From buzz to bust: The stats behind Chicharito’s failed Chivas return
On Thursday, Chivas confirmed the departure of legendary striker Javier Hernández, after a second spell at the club that failed to live up to expectations.
When, in January 2024, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández returned to Chivas Guadalajara after 14 years, he came with a bold message: “I’m going to make sure we’re all pulling in the same direction.”
The Liga MX giants’ front office saw Hernández as a natural leader, a club icon ready to spearhead a new project. But as the months went by, it became clear: neither the goals nor the promised titles arrived.
Back in 2010, Chicharito was in the middle of a scoring explosion that caught Manchester United’s eye. Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him signed before the 2010 World Cup to avoid a price hike.
Late Chivas chief Jorge Vergara recalled how the striker even turned down a translator to speak directly with Ferguson. Part of the deal included a promise: when his European adventure ended, he’d return to Chivas.
Amaury Vergara, Jorge’s son and the current club president, publicly celebrated Javier’s comeback as “fulfilling my father’s promise”. And while the club hoped his leadership would drive the hunt for a 13th league title, things didn’t go as planned.
Chicharito arrived injured, needed months to regain fitness, and his role was more symbolic than decisive on the pitch.
Chicharito’s Chivas comeback: the figures behind the failure
Inside the locker room, Hernández was seen as the natural captain. But his stats told a different story: four goals in 40 matches, and Guadalajara bowed out in the Clausura 2025 play-in.
Off the field, Hernández drew more attention on social media than on the pitch, straining his relationship with the front office.
The striker faced backlash after viral videos where he claimed “women are failing”, sparking public criticism, a distancing from boot sponsor Puma, and even comments from Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum. Within Chivas, those episodes didn’t sit well either.
A second stint that never took off
Amaury insisted, “Javier came here to play,” but reality told another story: he averaged one goal per tournament, and his minutes were limited. With Gabriel Milito’s arrival on the bench, the team’s overall performance improved, clinching a direct playoff spot in the Apertura 2025. Young forward Armando González even admitted Hernández’s advice was key to his Golden Boot run.
Hernández knew his cycle was ending. In his last regular-season game against Rayados, he scored and broke down in tears, kissing the badge. His contract was expiring, and there was no clear intent to renew - though the dream of a title still lingered.
The penalty that marked his exit
In the Apertura 2025 quarterfinals against Cruz Azul, a last-minute penalty could have sent Chivas through. Luis Romo was on the field, but Chicharito stepped up as the team leader. The shot sailed wide, and El Rebaño Sagrado was eliminated. That miss made him a target for ridicule, even rival fans chanting his name sarcastically.
And that’s how his chapter closed: Chicharito officially out of Chivas, now a free agent, leaving without a championship, without a decisive goal, and with the image of that missed penalty as his final memory on the pitch. A return loaded with expectations that fell short - both in performance and results.
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