Pepe Fernández

Cirilo “Pepe” Fernández (Uruguay, 14 July 1943) is a former Uruguayan soccer forward who played one season in the National Professional Soccer League, just over four in the North American Soccer League, one in the American Soccer League and five in the Netherlands.

For the Paris based Argentine photographer of the 1960s, see Pepe Fernández (photographer).
Pepe Fernandez
Personal information
Full name Cirilo Fernandez
Date of birth (1943-07-14) July 14, 1943
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Club Sport Emelec
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967 Los Angeles Toros 15 (4)
1968 → San Diego Toros 29 (30)
1969 Kansas City Spurs 16 (6)
1969–1971 Go Ahead 14 (3)
1972–1974 HFC Haarlem 43 (4)
1974–1976 Seattle Sounders 17 (2)
1976 Tacoma Tides 12 (7)
1977–1978 HFC Haarlem 8 (0)
1981–1982 Seattle Sounders 11 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Het started his career at Club Sport Emelec. In 1967, Fernandez played for the Los Angeles Toros of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). When that happened, the Toros moved to San Diego. Fernandez remained with the San Diego Toros in 1968 where he was selected as a first team All Star. The Toros folded at the end of the season, along with 12 other franchises.

One of those teams--Oakland Clippers, who were 1967 NPSL champions and were one of the top teams in the 1968 NASL--opted to play an independent schedule against top foreign clubs. The Clippers boosted their offense for 1969 by signing Fernandez, as well as 1968 leading scorer John Kowalik. Renaming themselves "California Clippers," the team only played a handful of games before folding.

Fernandez then moved to the Kansas City Spurs in the middle of the 1969 season. He was once again a first team All Star as well as the NASL MVP. According to one source, Fernandez spent five seasons in the Netherlands at Go Ahead Eagles and HFC Haarlem.[1] He did not return to the NASL until 1974 when he signed with the expansion Seattle Sounders. He started the first three games of the season, but a vicious slide tackle by David Kemp broke his leg during the Sounders home debut putting him out for the season. Fernandez played only twelve games in 1975, then began the 1976 season when he was released after two games. He then signed with the expansion Tacoma Tides of the American Soccer League. The Tides went to the ASL playoff semifinals but folded soon after. Fernandez then played HFC Haarlem before returning to the Sounders for the 1981-1982 NASL indoor season.

He lives in Everett Washington where he owns an indoor soccer business.[2]

References
  1. Tacoma Tides profile
  2. June 2004 Press Release Archived 19 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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