Pepe Fernandez
Encyclopedia
Cirilo “Pepe” Fernandez (born Uruguay
) was a Uruguayan soccer forward
who played one season in the National Professional Soccer League
, just over four in the North American Soccer League
, one in the American Soccer League
and five in the Netherlands.
Het started his career at Club Sport Emelec
. In 1967, Fernandez played for the Los Angeles Toros
of the National Professional Soccer League
. In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
to form the North American Soccer League
(NASL). When that happened, the Toros moved to San Diego. Fernandez remained with the San Diego Toros
in 1968 where he was selected as a first team All Star. The Toros folded at the end of the season and Fernandez moved to the Kansas City Spurs
for the 1969 season. He was once again a first team All Star as well as the NASL MVP. According to one source, Fernandez spent five seasons in the Netherlands at Go Ahead Eagles
and HFC Haarlem
. He did not return to the NASL until 1974 when he signed with the expansion Seattle Sounders
. He started the first three games of the season, but a vicious slide tackle by Gonzalo Perez broke his leg during the Sounders home debut putting him out for the season. Fernandez played only twelve games in 1975, then began the 1976 season when he was released after two games. He then signed with the expansion Tacoma Tides
of the American Soccer League
. The Tides went to the ASL playoff semifinals but folded soon after.
He lives in Everett Washington where he owns an indoor soccer business.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
) was a Uruguayan soccer forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played one season in the National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
, just over four in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, one in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and five in the Netherlands.
Het started his career at Club Sport Emelec
Club Sport Emelec
Club Sport Emelec is a Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil that is best known for their professional football team. The football team plays in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of professional football in the country....
. In 1967, Fernandez played for the Los Angeles Toros
Los Angeles Toros
The Los Angeles Toros were an American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles, California that was a member of the National Professional Soccer League in 1967. The franchise was owned by Dan Reeves, who also owned the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams.The franchise moved to San...
of the National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
to form the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). When that happened, the Toros moved to San Diego. Fernandez remained with the San Diego Toros
San Diego Toros
San Diego Toros were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in San Diego, California. They played their home games at Balboa Stadium, previously the home of the San Diego Chargers....
in 1968 where he was selected as a first team All Star. The Toros folded at the end of the season and Fernandez moved to the Kansas City Spurs
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals...
for the 1969 season. He was once again a first team All Star as well as the NASL MVP. According to one source, Fernandez spent five seasons in the Netherlands at Go Ahead Eagles
Go Ahead Eagles
The Go Ahead Eagles are a football club from Deventer, Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie. The club's home stadium is De Adelaarshorst. To date, the club has won the national championship four times...
and HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem was a Dutch football club from the city of Haarlem, established in 1889. The club won the Dutch national title in 1946 and reached five Cup finals, winning in 1902 and 1912...
. He did not return to the NASL until 1974 when he signed with the expansion Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
. He started the first three games of the season, but a vicious slide tackle by Gonzalo Perez broke his leg during the Sounders home debut putting him out for the season. Fernandez played only twelve games in 1975, then began the 1976 season when he was released after two games. He then signed with the expansion Tacoma Tides
Tacoma Tides
The Tacoma Tides was an American soccer club based in Tacoma, Washington that was a member of the American Soccer League. Although not long-lived, the club is remembered today for its backup goalkeeper--well-known American soccer coach Bruce Arena....
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. The Tides went to the ASL playoff semifinals but folded soon after.
He lives in Everett Washington where he owns an indoor soccer business.