FRISCO, Texas – The road to professional soccer is composed of many different paths.
For an MLS Homegrown player, that usually involves some form of reserve games and sometimes a loan within the US to a lower-division team.
FC Dallas’ Moises Hernandez, though, took the less-traveled path, one which landed him back with FC Dallas by spending two years in Central America.
Originally signed to a Homegrown contract on July 30, 2010, Hernandez spent 2011 with FC Dallas before seeking out and taking a chance at playing time outside of MLS in a professional setting. After only a year with FC Dallas, the defender was loaned to Comunicaciones of Guatemala in June of 2012.
“I was looking for somewhere to be loaned, and I found an opportunity to go to Guatemala,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t think twice, I just said I wanted to go.”
He was with Comunicaciones from the summer of 2012 through the end of the year when another opportunity presented itself, this time with one of the giants of CONCACAF. After winning the Guatemalan championship, Comunicaciones’ coach left for Costa Rican giant Saprissa and took Hernandez with him.
“The coach there, he liked me,” Hernandez said. “… The coach called me, asked if I wanted to go to Saprissa. I knew they were a big club, that they have great history in Central America. I didn’t think twice about that either.”
And after spending the 2013 season with Saprissa, the Seagoville High School graduate returned to FC Dallas for the 2014 season with former developmental coach Oscar Pareja now FCD's head coach prepared to play first-division soccer in MLS.
“It was a great experience that I’ll never forget,” Hernandez said. “After the big games I couldn’t even sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“It’s helped me so far. Playing in front of noisy crowds doesn’t affect me. Playing games always helps.”
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With injuries and other absences ravaging the team, the ability of young players has been key to keeping FC Dallas in the run for the playoffs, and like fellow Homegrown players Victor Ulloa and Kellyn Acosta, Hernandez has stepped up to contribute, playing in 16 games, 12 as a starter.
“I’m happy to be back home,” the defender said. “It’s great that I am getting minutes with the first team. It’s a dream to play for your hometown team, in front of all your friends and family. It’s a great feeling to come play here, especially with my friends from the Academy like Victor and Kellyn.”
With some of his fellow Homegrown players not making the same jump, Hernandez is glad that he took the risk.
“I just wanted to get playing time,” Hernandez said. “At the end of the day, I felt like I made the right decision.”
