Foxborough, Mass. - The New England Revolution announced today that the team has re-signed veteran midfielder/defender Daniel Hernandez. Per MLS and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. The team also added to its coaching staff, hiring Gwynne Williams as the team's goalkeeper coach.
The team also announced that Hernandez had successful adductor release surgery on his right groin on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Revolution head team physician Betram Zarins, M.D., performed the procedure; Hernandez's expected recovery time is six weeks.
The 2007 season will be the fifth that Hernandez has been part of the New England's roster.
Hernandez started the first five games of the 2006 season for New England - including the first two as a central defender in the three-man backline - before suffering a complex ankle injury that sidelined him for 25 games and resulted in surgery. He appeared in the final two games of the regular season and all four postseason games as a central midfielder, starting three, including the MLS Cup 2006 match against Houston.
Hernandez entered MLS with the L.A. Galaxy before moving on to play for the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the MetroStars. He came to the Revolution on May 24, 2002 as part of a six-player trade with the MetroStars, and played in New England until April of 2003, when he joined Mexican Primera División team Necaxa. After a successful stint in Mexico, Hernandez rejoined the Revs in August 2005. He has started for New England in all three of the club's MLS Cup finals appearances.
Williams joins the Revolution coaching staff after 11 seasons on the staff of NAIA soccer powerhouse Lynn University in Florida. He is a NSCAA National Goalkeeping Instructor and is a member of the USSF National Coaching Staff. Williams' coaching experience also includes working on the staffs of the Canadian Soccer Association and Bermuda Football Association. Williams holds a USSF "A" coaching license and earned a bachelor of education from London University.
"Gwynne is an excellent addition to our technical staff," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. "He has a first-rate reputation and great experience coaching goalkeepers. We've seen him work and we know our players will improve and stay sharp from training with him on a daily basis. Gwynne will help Matt (Reis) and the rest of our goalkeepers better themselves and raise their level even higher."
Revolution Holiday 4-Packs are on-sale now and make great gifts. Each 4-pack includes one ticket to the Revolution's home opener doubleheader on April 14 - featuring the Revs against expansion club Toronto FC following the United States Women's National Team in an international friendly match. The 4-packs also include one ticket to two more standalone regular season home games as well as a free adidas Revolution hat! Holiday 4-Packs prices are: Cat. I - $115, Cat. II - $85 and Cat. III - $65.
For more information call 1-877-GET-REVS.
TRANSACTIONS: New England Revolution (MLS) re-sign M/D Daniel Hernandez; hire Gwynne Williams as goalkeeper coach.
