Hernán Medford
Hernán Evaristo Medford Bryan (/ɜːrˈnɑːn/ er-NAHN, Spanish: [eɾˈnam ˈmeðfoɾ(ð)]; born May 23, 1968) is a Costa Rican former football player and current coach of Sporting F.C. Highly regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Central American football, Medford achieved success as both a player and a coach.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hernán Evaristo Medford Bryan | ||
| Date of birth | 23 May 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | San Jose, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward / Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | C.S. Herediano (Manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1980–1985 | Barrio México | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986 | Sagrada Familia | 21 | (2) |
| 1987–1990 | Saprissa | 101 | (30) |
| 1990 | Dinamo Zagreb | 14 | (4) |
| 1991 | Rapid Wien | 14 | (5) |
| 1991–1992 | Rayo Vallecano | 30 | (6) |
| 1992–1993 | Foggia | 12 | (1) |
| 1993–1994 | Saprissa | 47 | (20) |
| 1994–1997 | Pachuca | 126 | (36) |
| 1997–2000 | León | 92 | (18) |
| 2000–2002 | Necaxa | 22 | (6) |
| 2002–2003 | Saprissa | 29 | (7) |
| Total | 508 | (135) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 1985 | Costa Rica U17 | 11 | (8) |
| 1987–2002 | Costa Rica | 89 | (18) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2003–2006 | Saprissa | ||
| 2006–2008 | Costa Rica | ||
| 2009 | León | ||
| 2010 | Liberia Mía | ||
| 2010–2011 | Limón | ||
| 2011–2013 | Xelajú | ||
| 2013–2014 | Real España | ||
| 2014 | Honduras | ||
| 2015 | Real España | ||
| 2015–2016 | Xelajú | ||
| 2016–2017 | Herediano | ||
| 2018 | Municipal | ||
| 2019 | Herediano | ||
| 2019 | Real España | ||
| 2019–2021 | Cartaginés | ||
| 2024– | Sporting San José | ||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 June 2006 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 June 2006 | |||
As a player, Medford is fondly remembered in Costa Rica for two historic goals, both of which he considers his favorite, while playing for Costa Rica: the winning goal of a group stage match against Sweden to qualify to the knockout stage, and the winning goal of the Aztecazo, Mexico's first defeat in a non-friendly match at the Estadio Azteca.
Numerous media outlets regard Medford as the most successful coach in Central America, as he also found massive success across the region, winning championships in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. He also coached Saprissa to win the 2005 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, thus qualifying to the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, finishing on the third place.