accumulating 138 matches. He remained with CD Tenerife until 2022, though in his later years, he often played second-fiddle to Juan Soriano.

2.4. CF Fuenlabrada

On 14 July 2022, the 36-year-old Hernández signed a two-year contract with CF Fuenlabrada, following their relegation to the Primera Federación. He played for the club until 2023.

3.1. Venezuela national team

Hernández made his debut for the Venezuela national team on 7 September 2010, in a 1-0 friendly victory against Ecuador. He served as a backup goalkeeper in the squad that participated in the 2011 Copa América held in Argentina.

His role grew in subsequent tournaments; he was the first-choice goalkeeper for Venezuela during the 2015 Copa América. He also played a crucial part in the Copa América Centenario in 2016, contributing to Venezuela's advancement to the knockout stage of the tournament.

4.1. Family

Daniel Hernández's older brother, Jonay Hernández, also pursued a career as a professional footballer. Jonay, who played as a defender, spent the majority of his professional career in Spain, similar to Daniel. He also earned caps for the Venezuela national team, making them both notable figures in Venezuelan football through their shared contributions to the national squad.

4.2. Physical attributes

Hernández stood at 77 in ^{(196 cm)} tall and weighed 187 lb ^{(85 kg)}. He was right-footed.

5.1. Club

5.2. International

6.1. Career highlights and impact

Daniel Hernández's career is marked by his resilience and consistent performance, particularly given his early challenges in securing a stable first-team position. His standout "Player of the Match" performance against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey demonstrated his capability against top-tier opposition. A significant achievement was his integral role in helping Real Valladolid gain promotion to La Liga in 2012, cementing his place as the first Venezuelan goalkeeper to play in the Spanish top flight.

His extended tenure with CD Tenerife, where he became one of the club's most-capped goalkeepers in Spanish competitions with 138 matches by 2018, underscores his reliability and importance to the team over several seasons. On the international stage, Hernández's contributions to the Venezuela national team, including his role as first-choice goalkeeper in the 2015 Copa América and helping the team reach the knockout stage in the Copa América Centenario in 2016, were vital for the progress of Venezuelan football. His career, marked by steady performance and commitment to his clubs and country, highlights his lasting impact on the sport.