TFC defender Hernandez retires after 14 seasons, joins team’s front office

TORONTO — Veteran defender Jason Hernandez wanted to be back with Toronto FC in 2019. On Tuesday he got his wish by joining the MLS team’s front office.

The 35-year-old Hernandez announced his retirement and took the newly created position of manager, player engagement. The club said the 14-year MLS veteran will be responsible for the creation and launch of an alumni program with past players and re-integrating them into the club.

Hernandez joined Toronto in 2017, helping the team win the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian championship.

“I want to thank all the players, staff, and supporters here at Toronto FC for making my time at the club an incredibly memorable one,” Hernandez said in a release. “I consider myself very fortunate to be involved with an organization that is pushing the standard for a top-class product on and off the field.

“I am excited to continue in the pursuit of trophies, no longer as a player, but as a member of the front office team.”

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His final appearance for Toronto was as a late substitute in Toronto’s 2018 season finale against Atlanta United. Afterwards, his teammates praised Hernandez for his work ethic, dedication, positivity and leadership.

“Jason’s been unbelievable, on the field and off the field,” said centre back Drew Moor.

“He wore his heart on his sleeve and put everything he had into every moment on the field,” Moor added.

Coach Greg Vanney made a point of ensuring Hernandez got on the field in the season finale.

“As I said to him and the team, he is an even better person than he is a player, which is an amazing attribute for him because he had a hell of a career,” Vanney told reporters after the game.

“He is just a first-class guy, always reliable. You can count on him. He brings people together. That’s why he’s here. You can’t have too many of those guys.”

After spending his first 12 seasons with the MetroStars, Chivas USA, San Jose and New York City FC, Hernandez signed with Toronto as a free agent in March 2017. The team declined his option following the 2017 season but brought him back in mid-April last season when the backline was decimated by injury.

Over his MLS career, Hernandez appeared in 293 regular-season games with an impressive 23,343 minutes played. That translates to roughly 389 hours or 16 days on the pitch.

And that’s not counting 10 post-season games (900 minutes).

A defender through and through, his last shot on target was in 2008 — one of three in his career (on 15 shots in total).

Drafted sixth overall by the MetroStars in the 2005 supplemental draft, Hernandez was traded to Chivas USA at the end of his rookie season. He spent two years in Los Angeles before moving north to San Jose in the 2007 expansion draft.

He helped the Earthquakes win the 2012 MLS Supporters’ Shield, signifying the league’s best record during the regular season, alongside current and former TFC defenders Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour. He left San Jose for New York in the 2014 expansion draft.

The New York-born Hernandez, whose parents were born in Puerto Rico, won three caps with the Puerto Rican national team.

In other MLS news, Sporting Kansas City has signed former Toronto defender-midfielder Nico Hasler. The 27-year-old Liechtenstein international was waived by the Chicago Fire on March 28.

Toronto traded Hasler to Chicago in July 2108 for forward Jon Bakero and US$50,000 in general allocation money. Bakero is currently on loan to Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press