Since leaving the Phoenix, the Costa-Rican international has had a second stint in India and a spell in Guatemala.

The 34-year-old is currently playing in his home country Costa Rica for Carmelita, and managed to score two goals in his team’s 3-1 away win over AD Belen Siglo XXI last month, with one being from over the halfway point.

Hernandez’s former teammate at Victory, Archie Thompson recently signed with NPL VIC 2 side Murray United. And the Costa Rican left a tongue-in-cheek comment on Thompson’s Instagram photo: “Hey @10Archie help me to come play with you again bro”.

 


 

El Zorro however said he would love to come back to Australia to play in the local competition and to be reunited with Thompson as a bonus.

“Yes, of course I would like to go back but at the moment there is no interested club,” Hernandez told FourFourTwo.

“I have not been able to talk to anyone… it would be an honour to return to Australia.

“Of course I would like to play in NPL and more honour to play again with Archie.

“I miss a lot of Australia and especially my friends.”

Hernandez said the closest person he was keeping in touch with was former teammate and Victory centre-back Rodrigo Vargas.

He added: “The only one I speak with is Rodrigo who is like a brother to me. Always helped me from my first day in Australia.”

Vargas, who signed for NPL VIC 2 side Dandenong Thunder spoke of their close relationship and how they kept in touch in Spanish while he was abroad.

 


He told FourFourTwo he felt Hernandez could still make it in the Australian topflight and could even return to Victory.

Victory have just granted German player Maxi Beister “extended compassionate leave” and has returned to his home country.

“Victory have just parted ways with the German so there’s a visa spot. They’d love him, I might send Musky a text just as a joke ‘are you interested in Carlos? He’s available’,” Vargas said.

“I still think he can play A-League, it’s just a matter if a club wants to take him on or not. For someone like him, it’s only a matter of getting fit. Fingers crossed, I’d love to see him back here.

“I’m sure there would be a few NPL clubs that would be interested, South Melbourne, Bentleigh Greens… who knows? Maybe even Green Gully, top tier clubs would think about it seriously.

“I know he loves Australia, and he’ll probably jump at the opportunity to come back. Whether a club can facilitate him is another story. I’m sure a lot of clubs would love to have him.

 “You never know, I tell you what, over 20,000 Victory members wouldn’t be disappointed seeing him back.”

Vargas and Hernandez training for Victory in 2011

Murray United coach James Coutts said Hernandez was a realistic target after the capture of Thompson.

English-born Coutts is on the verge of becoming an Australian citizen. But the club have filled its two Visa positions including captain Ashley Dunn who is English and American Fernando Posada.

Coutts said there were no formal discussions with Hernandez but he said it was possible.

“In terms of being realistic I wouldn’t rule anything like that out to be honest. Carlos is a huge name in Australian football over the years and it’s one we know about,” Coutts told FourFourTwo.

“Who knows what may happen in the future in terms of visa positions, but all we want to do is get the best team out on the park.

“We knew about quickly and a bit of a tongue-in-cheek comment but also could be a possibility. I’m sure a lot of ex-players want to play in Australia because of the culture, lifestyle and everything like that.

“The level of football is getting better. We’ve seen already a number of ex-A-League players participating in the NPL and raising the bar. We’ll be on the lookout like every other club to make sure we get the right players in with the right character… and Carlos might be one of those.

“It’s not about putting a team out there who are good on paper but are not giving back to what the club is about and Archie’s come in with a right attitude and application from the get-go.”

The NPL transfer window opens on May 22.