Carlos Gerardo Hernández Valverde (born 9 April 1982), known simply as Carlos Hernández, is a former Costa Rican football player who last played as an attacking midfielder for Puntarenas in the Segunda División de Costa Rica. Club career Hernández had become one of the most important players in the Primera División de Costa Rica, the Costa Rican top tier national league, where he was the top assister in the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons. He had built a reputation as a great scorer from long and middle distances combined with high level vision and technique that made him one of the most dangerous midfielders in the region. However, Hernández struggled with injury in the 2006–07 season which also resulted in weight gain. In a bid to regain his former self, he was loaned out to A-League club Melbourne Victory. Melbourne Victory On 12 June 2007, it was confirmed by Melbourne Victory that Hernandez had signed for the Australian Club on a two-year loan from LD Alajuelense. He made his first appearance for the club in their 1–0 A-League Pre-Season Cup loss to the Newcastle Jets, coming on as a substitute in the 70th minute. In the next game on 28 July 2007 he got his first start against Perth Glory scoring his first goal for the Victory. Early on during his first season with Melbourne, he was criticised by a portion of the Melbourne supporters and was said to be 'overweight'. Hernández scored his first league goal for Melbourne Victory against Perth Glory at Docklands Stadium on 21 October 2007, helping Melbourne to a 2–1 win at home. Towards the end of the season, Hernández' fitness improved and he struck form, becoming a regular goal scorer and assister. One of Hernández most famous games for the Victory was when he scored Melbourne's only goal against Juventus in a friendly at the Docklands Stadium in May 2008. The goal was a cracking curling effort from just outside the box leaving Juventus goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan with no chance. He scored the opening goal in Melbourne's 5–0 thrashing of reigning A-League champions Newcastle Jets in Round 3 of the 2008–09 season at the Docklands Stadium. His 6th goal for the club came against the Central Coast Mariners in Round 20, a cracking free kick that went through the wall and through the legs of helpless keeper Danny Vukovic. He won widespread acclaim for his