Javier Hernandez

Javier Hernández Balcázar, also known as "Chicharito" Hernández, (born June 1, 1988) is a Mexican footballer who plays as a forward for C.D. Guadalajara. Hernández will become the first Mexican to join Manchester United on July 1, 2010, subject to a work permit application.

Career

Chivas

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Hernández joined C.D. Guadalajara at the age of nine. He began playing with Chivas' lower division team, Chivas Coras in Tepic, Nayarit in the 2005–06 season. He made his debut for Chivas in the 2006 Apertura in a win over Necaxa at Estadio Jalisco. With the score at 3–0, Hernández came on as a substitute for Omar Bravo in the eighty-second minute, before scoring the fourth goal of the game five minutes later. It was his only goal in seven appearances in 2006–07. He made a further six appearances in 2007–08 without scoring.

Hernández made ten appearances in the 2008 Apertura without scoring, but he scored four goals in fifteen appearances in the 2009 Clausura. In the 2009 Apertura, Hernández finished as the joint-third top scorer, with eleven goals in seventeen appearances. He is currently leading the goalscoring charts for the 2010 Torneo Bicentenario, with ten goals in eleven games.

Manchester United

On April 8, 2010, Hernández agreed a deal to sign for English Premier League champions Manchester United for an undisclosed fee, subject to a work permit application. If a permit is granted, Hernández will join the club on July 1, 2010. As part of the deal, United will play a friendly against Chivas to open their new 45,000-capacity stadium in summer 2010.

 International career

Mexico national under-20 football team

One of the twenty-one players called up to the Mexican under-20 national team for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup being held in Canada; he wore the number 11 shirt.

Mexico national football team

He made his debut for Mexico on 30 September 2009 against Colombia, where he made an assist. On February 24, 2010, Hernández scored two goals against Bolivia and had an assist for Braulio Luna's goal. On March 3, 2010, Hernández scored a header against New Zealand, giving Mexico the lead. On March 17, 2010, Hernández scored his fourth international goal to give Mexico a 2–1 victory over North Korea.

 Personal life

Hernández is the son of Javier Hernández, who played for Tecos and was a member of the Mexico squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Hernández Sr. was nicknamed el Chicharo ("the pea"), hence Hernández Jr.'s nickname is el Chicharito ("the little pea").