Chicharito’s Chivas Crisis: Penalty, Playing Time, and a Potential English Championship Exit

When Javier "Chicharito" Hernández refused to wear a Halloween costume to training on November 2, 2025, he didn’t just break a team rule—he ignited a firestorm over his future at Club Deportivo Guadalajara. The 37-year-old Mexican legend, once the face of global football’s rising stars, now finds himself sidelined, fined, and on the brink of departure from the club where his career began. Manager Gabriel Milito defended him with a quiet, almost poetic line: "He contributes a lot without playing." But behind that sentiment lies a messy reality: Hernández has appeared in just four of Chivas’ 16 Apertura 2025 matches, with only one start in the first six games. And now, after a financial penalty confirmed by Marca on November 3, his time in Guadalajara may be over.

From Manchester United to the Penalty Box

Hernández’s return to Chivas in January 2024 felt like a homecoming. After a decade across Europe—four seasons at Manchester United, a year at Real Madrid, stints with Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United, and Sevilla—he came back to the club where he first dazzled as a teenager. But the fairy tale soured fast. Injuries, tactical mismatches, and a changing squad left him on the periphery. By September, Viva Liga MX reported he’d already decided to leave after the Apertura tournament, ending what Ours Abroad News called a "disappointing return" marked by frustration, not fireworks.

The Halloween incident wasn’t just about costumes. It was the final straw in a pattern. Chivas, like many Mexican clubs, uses team-building events to foster unity. But Hernández, a veteran with 112 caps for Mexico and 53 international goals, reportedly saw the request as beneath him. "He was the only one who refused to arrive in costume," Marca noted. The penalty? Not publicized, but sources say it was significant—enough to make headlines in a league where off-field discipline often outweighs on-field output.

Milito’s Defense: The Invisible Contributions

Gabriel Milito, the former Argentina defender turned Chivas coach, has become Hernández’s most vocal protector. "He’s in the locker room every day, mentoring the young strikers," Milito told reporters after a 2-1 loss to Tigres. "He’s the one who stays late to help them with positioning. He’s the one who analyzes opponents’ defenders during film sessions. He contributes a lot without playing." It’s a compelling argument—and one that rings true. Former teammates say Hernández has quietly taken on a coaching role, often pulling aside 19-year-old forwards to show them how to hold up the ball or time runs behind the defense. "He’s like a walking highlight reel of instincts," said 21-year-old forward Luis Rodríguez. "He doesn’t need to touch the ball to change the game." But in a league where goals win contracts and appearances win favor, invisible contributions don’t pay bills. And Chivas, under new ownership, is shifting toward youth. Hernández’s contract expires in December 2025. According to Goal.com, the club has no intention of extending it.

A Second European Chapter? Birmingham, Wrexham, and the Legacy

So where does he go? Hernández, still in peak physical condition despite his age, isn’t ready to hang up his boots. "He has no plans to retire anytime soon," confirmed Albat.com. And the English Championship—home to his most successful Premier League years—is calling.

Two clubs stand out: Birmingham City and Wrexham. Both were promoted from League One last season. Both have high-profile ownership—Birmingham with the American-backed Blue Angels Group, Wrexham with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Both are hungry for global attention. And both see Hernández as a marketing goldmine: a global icon who can sell jerseys, draw streaming viewers, and bring credibility to a league still fighting for recognition.

"He’s not just a player anymore," said Sam Plummer, author of the September 13, 2025, Viva Liga MX piece. "He’s a brand. And in England, brands still move markets." Hernández’s time at Manchester United—where he scored 59 goals in 129 appearances—and his 19-goal season with West Ham prove he can still deliver. At 37, he’s not chasing records. He’s chasing relevance.

What This Means for Mexican Football

Hernández’s exit would mark the end of an era. He was the last great Mexican export of the 2010s to return home, hoping to finish where he began. His struggles reflect a deeper tension in Liga MX: how to value veteran stars in an increasingly youth-focused, financially constrained league. Chivas, once a powerhouse with a global fanbase, now seems more focused on cost control than legacy.

For Mexican fans, it’s bittersweet. Hernández’s international record—53 goals in 112 appearances—is untouchable. But his domestic twilight has been painful to watch. Will his final chapter be in the Championship, where he once thrilled Old Trafford crowds? Or will he fade quietly, a symbol of what could have been?

What’s Next?

The Apertura 2025 season ends in mid-December. Hernández is expected to play in Chivas’ final two matches, likely as a substitute. His agent has reportedly held preliminary talks with Wrexham’s management. A formal offer could arrive as early as January 2026, when the transfer window opens.

One thing’s certain: when Hernández walks out of Estadio Akron for the last time, it won’t be with a trophy. But it might be with a new chapter—written not in Guadalajara, but in a smaller, scrappier league where legends still find a way to matter.