When Juan Hernandez walks off the field Saturday night at Finley Stadium in his 127th and final match for the home team, the Chattanooga Football Club legend expects the emotions to be overwhelming.
The day will be one of celebration and possibly tears for the 33-year-old Spaniard, who will wear his No. 10 jersey for both Chattanooga and Pumas FC Premier, his former club in Paducah, Kentucky, for the final time. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
It will be the first-ever testimonial match — a soccer tradition honoring a player for years of service to a club — for CFC, which began competing in 2009 as an amateur club and joined the professional ranks in 2020 as part of the National Independent Soccer Association. Hernandez has been part of the club since 2015, more than half of its existence.
“The people here will be what I soak in and embrace the most when I am out there,” Hernandez said. “There are a lot of friends and family that will be here to support me. It is going to be an emotional and special day. As the game gets closer, the emotions start growing. This is one of those days you never want to come, but you know it is going to happen at some point. I am just happy and blessed to have been able to play for so long.”
Earlier this year, Hernandez announced his retirement from playing to take on a coaching and development role with CFC, also working with the women’s team that includes his wife Summer. He is beloved by his teammates and has long been a fan favorite, and on Saturday, bobbleheads of the Madrid native will be given to the first 15 fans who purchase a personalized Hernandez jersey inside the stadium, while 500 cooling fans on a stick with the words #JuanFan will also be passed out.