Onel Hernández

Germany

Hernández came through the academy systems at TuS Westfalia Neuenkirchen (where his stepfather was a coach), FC Gütersloh 2000, and Rot Weiss Ahlen before joining the academy at Arminia Bielefeld at the age of 14 in 2007. He made his professional league debut for Arminia Bielefeld in the 2. Bundesliga against SC Paderborn on 1 October 2010. In this game, he was substituted in the 78th minute for Franck Manga Guela by Christian Ziege. He played 28 league games for Arminia Bielefeld from 2010 to 2012. He graduated to the senior team at a difficult time, as they were relegated from 2. Bundesliga into 3. Liga. U19 head coach Jörg Böhme was sacked in May 2011 after leaving Hernández and two others out of an important away game because they had arrived late. Hernández was reinstated by new manager Stefan Krämer. Hernández left Bielefelder Alm after he was released at the end of his contract. He moved to Werder Bremen II, though left the club after being dropped to the third team for arguing with the coach. On 10 January 2014, Hernández moved to VfL Wolfsburg II. He missed four months of the 2015–16 season due to injury. VfL Wolfsburg II won the divisional title, though lost to SSV Jahn Regensburg in the promotion play-offs. He featured 15 times under Valérien Ismaël, mostly as a substitute. On 2 June 2016, Hernández signed with 2. Bundesliga club Eintracht Braunschweig for the 2016–17 season. He scored five goals as the club came close to being promoted to the…

Hernández represented Germany once at the under-18 level, in a match against Ukraine in 2010. In November 2018, Hernández was called up to the Cuba squad for the first time, but could not play due to political rules prohibiting foreign-based players. He said it was a "horrible feeling" to have his call-up rescinded. The Football Association of Cuba went on to change its policy, allowing for him to return to the squad at a later date. In March 2021, he was called up for a second time, and made his international debut in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Guatemala. He had to enter the field as a half-time substitute as his flight was delayed and he had a police escort to the match. On his second appearance, he scored his first goal for the country, equalising in a 2–1 loss to Curaçao.

Hernández is an exciting and pacey left winger, popular with fans due to his attacking style and infectious personality, though lacking in goals and assists. On the topic of his lack of cutting edge, Norwich manager "if he was world class in that one aspect of his game then he would play for Barcelona and Manchester City and we couldn't afford him". He runs at defenders and stretches the play. He is right-footed and can also play on the right wing or as a quick striker.

Hernández grew up in Gütersloh after having emigrated from Morón, Cuba to Germany with his mother and sister at the age of six. He had to stay in Cuba with his grandmother for two years before his father agreed to sign a legal document giving his consent for his son to emigrate from Cuba. He was introduced to football by his German stepfather, who was a football coach and believed it would help Hernández integrate better into German society. Hernández became a fan favourite at Norwich City after a January 2019 interview in which he spoke in praise of catalogue retailer Argos, who gave him a catalogue signed by their CEO as a souvenir. He did a signing event at their Norwich Riverside store the following March. He announced his engagement on Instagram in May 2019. His first child, a daughter, was born in November 2019.