Anwar Hernández, a defender developed in the Deportivo Toluca youth academy, will reach the UEFA Conference League group stage with his current club, Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes. His journey from Mexico to Europe will culminate in a Mexican duel against FC Copenhagen and his compatriot Rodrigo Huescas on November 26.

Path from the academy

Hernández, born in Mexico City, took his first steps in football in Toluca's youth system. After not making the leap to the first team, he developed his career in Liga Premier MX, where he even won a title with Tampico Madero. In early 2024, he made the jump to Europe by signing for Andorra's Ranger's FC, shortly before moving to Inter Club d'Escaldes.

With Inter, Hernández was a key part of the team that won the Andorran league championship and achieved historic European qualification. The defender played every minute of the two-legged preliminary round against Kosovo's Drita, receiving a yellow card in each match, in a tie that also included victory over Estonia's Flora Tallinn.

Mexican duel in Europe

The draw has placed Inter Club d'Escaldes in a Conference League group with rivals such as Sweden's Mjällby AIF, Romania's Universitatea Craiova, Serbia's Red Star Belgrade, Spain's Getafe, and Denmark's Aarhus. However, the standout match for Hernández will be on November 26 against FC Copenhagen, where fellow Mexican defender Rodrigo Huescas plays. It will be an unprecedented clash between two Liga MX academy products in a European continental competition.

While his career takes off in Europe, Toluca, the club that formed him, is enjoying a strong period at home. The team managed by Ignacio Ambríz leads Liga MX with 20 points after 10 matchdays, on a recent run of three wins, one draw, and one loss. Their next fixture is a visit to 15th-placed Tigres UANL on October 10.

Anwar Hernández's journey from Toluca's training grounds to Conference League stadiums highlights the value of work in the youth categories. His confirmed presence in the group stage this November is a personal achievement and a point of pride for the Mexican club's structure.

Read the full report at Record MX