Hernán Barcos (Spanish pronunciation: [eɾˈnam ˈbaɾkos];[a] born 11 April 1984) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Alianza Lima. He is nicknamed El Pirata (The Pirate) and is well known for his finishing ability, technique and strength.

Hernán Barcos
Barcos with Grêmio in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-04-11) 11 April 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Bell Ville, Argentina
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Alianza Lima
Number 9
Youth career
Racing
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Racing 3 (0)
2005–2006Guaraní (loan) 40 (9)
2006–2007Olmedo (loan) 43 (22)
2007–2008Red Star Belgrade (loan) 9 (2)
2008Huracán (loan) 17 (3)
2009Shanghai Shenhua (loan) 14 (3)
2009Shenzhen Asia Travel (loan) 14 (14)
2010–2011 LDU Quito 64 (38)
2012–2013 Palmeiras 29 (14)
2013–2015 Grêmio 69 (23)
2015 Tianjin Teda 29 (15)
2016–2017 Sporting CP 8 (0)
2016Vélez Sarsfield (loan) 11 (2)
2017LDU Quito (loan) 36 (21)
2018 LDU Quito 20 (9)
2018–2019 Cruzeiro 14 (1)
2019 Atlético Nacional 31 (10)
2020 Bashundhara Kings 1 (4)
2020 Messina 0 (0)
2021– Alianza Lima 97 (45)
International career
2012 Argentina 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 December 2023

Club career

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Early career

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Barcos debuted professionally for Racing in August 2004. He then went on to play on loan for Club Guaraní (Paraguay), Olmedo (Ecuador), Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), and Huracán (Argentina).

On 7 October 2007, Barcos scored his first Serbian SuperLiga goals by netting twice in the late minutes versus Banat Zrenjanin, helping Red Star to get three points. He previously scored once in a Serbian Cup game against Teleoptik.

Chinese Super League

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In February 2009, Barcos signed a year long loan with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.[1] However, after a disappointing half season at Shanghai, he was loaned out to Shenzhen Asia Travel, a fellow CSL club. He scored the first hat-trick in his career in Shenzhen's 4–0 victory over Changchun Yatai on 16 September 2009. He scored 14 goals in 14 league games with Shenzhen and won Chinese Football Association Golden Boot award in the end of the season.

LDU Quito

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In early 2010, Barcos transferred to LDU Quito to reinforce the squad after their leading goalscorer transferred out. He established himself as a capable striker for the squad, starting a five-game run where he scored one goal a game. Barcos, or "El Pirata" as he was nicknamed by the Liga fans, scored two vital goals against Estudiantes de La Plata in LDU's 2–1 first-leg win, winning the 2010 Recopa Sudamericana. Barcos' ended his illustrious 2010 season as Ecuadorian Serie A champion, having scored 22 league goals in 32 games, second best in the league, behind Jaime Ayoví who scored 23 goals.

In the 2011 Ecuadorian Serie A season, Barcos scored 25 goals in 51 matches in all competitions. On 13 August 2011, Barcos did what no other LDU Quito player had ever accomplished in any competition, he scored five goals in a single game against Manta. Barcos would continue with his scoring ability, netting in seven goals in the 2011 Copa Sudamericana. He scored an important away goal for LDU Quito in the team's first win ever in Buenos Aires in a 1–0 win against Vélez Sarsfield, thus reaching the Copa Sudamericana finals. He failed to score a single goal in the finals against Universidad de Chile, and though only ended up as runner up in the competition, he and the rest of LDU Quito received support and appraisal from the club's fans. After two amazing years with the club, he had many offers from wealthy clubs. In January 2012, LDU Quito was offered $8 million from a Middle Eastern club to sign Barcos, while simultaneously also offered only $3.5 million from Palmeiras. Even though LDU Quito was suffering from debt, they honored Barcos' wishes to play for Palmeiras, and on 17 January 2012, he signed for the Brazilian team.

Palmeiras

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On 17 January 2012, Barcos joined Brazilian Série A club Palmeiras for an undisclosed fee.[2] He scored his first goal for the club on 11 February 2012, in a 3–0 victory against Ituano in the Paulistão.[3] Barcos promised to achieve a total number of 27 goals in his first season with Palmeiras, thus showing a countdown of how many are left to go on his football shoes. On 27 February 2012, football specialist Lédio Carmona compared Barcos to a lobster, playing with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari who had said he wanted shrimp, meaning the quality of Palmeiras' signings for the new season.[4] Barcos helped Palmeiras reach the 2012 Copa do Brasil finals by scoring four goals in eight cup games.

On 1 August 2012, Barcos scored a double in Palmeiras' debut in the Copa Sudamericana against Botafogo. He scored another double against Botafogo again, this time in a league match a week later, winning 2–1. Despite Palmeiras' relegation and interest of European clubs, Barcos via Twitter confirmed he would continue to play for the club in 2013. In his words: "I have the dream to play a World Cup, but the only way to leave Palmeiras is receiving a irrefusable deal, that the club cannot say 'no'. I will stay in Palmeiras for love and for liking Palmeiras".[5]

Palmeiras confirmed Barcos would stay for the 2013 season, having been relegated to Serie B, though he was able to participate in the 2013 Copa Libertadores. For Barcos, support from the fans of Palmeiras and Gilson Kleina were fundamental points for him to remain with the Verdão.[6]

Grêmio

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Barcos became Gremio's shock-signing for the 2013 season, wanting to arm a strong side for the 2013 Copa Libertadores. His debut came on 14 February, also scoring from the penalty spot, in a 2–1 home loss in a group-stage match up against Chilean Primera División side Huachipato. In August 2014, he scored twice in a match against Corinthians, becoming the top foreign goalscorer for Grêmio with 36 goals.

Later career

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On 16 February 2015, Barcos transferred to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda.[7] After a prolific goalscoring season, he transferred to Portuguese side Sporting CP. However, after a brief spell in Europe, the centre-forward returned to the Argentine Primera División, joining Vélez Sarsfield. Barcos debuted for Vélez in a 2–0 defeat to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata for the first fixture of the 2016–17 Argentine Primera División[8] and scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory against Colón for the 6th fixture.[9]

Return to LDU Quito

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On 14 January 2017, LDU Quito announced the return of Barcos to the Ecuadorean capital. He was to be incorporated to the team to complete the new squad for the 2017 campaign in time for La Noche Blanca, the derby game against Deportivo Cali.[10] The loan deal will last until the end of 2017.

Bashundhara Kings

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On 2 February 2020, Bangladesh Premier League defending champions Bashundhara Kings confirmed that Barcos will be part of the team for AFC Cup and the 2nd leg of the league.[11][12]

FC Messina

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On 30 October 2020, Barcos was formally introduced as a new signing for Italian Serie D club FC Messina.[13] He however left Messina on 23 December 2020, without making a single appearance, due to unsolved bureaucratic issues regarding his non-EU citizen status.[14]

International career

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On 23 August 2012, Barcos was called up for the matches against Paraguay and Peru for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification[15] but he ended up being an unused substitute in them. Instead, he made his national team debut on 19 September 2012, as a starter in a match against Brazil for the Superclásico de las Américas.[16] In October 2012, Barcos also came on as a late substitute in World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Chile.

Personal life

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On 16 February 2012, after a comparison with Brazilian singer Zé Ramalho made by Léo Bianchi, journalist of Rede Globo, Barcos cursed the reporter, calling him "boludo", a popular scold in Argentina.[17]

Career statistics

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As of 20 December 2023[18][19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Racing 2004–05 Primera División 3 0 3 0
Guaraní (loan) 2005 Primera División 23 4 1 0 24 4
2006 17 5 17 5
Total 40 9 1 0 41 9
Olmedo (loan) 2006 Serie A 28 18 28 18
2007 15 4 15 4
Total 43 22 43 22
Red Star Belgrade (loan) 2007–08 SuperLiga 9 2 2 1 7 0 18 3
Huracán (loan) 2008–09 Primera División 17 3 17 3
Shanghai Shenhua (loan) 2009 Super League 14 3 6 3 20 6
Shenzhen Asia Travel (loan) 2009 Super League 14 14 14 14
LDU Quito 2010 Serie A 32 22 8 5 1 1 41 28
2011 32 16 19 10 0 0 51 26
Total 64 38 27 15 1 1 92 54
Palmeiras 2012 Série A 29 14 8 4 3 2 15 8 55 28
2013 Série B 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 6 3
Total 29 14 8 4 3 2 21 11 61 31
Grêmio 2013 Série A 37 9 5 0 8 2 7 2 57 13
2014 32 14 1 0 8 2 13 13 54 29
2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 2
Total 69 23 6 0 16 4 21 17 112 44
Tianjin Teda 2015 Super League 29 15 0 0 29 15
Sporting CP 2015–16 Primeira Liga 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2016–17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Vélez Sarsfield (loan) 2016 Primera División 11 2 0 0 11 2
LDU Quito (loan) 2017 Serie A 36 21 6 3 2 2 44 26
LDU Quito 2018 Serie A 20 9 2 2 0 0 22 11
Cruzeiro 2018 Série A 14 1 6 2 4 0 0 0 24 3
Atlético Nacional 2019 Categoría Primera A 42 11 4 2 5 2 0 0 51 15
Bashundhara Kings 2019–20 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 4
Alianza Lima 2021 Liga 1 28 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 29 11
2022 35 18 0 0 6 0 0 0 41 18
2023 34 17 0 0 5 0 0 0 39 17
Total 97 45 1 1 11 0 0 0 109 46
Career total 559 232 27 10 89 35 45 31 720 308

Honours

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LDU Quito

Palmeiras

Cruzeiro

Alianza Lima

Individual

Notes

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  1. ^ In isolation, Hernán is pronounced [eɾˈnan].

References

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  1. ^ Argentinos en el futbol del mundo (1ra Parte)
  2. ^ "Palmeiras anuncia contratação do argentino Hernán Barcos, da LDU" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Invicto e líder: Palmeiras bate Ituano, anima torcida e 'apresenta' Barcos" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Lédio, sobre Barcos: 'Felipão queria um camarão e ganhou uma lagosta'" (in Portuguese). sportv.globo.com. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. ^ Barcos tranquiliza torcida do Palmeiras e avisa que fica por amor ao clube
  6. ^ Carinho da torcida e até Kleina pesaram para Barcos renovar contrato (in Portuguese)
  7. ^ 泰达签约前中超金靴巴尔克斯 at sports.sina.com 16 February 2015 Retrieved 16 February 2015
  8. ^ "Match report". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Match report". Argentine Soccer. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Liga de Quito confirma el regreso de Hernán Barcos para el 2017". 14 January 2017.
  11. ^ "বসুন্ধরা কিংসে খেলবেন মেসির সতীর্থ".
  12. ^ "Analysis: Brilliant Barcos lights up Bangabandhu | Football News |".
  13. ^ "Fc Messina, Barcos: "Porto esperienza, vince sempre il gruppo"" (in Italian). Corner Messina. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Barcos saluta il Fc. Grabinski: "Una rinuncia dolorosa dopo due mesi e mezzo"" (in Italian). Messina Sportiva. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Lista de convocados para el partido con Paraguay y Perú" (in Spanish). AFA official website. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  16. ^ "La Canarinha ganó el Superclásico de ida" (in Spanish). futbolecudor.com. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  17. ^ "Hernán Barcos reprova apelido e se desentende com repórter em coletiva".
  18. ^ Hernán Barcos at Soccerway
  19. ^ Hernán Barcos at ForaDeJogo (archived)
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