Yeniel Bermúdez Ferrer (born October 8, 1985 in Cienfuegos) is a Cuban footballer who last played for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yeniel Bermúdez Ferrer | ||
| Date of birth | October 8, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Cienfuegos, Cuba | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Center backDefender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2008 | Cienfuegos | ||
| 2009–2010 | Charleston Battery | 30 | (0) |
| 2009 | → W Hammerheads (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2011 | River Plate Puerto Rico | 2 | (0) |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Blues | 6 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2008 | Cuba | 8 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 2, 2010 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 30, 2011 | |||
Club career
editCuba
editBermúdez began his career in his native Cuba, playing with FC Cienfuegos in the Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba.
While playing for the Cuban U-23 national team in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tampa, Florida in March 2008, Bermudez along with several other members of the team, defected to the United States under the wet foot dry foot scheme that allows Cubans who reach U.S. soil to obtain asylum.[2] After his defection, Bermudez declared his brother was dismissed from Cuba's under-20 team as a result.[3]
United States
editFollowing an unsuccessful trial with Los Angeles Galaxy,[4] Bermudez was signed to a professional contract by Charleston Battery after impressing coach Michael Anhaeuser during pre-season.[5] He made his professional debut on May 8, 2009, in game against Carolina RailHawks.[6]
Bermudez was not listed on the 2011 roster for Charleston released on April 7, 2011.[7] In 2010, he spent time in Alaska with his girlfriend who worked there at a school.[8]
International career
editHe made his international debut for Cuba in a September 2006 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification match against Turks & Caicos and has earned a total of 8 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was a February 2008 friendly match against Guyana, a month prior to defecting to the United States.
Honors
editCharleston Battery
edit- USL Second Division Champions (1): 2010
- USL Second Division Regular Season Champions (1): 2010
References
edit- ^ NY Times Cuban Players Fled Their Team for an Uncertain Future 2008 "Three days after slipping out of their hotel, the five players — the team captain, Yeniel Bermúdez; defenders Erlys García Baró and Prieto; midfielder Yordany Álvarez; and goalkeeper José Manuel Miranda — were staying in West Palm Beach, Miami and Hallandale, Fla., according to their lawyer, Irving Gonzalez. He said the five had spoken with their two teammates who defected Wednesday, defender Yendry Díaz and midfielder Eder Roldán. He said that no one had heard from Lara."
- ^ Seven members of Cuba U-23 team missing from hotel
- ^ Cuban Defectors Adjust to a New Life - NY Times
- ^ Three Cuban Defectors Training with the LA Galaxy
- ^ Battery signs three more players
- ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". www.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Charleston Battery". www.charlestonbattery.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-25.
- ^ For former Cuban soccer star, a long winter ahead - Anchorage Daily News
External links
edit- Yeniel Bermúdez at National-Football-Teams.com
- Charleston Battery bio