Place of birth Arauca, Colombia Number 16 Height 1.6 m | Playing position 2000–2006 Junior Weight 68 kg | |
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Full name Vladimir Javier Hernández Rivero Date of birth (1989-02-08) 8 February 1989 (age 28) Current team Santos FC (#16 / Midfielder, Forward) Date joined 2008 (Club Deportivo Popular Junior F.C. S.A.) Parents Gloria Rivero, Iván Hernández Similar Sebastián Viera, Edison Toloza, Roberto Ovelar, Juan Guillermo Domínguez, Luis Narváez | ||
Vladimir Javier Hernández Rivero (born 8 February 1989) is a Colombian footballer who plays for Brazilian club Santos. Mainly a left winger, he can also play as a forward or an attacking midfielder.
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Early career
Born in Arauca, Hernández was bought by Junior in 2000 at the age of 11, while playing for lowly amateurs Mundialito 90. He played for the youth setup before being assigned to the club's reserve team, Barranquilla, in 2007.
Junior
In 2008, after contributing with 25 appearances and four goals during the campaign, Hernández was called up by first team manager Julio Avelino Comesaña. He made his Categoría Primera A debut on 13 September of that year, in a 1–0 home win against Millonarios.
Hernández was handed his first start for the Tiburones on 21 September 2008, in a 1–0 home success over Envigado. He only scored his first professional goal on 21 June 2009, netting the equalizer in a 2–2 away draw against Deportivo Cali.
Hernández became a regular starter in the 2010 season, contributing with 22 matches and one goal as his side was crowned champions of the Apertura tournament. He scored five goals in the following year, also lifting the Clausura.
Hernández scored his first Copa Libertadores goal on 23 February 2012, netting his team's first in a 2–2 draw at Universidad Católica. He featured regularly, appearing in five matches in a group stage exit.
Hernández scored his first professional brace on 31 August 2015, in a 3–1 home win against Deportivo Cali. He netted ten league goals in the campaign, also being a winner of Copa Colombia.
Santos
On 13 October 2016, Santos' president Modesto Roma Júnior confirmed the signing of Hernández prior to the 2017 campaign. The rumoured fee was believed to be US$ 1 million.
After scoring a bicycle kick goal in a 5–1 friendly home routing of KAC Kénitra, Hernández made his official debut for the club on 9 March 2017 by replacing Vitor Bueno in a 1–1 Copa Libertadores away draw against Sporting Cristal. He first appeared as a starter on 12 March of the same year, providing two assists in the 4-1 victory against São Bernardo Futebol Clube.
International career
Hernández was called up for the training session of the Colombia national football team, between 14 and 18 February 2016 in Bogotá. He was also named in Colombia's provisional squad for Copa América Centenario but was cut from the final squad.
Hernández made his full international debut on 25 January 2017, replacing Santos teammate Jonathan Copete in a 1–0 friendly loss against Brazil.