14 pointers about Javier ‘Chicharito’ that you might not know

By James K. Attaglo Wilson| info@sports24ghana.com

Javier Hernandez ‘Chicharito’ Balcazar stole the tabloids on July 24, 2017 when he signed a-three-year deal for West Ham United for a fee believed to be around £16 million.

Without a shred of doubt, the Guadalajara born Chicharito has been hugely tipped to hit the grounds running for the Hammers when the new season takes off next weekend.

Chicharito [29] played for Manchester United from 2010-2015, scoring 37 goals in 103 appearances for the Red Devils.

Below are snippets of Javier Chicharito that you might not know:

• Both Chicharito’s father and grandfather were Mexican internationals, and both participated in World Cups with El Tri.

• Amazingly, Chicharito scored his first goal in a World Cup against France in South Africa 2010, the same team his father scored against 42 years before in Sweden 1958.

• Hernandez was part of the Mexican generation that won the U17 World Cup in 2005, but was cut from the squad only a few weeks before the tournament. The stars of that team, Carlos Vela and Gio dos Santos, also played in the Premier League.

• His favourite dish is the “tortas ahogadas”, a traditional sandwich form his hometown Guadalajara, made with a sort of baguette covered in spicy red sauce.

• His favourite shirt number is 14 because his it was the same one his father used when he was a professional player.

• Chicharito has scored more goals [eight] against Chelsea than any other team in his career. Wigan Athletic is his next favourite opponent, with six goals, followed by Mainz, Eintracht Frankfurt and Stoke City on five.

• In eight career games for Manchester United against the Hammers, he has registered two assists and found the net once himself.

• He is the Mexico national team’s all-time leading goalscorer, after he surpassed Jared Borgetti’s tally of 46 with his strike against Croatia in May of this year.

• Chicharito becomes the third two-time Premier League winner to join the Hammers this summer. His titles came in 2010/11 and 2012/13 with Manchester United – while Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta won the title twice each with Manchester City.

• Chicharito (Little Pea) inherited his nickname from his father “Chícharo” [Pea]. The reason? Both have green eyes, a not so common trait in Mexico.

• Hernandez has also won honours with his national team, claiming the CONCACAF Gold Cup title in 2011 and the CONCACAF Cup in 2015.

• In just two years in Germany, he was named Bundesliga Player of the Month on five occasions – and took the honour three times in a row between November 2015 and January 2016.

• He made a dream start to life in England in his first Premier League spell, scoring on his Manchester United debut as they defeated Chelsea in the FA Community Shield.

• With 37 Premier League goals from 103 matches, with a goal coming every 130.2 minutes, only Sergio Aguero, Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Adam Le Fondre possess a more lethal strike rate than Chicharito.

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