Víctor Bernárdez facts for kids
Bernárdez with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Víctor Salvador Bernárdez Blanco | ||
| Date of birth | 24 May 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | La Ceiba, Honduras | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Center-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003 | Vida | 16 | (0) |
| 2004–2009 | Motagua | 62 | (10) |
| 2009 | → Anderlecht (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Anderlecht | 22 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Lierse (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2011 | → Indios (loan) | 12 | (3) |
| 2012–2017 | San Jose Earthquakes | 178 | (6) |
| 2019 | Oakland Roots | 2 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2003–2004 | Honduras U23 | 7 | (2) |
| 2004–2014 | Honduras | 86 | (4) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2019 | Oakland Roots (assistant) | ||
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Víctor Salvador Bernárdez Blanco (born May 24, 1982) is a former football player from Honduras. People often call him Muma. He played as a defender, and his last team was Oakland Roots SC.
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Early Life and Nickname
Bernárdez grew up in La Ceiba, Honduras. He lived with his mother, sisters, and other family members in one house. His family was not rich, and they faced tough times. For example, their home was damaged by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, a very strong storm.
He started playing soccer when he was young with other kids in his neighborhood. His teammates from his first club, Vida, and a national player named Rene “Pupa” Martinez, gave him the nickname "Muma." They noticed he always followed Martinez, so they called him "Muma" to "Pupa." Eventually, he joined CDS Vida, the same club his grandfather had played for and coached.
Club Football Career
Starting at CDS Vida (2003)
Víctor Bernárdez started his football journey in his hometown, La Ceiba, playing for Vida. His good play and family connections helped him move to Motagua, a top team in Honduras.
Playing for Motagua (2004–2008)
Bernárdez says his uncle helped him join Motagua from Vida. His uncle knew people at the club and told them to sign Víctor. Bernárdez scored several important goals for Motagua. This included two goals against Olimpia to win the Apertura final 4–2. He also scored a goal from 40 yards away in a big game called El Clasico de las Emes. This helped Motagua win 4–1 on July 2, 2007.
Later, in January 2009, he was loaned to Anderlecht for six months.
Time with Anderlecht (2009–2011)
He scored his first goal for Anderlecht on February 7, 2009, against Mons. This was only his second game with the team. In January 2011, Bernárdez was loaned to Lierse S.K. for five months. Later that year, he was loaned again, this time to a Mexican club called Indios de Ciudad Juárez. Bernárdez was an important player for Indios, playing in 11 matches and scoring 3 goals.
Success at San Jose Earthquakes (2012–2017)
On December 28, 2011, the San Jose Earthquakes team in Major League Soccer announced they had signed Bernárdez. He played his first game for San Jose on April 3, 2012. They won 1–0 against the New England Revolution.
His first goal for the club came in a big game called the California Clásico. Bernárdez scored from a corner kick passed by his fellow countryman Marvin Chavez. He quickly became a regular player, starting in 24 games for the Earthquakes.
Bernárdez was recognized for his great play. He was a finalist for Defender of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He was also named part of the 2012 MLS Best XI. His strong play helped the Earthquakes win the Supporters Shield, their first trophy in seven years. Bernárdez was a key player in the playoffs too, scoring in the first game of the Western Conference semi-finals against the LA Galaxy.
The Earthquakes' Supporters Shield win in 2012 meant they qualified for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League. Bernárdez played his first game in this competition on August 28, 2013. On October 14, 2014, the Earthquakes played against Bernárdez's hometown club, CDS Vida. He could not play in that match because he was playing for his national team.
Bernárdez played his 100th game for the San Jose Earthquakes on August 28, 2015. They won 1–0 against the LA Galaxy. In August 2017, he said he hoped to play one more season with San Jose and then retire. However, his contract was not renewed on November 27, 2017. He then confirmed on Instagram that his time with the Earthquakes was over. Bernárdez played in 178 games during his MLS career.
Joining Oakland Roots SC (2019)
On June 14, 2019, Bernárdez joined Oakland Roots SC for their first season in the NISA. Besides playing in 2 games as a captain, Bernárdez also worked as an assistant coach for the team.
International Career for Honduras
Víctor Bernárdez played for the Honduras national team. He made his first appearance in March 2004 in a friendly game against Venezuela. He played in 23 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and one game at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup and the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Before the 2014 World Cup, Bernárdez announced he would retire from international football after Honduras's last game in the tournament. He played in all of Honduras's group stage matches at the 2014 tournament. His final game for the team was a 3–0 loss to Switzerland. The next year, Bernárdez confirmed his decision to retire from international play. He said it was time for new players to get their chance. He also shared that his best memories with the national team were playing in two World Cups and helping Honduras beat Mexico in Estadio Azteca in 2013.
International Goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 2006 | Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras |  El Salvador |
1 – 0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 23 May 2008 | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras |  Belize |
1 – 0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 2 June 2012 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington D.C., United States | El Salvador |
1 – 0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 7 September 2012 | Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, Cuba |  Cuba |
2 – 0 | 3–0 | 2014 World Cup qualifier |
Personal Life
Bernárdez is married to Wendy Salgado, who was Miss Honduras in 2007. They have two children named Ananda and Megan. He also has another daughter named Victoria who lives with his mother in Honduras.
Bernárdez has often spoken about the violence in Honduras. He used his position as a national team player to bring attention to the situation. Before the 2014 World Cup, he worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development. They held a meeting called The Power of Soccer to Combat Youth Violence in Honduras. After retiring from soccer, he plans to stay in Honduras. He wants to help make a positive difference through soccer, just as it helped him in his own life.
Awards and Achievements
- F.C. Motagua
- Honduran Liga Nacional: Apertura 2006–07
- Copa Interclubes UNCAF: 2007
- R.S.C. Anderlecht
- Belgian Pro League: 2009–10
- San Jose Earthquakes
- MLS Supporters Shield: 2012
- Individual
- MLS Best XI: 2012
Images for kids
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Bernárdez with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017
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Víctor Bernárdez playing for San Jose Earthquakes
See Also
In Spanish: Víctor Bernárdez para niños
