Hernán Barcos

Hernán Barcos (born April 11, 1984) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for LDU Quito. He is nicknamed El Pirata (The Pirate) and is well known for his finishing ability, technique and strength.

Early career

Barcos debuted professionally for Racing in 2004. He then went on to play on loan for Club Guaraní (Paraguay), Red Star (Serbia), Olmedo (Ecuador), and Huracán (Argentina).

On October 7, 2007, he scored his first league goal in Serbia by netting twice in the late minutes against Banat, helping Red Star to get three points.

Chinese Super League

In February 2009 Barcos signed a year long loan with Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. However, after a disappointing half season at Shenhua, he was loaned out again by Shenhua to Shenzhen Asia Travel, also a CSL club. He scored the first hat-trick in his career in Shenzhen's 4-0 victory over Changchun Yatai on September 16, 2009. He scored 14 goals in 14 league games with Shenzhen and won Chinese Football Association Golden Boot award in the end of the season.

LDU Quito

In early 2010 he transferred to LDU Quito to reinforce the squad after their leading goalscorer transferred out. He established himself as a capable striker for the squad, starting a five-game run where he scored one goal a game. Barcos, or "El Pirata" as he was nicknamed by the Liga fans, scored two vital goals against Estudiantes de La Plata in LDU's 2-1 first-leg win, winning the 2010 Recopa Sudamericana. Barcos' ended his illustrious 2010 season as Ecuadorian Serie A champion, having scored 22 league goals in 32 games, second best in the league, behind Jaime Ayoví who scored 23 goals.

In the 2011 Ecuadorian Serie A season, Barcos scored 25 goals in 51 matches in all competitions. On August 13, 2011, Barcos did what no other LDU Quito player had ever accomplished in any competition, he scored five goals in a single game against Manta. Barcos would continue with his scoring ability, netting in seven goals in the 2011 Copa Sudamericana. He scored an important away goal for LDU Quito in the team's first win ever in Buenos Aires in a 1-0 win against Vélez Sársfield, thus reaching the Copa Sudamericana finals. He failed to score a single goal in the finals against Universidad de Chile, and though only ended up as runner up in the competition, he and the rest of LDU Quito received support and appraisal from the club's fans. After two amazing years with the club, he had many offers from wealthy clubs. In January 2012 LDU Quito was offered $8 million from a Middle-Eastern football club to sign Hernán Barcos, while simultaneously also offered only $3.5 million from Palmeiras. Even though LDU Quito was suffering from debt, they honored Barcos' wishes to play for Palmeiras, and on January 17, 2012, he signed for the Brazilian team.

Palmeiras

On January 17, 2012, Barcos joined Brazilian Série A club Palmeiras for an undisclosed fee.

He scored his first goal for the club on February 11, 2012, in a 3-0 victory against Ituano, in a Paulistão match. Barcos promised to achieve a total amount of 27 goals in his first season with Palmeiras, thus showing a countdown of how many are left to go on his football shoes. On February 27, 2012, football specialist Lédio Carmona compared Barcos to lobster, playing with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari who had said he wanted shrimp, meaning the quality of Palmeiras' signings for the new season. Barcos helped Palmeiras reach the 2012 Copa do Brasil finals by scoring four goals in eight cup games.

On August 1 Barcos scored a double in Palmeiras' debut in the 2012 Copa Sudamericana against Botafogo. He scored another double against Botafogo again, this time in a league match a week later, winning 2-1. Despite Palmeiras' relegation and interest of European clubs, Barcos viaTwitter confirmed he would continue to play for club in 2013. In his words:

"I have the dream to play a World Cup, but the only way to leave Palmeiras is receiving a irrecusable deal, that the club cannot say 'no'. I will stay in Palmeiras for love and for liking Palmeiras"

Palmeiras confirmed Hernan Barcos would stay for the 2013 season, having been relegated to Serie B, though he was able to participate in the 2013 Copa Libertadores. For Barcos, the fans of Palmeiras and Gilson Kleina's permanency on club were fundamental points to stay on the Verdão.

Grêmio

Barcos became Gremio's shock-signing for the 2013 season, wanting to arm a strong side for the 2013 Copa Libertadores. His debut came on February 14, also scoring from the penalty spot, in a 2-1 home loss in a group-stage match up against Chilean Primera División side Huachipato. In a match against Corinthians, on August 2014, he scored twice, becoming the top foreign goalscorer for Grêmio with 36 goals.

Later career

On 16 February 2015, Barcos transferred to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda. After a prolific goal-scoring season, he transferred to Portuguese side Sporting CP. However, after a brief spell in Europe, the centre forward returned to the Argentine Primera División, joining Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield. Barcos debuted for Vélez in a 0–2 defeat to Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata for the first fixture of the 2016–17 Argentine Primera División and scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory against Colón for the 6th fixture.

LDU Quito

On January 14h 2017, Liga Deportiva Universitaria announced the arrival of Hernan Barcos to the Ecuadorean capital to be incorporated to the team to complete the new squad for the 2017 Capaign in time for la noche blanca.

On August 23, 2012, Barcos was called up for the matches against Paraguay and Peru for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification but he ended up being an unused substitute in them. Instead, he made his national team debut on September 19, 2012, as a starter in a match against Brazil for the Superclásico de las Américas. In October 2012, Barcos also came on as a late substitute in World Cup Qualifying matches against Uruguay and Chile.

International appearances and goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Final Score	Goal	Result	Competition
1.	September 19, 2012	Goiânia, Brazil	Brazil	1–2	0	Lose	2012 Superclásico de las Américas
2.	October 12, 2012	Mendoza, Argentina	Uruguay	3–0	0	Win	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.	October 16, 2012	Santiago, Chile	Chile	2–1	0	Win	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.	November 21, 2012	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Brazil	2–1	0	Win	2012 Superclásico de las Américas

On February 16, 2012, after a comparison with Brazilian singer Zé Ramalho made by Léo Bianchi, journalist of Rede Globo, Barcos cursed the reporter, calling him "boludo", a popular scold in Argentina.

As of 5 January 2017

Club

LDU Quito

• Ecuadorian Serie A (1): 2010
• Recopa Sudamericana (1): 2010

Palmeiras

• Copa do Brasil (1): 2012

Individual

• Chinese Super League Golden Boot (1): 2009
• Ecuadorian Serie A top goalscorer (1): 2010