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) | ||
| Position(s) | 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) |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Honduras U23 | 7 | (2) |
| 2004–2014 | Honduras | 86 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2019 | Oakland Roots (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Víctor Salvador Bernárdez Blanco (born May 24, 1982), often called Muma, is a former professional football player from Honduras. He played as a defender, mostly for San Jose Earthquakes and the Honduran national team. He last played for Oakland Roots SC.
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Early Life and Nickname
Víctor Bernárdez grew up in La Ceiba, Honduras. He lived with his mother, sisters, and other family members in one house. His family was not wealthy, and they faced challenges. For example, their home was damaged by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Víctor started playing soccer as a child with other kids in his neighborhood. He got the nickname "Muma" from his teammates at the Vida club. They noticed he always followed another player, Rene "Pupa" Martinez. So, they called him "Muma" to go with "Pupa." Later, Víctor joined the CDS Vida club, where his grandfather had also played and coached.
Club Football Career
Víctor Bernárdez played for several football clubs during his career. He started in Honduras before moving to Europe and then to the United States.
Starting with Vida and Motagua
Víctor began his professional career in 2003 with Vida, his hometown club in La Ceiba. His good play there, along with family connections, helped him move to a top Honduran team, Motagua.
At Motagua, Víctor scored some important goals. He scored two goals against Olimpia to help his team win a championship in 2006. He also scored a goal from far away (about 40 yards) in a big game in 2007.
Playing in Europe: Anderlecht
In January 2009, Víctor was loaned to Anderlecht, a famous club in Belgium. He scored his first goal for Anderlecht in February 2009. Later, he was loaned to other teams, including Lierse S.K. in Belgium and Indios in Mexico. He played well for Indios, scoring 3 goals in 11 matches.
Success with San Jose Earthquakes
On December 28, 2011, Víctor Bernárdez signed with the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. He quickly became a key player for the team.
He made his first appearance for San Jose on April 3, 2012. His first goal for the club came in a big game against the LA Galaxy. He scored from a corner kick. Víctor started 24 games in his first season and was a very important defender. He was even nominated for "Defender of the Year" and "Newcomer of the Year" in MLS. He was also named to the "2012 MLS Best XI," which means he was one of the best players in the league that year.
His strong play helped the Earthquakes win the Supporters Shield in 2012. This was their first major trophy in seven years. Víctor also scored a goal in the playoffs that year.
In 2013, the Earthquakes played in the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League. Víctor made his debut in this competition on August 28, 2013. On August 28, 2015, he played his 100th game for the San Jose Earthquakes.
Víctor hoped to play one more season with San Jose in 2018 before retiring. However, his contract was not renewed after the 2017 season. He played in 178 games during his time in MLS.
Oakland Roots SC
In June 2019, Bernárdez joined Oakland Roots SC. He played in 2 games for them. He also worked as an assistant coach and was the team captain.
International Football Career
Víctor Bernárdez also played for the Honduras national team. He made his first appearance for Honduras in March 2004. He played in 86 games for his country and scored 4 goals.
He played in 23 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. He also represented Honduras in two FIFA World Cup tournaments: 2010 and 2014. He played in every group stage match for Honduras at the 2014 World Cup.
Before the 2014 World Cup, Víctor announced he would retire from international play after the tournament. He confirmed his retirement the following year. He said his best memories with the national team were playing in two World Cups and helping Honduras beat Mexico 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
Víctor Bernárdez is married to Wendy Salgado. She represented Honduras in the Miss Universe competition in 2007. They have two children together, Ananda and Megan. Víctor also has another daughter named Victoria, who lives in Honduras.
Víctor has often spoken about the challenges in Honduras. He used his position as a national team player to bring attention to these issues. Before the 2014 World Cup, he worked with a U.S. agency to hold a conference. It was called "The Power of Soccer to Combat Youth Violence in Honduras." He hopes to continue helping his country through soccer after his playing career.
Achievements and Awards
Víctor Bernárdez won several trophies and awards during his football career.
Team Trophies
- F.C. Motagua
- Honduran Liga Nacional: 2006–07 Apertura
- Copa Interclubes UNCAF: 2007
- R.S.C. Anderlecht
- Belgian Pro League: 2009–10
- San Jose Earthquakes
- MLS Supporters Shield: 2012
Individual Awards
- MLS Best XI: 2012 (This means he was chosen as one of the best 11 players in Major League Soccer for that year.)
- National Soccer Hall of Fame: Nominated in 2021
See also
In Spanish: Víctor Bernárdez para niños
