La historia de Hernán Galíndez is a dream come true. The goalkeeper once said that he was very, very close to quitting football after being relegated with a renowned club in Argentina. However, he never gave up: he became a starter with the Ecuadorian national team in the 2022 World Cup.
How did his life take a 180-degree turn after becoming an Ecuadorian citizen?
PUEDES VER: Why did Ecuador give up being the host of the 2024 Copa America and who will take its place?
Hernán Galíndez in Ecuador's debut at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo: Sports Illustrated
Who is Hernán Galíndez?
Hernán Galíndez was born in Argentina, and was part of the team that was relegated with Rosario Central in 2010, after losing the Promotion Match against All Boys by 3-0.
After that tragic moment, the goalkeeper said that he was close to quitting football. However, his agent told him about the possibility of playing for the Universidad Católica de Ecuador, which was in the Second Division of the tricolor country.
The footballer knew that changing scenery could mean his resurgence in football. For this reason, he decided to sign for the student club in 2012.
PUEDES VER: What happened to Davor Šuker's life, the Croatian forward who shone in the 1998 World Cup?
He ascended to the First Division and managed to establish himself in the team. He played there for several years until he could obtain Ecuadorian nationality.
Against all odds, that decision completely changed Galíndez's life: in 2020, he was called up by Gustavo Alfaro to play in the South American Qualifiers. Then, in 2021, he was called up for the Copa America of that year.
However, the dream moment would come shortly thereafter, as he was included in Ecuador's squad for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, and has just started in the debut against the host country.
Currently, Hernán Galíndez plays for Deportivo Aucas in Ecuador. Photo: Órbita Deportiva
For this reason, Galíndez has a lot of gratitude towards Ecuador. The goalkeeper also played for clubs in Chile and Argentina, but his best moments would be experienced in the least expected destination.
How tall is Hernán Galíndez?
The goalkeeper is 1.89 m tall, according to Transfermarkt.