Midfielder
Hugo Perez
5'8"
The biography of retired USMNT soccer player and National Soccer Hall of Famer Hugo Perez who played on the 1994 World Cup squad.
Caps: 73 | Goals: 13
Hugo Perez bridged the end of the North American Soccer League era and the USA’s return to the World Cup stage. A native of El Salvador, Perez provided veteran leadership to the USMNT in the late 80s when the bulk of the squad was college-age players. Though he missed the 1990 World Cup due to injury, he won player of the year for the National Team a year later and was part of the 1994 World Cup squad. He retired in 1996 as a member of El Salvadoran club FAS. A National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, Perez coached the USMNT U-14s and U-15s from 2012-14. The next year, Perez became an assistant with El Salvador and took over as head coach in April 2021 staying in the roll until September 2023.
Photo by Howard C Smith – ISIPhotos.com
USMNT Experience
1994
Started against Switzerland on Jan 22. Started against Denmark on Feb 10. Started against Romania on Feb 13 and Bolivia on Feb 18. Scored against Sweden on Feb 20. Started against Korea on Mar 12. Scored twice against Bolivia on Mar 26. Started against Moldova on Apr 16, Iceland on Apr 24, and Chile on Apr 30. Started against Estonia on May 7. Started against Armenia on May 15, Saudi Arabia on May 25, and Greece on May 28. Started against Mexico on June 4. Started against Brazil in the World Cup on Jul 4. Started against England on Sep 7.
1993
Started against Hungary on Mar 10. Scored against Japan on Mar 14. Started on Apr 9 against Saudi Arabia. Started against Iceland on Aug 31. Started against Norway on Sep 8. Started against Mexico on Oct 13, scored against Ukraine on Oct 16, and started against Ukraine on Oct 23. Started against Jamaica on Nov 7 and the Cayman Islands on Nov 14. Started against El Salvador and scored on Dec 5. Started against Germany on Dec 18.
1992
Started against Costa Rica on Feb 12 and captained the team against El Salvador on Feb 19. Started against Brazil on Feb 26. Started against Spain on Mar 11. Scored against Morocco on Mar 18. Had two goals against China on Apr 4. Started against Ireland on Apr 29. Started against Scotland on May 17 and against Ireland on May 30. Started against Portugal on Jun 3, Italy on Jun 6, and Australia on Jun 13. Started against Colombia on Jul 31. Started against Brazil on Aug 2. Started against Canada on Oct 9, Saudi Arabia on Oct 15, and Ivory Coast on Oct 19.
1991
Subbed on against Argentina on May 19 and against Ireland on Jun 1. Started against Trinidad and Tobago on Jun 29 and against Guatemala on Jul 1. Scored against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup on Jul 3. Started against Mexico on Jul 5 and against Honduras on Jul 7. Started against Romania on Aug 28 and against Turkey on Sep 4. Started against Jamaica on Sep 14 and against North Korea on Oct 19. Named USMNT Male Player of the Year and the Futbol de Primera Player of the Year
1990
Started against Costa Rica on Feb 2 and against Colombia on Feb 4.
1989
Scored against El Salvador on Sep 17. Started against Bermuda on Nov 14.
1988
Subbed on against Jamaica and scored on Aug 13.
1987
Scored against Trinidad and Tobago in Olympic qualifying on Sep 20. Scored twice against El Salvador in Olympic qualifying on Oct 18. Started against Trinidad & Tobago on Sep 5.
1985
Started against Canada on Apr 2. Subbed on and scored against Canada on Apr 4. Started against Trinidad and Tobago on May 15 and May 19. Started against Costa Rica on May 31. Started against England on Jun 16.
1984
Started against Costa Rica on Jul 29 in his senior debut and against Italy on Jul 31. Subbed on against Egypt on Aug 2. Member of the Olympic team.
Professional Experience
1994-96
Moved to the LA Salsa in the American Professional Soccer League, finishing 2nd and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Signed with CD Fas in Ecuador where he played through 1996.
1992
Joined Al Ittihad.
1990-91
Signed with Red Star Paris. Had two appearances with Swedish club Orgryte IS.
1986
Member of the Los Angeles Heat in the Western Soccer Alliance. The Heat finished 4th and missed the playoffs.
1984-90
Stayed with San Diego for the final NASL season, winning the West and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Moved with the club from outdoor to indoor soccer when the team joined the Major Indoor Soccer League. A member of the indoor Sockers through the 1989-90 season. Named the MISL championship MVP in 1988.
1983
Played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies before moving to the San Diego Sockers. Finished 4th in the West, missing the playoffs.
1982
Signed with the LA Aztecs in the NASL, moving to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Rowdies finished 3rd in the Southern Division, missing the playoffs.
