We continue to honor some of the #USMNT’s many #HispanicHeroes.

Today: @HugoPerez_07

Born in 🇸🇻, Hugo moved to the 🇺🇸 with his family at age 11, gained his citizenship in 1982, and first represented the U.S. at the 1983 FIFA U-20 World Cup. (1/8)
Pérez debuted for the #USMNT in a 0-0 draw with 🇮🇹 on May 30, 1984, and he went on to play for the 🇺🇸 at that year’s Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Here, Hugo is seen with legendary 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 striker @GaryLineker, following a 1985 friendly in LA. (2/8)
Hugo had a penchant for big moments against 🇸🇻.

In a 1988 Olympic qualifier, he scored two goals in a 4-2 🇺🇸 win in San Salvador.

In 1990 #WCQ he scored this goal in a crucial 1-0 win on Sept. 17, 1989, becoming the first #USMNT player to score against his birth country. (3/8)
The 1989 @FIFAWorldCup qualifier vs. 🇸🇻 was played in the neutral site of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Hugo dedicated the game-winning goal to his grandfather who drove seven hours from El Salvador to see the match. (4/8)
And while injury ultimately kept him from making the 1990 @FIFAWorldCup roster, he returned to the team the following year, helping the 🇺🇸 win the inaugural 1991 @GoldCup. (5/8)
Always a focal point of the attack, Pérez was also probably the 🇺🇸’s first dead ball specialist.

Three of his 13 #USMNT goals came from free kicks, like this one on April 4, 1992 vs. 🇨🇳.

Three more came from penalties.

Three of his eight assists came on set pieces. (6/8)
Ten years after making his #USMNT debut, Pérez finally got to a @FIFAWorldCup in 1994, making the 🇺🇸 roster, and starting the Round of 16 match vs. eventual champs 🇧🇷.

He played his last #USMNT match that September, finishing with 73 caps, 13 goals & 8 assists. (7/8)
Recognizing his long contributions to the game in the 🇺🇸, in 2008 @HugoPerez_07 was inducted into the @SoccerHoF.

He would later coach the U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team.

Gracias, Hugo! 🙏🏽 (8/8)

#HispanicHeroes
You can follow @USMNT.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: