Houston Dynamo’s star midfielder Hector Herrera saw his season end in controversial fashion after spitting toward referee Armando Villarreal during their playoff defeat to Seattle Sounders. The incident has not only tarnished what was otherwise a promising season for the Dynamo but also raised questions about the 34-year-old’s future with both club and country.
The Mexican international’s actions forced his team to finish the crucial playoff match with ten men, ultimately leading to their elimination via penalty shootouts. The timing couldn’t have been worse for a Dynamo side that had shown significant improvement throughout the season under coach Ben Olsen, who has repeatedly emphasized Herrera’s importance to the team’s success.
Herrera, who commands a substantial $5.2 million in guaranteed compensation as the club’s highest-paid player, took to Instagram to address the incident. “It hurts to have fallen like that after a great season,” he wrote, expressing remorse for his actions. Personally, I apologize to all the fans and my teammates for yesterday’s sending-off. I’m sure we’ll work to come back stronger in 2025.
The midfielder’s confidence in his return to Houston might be premature, however, as the club holds an option for his contract extension. While Herrera has previously expressed his desire to finish his career with the Dynamo, citing his happiness with the city and the team’s treatment of him, this latest incident could force the organization to reassess their commitment to the veteran player.
Since joining the Dynamo from Atletico Madrid in 2022, Herrera’s tenure has been marked by inconsistency. His initial season was admittedly cautious, with the player later revealing he had played conservatively to avoid injury ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That hesitancy resulted in a disappointing first year where he managed just one assist and no goals.
The 2023 season saw a remarkable turnaround in Herrera’s form, as he became an instrumental figure in the Dynamo’s successful campaign. His contributions were crucial in securing the U.S. Open Cup trophy, with an impressive tally of 17 assists and four goals across 2,534 minutes of MLS action. The team came tantalizingly close to reaching the MLS Cup final that year, suggesting that Herrera’s signing was finally paying dividends.
However, 2024 has seen a decline in his impact, with the midfielder recording just one goal and three assists in 1,616 minutes before his season-ending red card. This downturn in production, coupled with the controversial playoff exit, has created uncertainty around his future in Houston.
The implications of Herrera’s actions extend beyond his club career. Despite being somewhat underappreciated during his time with the Mexican national team, Herrera has been a vital component of El Tri’s midfield, earning a place among the top ten Mexican players of the 21st century. His ability to both advance the ball and aid in defensive recovery made him an essential partner alongside Andres Guardado in what many consider Mexico’s finest midfield of the modern era.
As Mexico continues to struggle with its generational transition, particularly in midfield where the unpopular Charly Rodriguez currently occupies the No. 8 position, Herrera could have potentially offered a veteran presence and steady hand. While he hasn’t formally retired from international duty and even featured in a friendly under current manager Jaime Lozano in September 2023, this incident might complicate any potential return to the national team setup.
The four-month suspension that likely awaits Herrera following this incident will provide ample time for both the player and the Dynamo organization to contemplate their future together. For Herrera, it represents a significant setback in what might be the twilight of his career. While his achievements and abilities are undeniable, the manner of his playoff exit raises questions about his temperament and leadership at a crucial moment for both his club and potentially his national team career.
The incident serves as a reminder of how a single moment of lost composure can potentially alter the trajectory of even the most established careers. As the Dynamo prepare for 2025, they must weigh Herrera’s undoubted talents against the risks and reliability factors that come with retaining a player who has shown such volatility in crucial moments. Whether this proves to be merely a disappointing chapter or the beginning of the end for Herrera’s time in Houston remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the repercussions of his actions will echo well beyond this playoff defeat.
