Gilberto Hernández (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gilberto Hernández

| image =

| full_name = Gilberto Hernández Bultrón

| birth_date = {{birth date|1997|06|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Colón, Panama

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|09|03|1997|06|26|df=y}}

| death_place = Colón, Panama

| height = 1.92 m

| position = Centre-back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2018–2022

| clubs1 = Árabe Unido

| caps1 = 60

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2022

| clubs2 = Herrera F.C.

| caps2 = 13

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2022–2023

| clubs3 = C.A. Independiente

| caps3 = 32

| goals3 = 7

| totalcaps = 105

| totalgoals = 9

| nationalyears1 = 2019

| nationalteam1 = Panama U22

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2023

| nationalteam2 = Panama

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Gilberto Hernández Bultrón (26 June 1997 – 3 September 2023) was a Panamanian professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He made 105 appearances in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol, having played for Árabe Unido, Herrera F.C., and C.A. Independiente. He earned two caps for the Panama national team.

Club career

=Árabe Unido=

Hernández made his debut for Árabe Unido against San Francisco F.C., at the Estadio Agustín Sánchez.

=Herrera F.C.=

On 4 January 2022, Hernández signed for Herrera F.C. after several seasons at Árabe Unido.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/rpctv/posts/10159598890900749/?paipv=0&eav=AfYxHzT3ljzj366euD8rkEwlyaOyK5ytPeqMCT6gLAv8Oim59TZEaBA9oPI4YKsPb68&_rdr|title=Gilberto Hernández es nuevo jugador del Herrera FC para el Torneo Apertura 2022 de la LPF Tigo|website=Facebook |date=4 January 2022}} He made his debut for the club on 27 March against Plaza Amador.

=C.A. Independiente=

On 8 June 2022, Hernández signed with C.A. Independiente.{{cite web|url=https://www.rpctv.com/futbol/lpf-cai-presenta-aldair-mckenzie-y-gilberto-hernandez-como-sus-nuevos-refuerzos-n5721084|title=LPF: CAI presenta a Aldair McKenzie y Gilberto Hernández como sus nuevos refuerzos|date=8 June 2022}} He made his debut with the club on 27 June against Veraguas United FC, at the Estadio Agustín Muquita Sánchez. He was champion with the club of the 2022 Clausura{{cite web|url=https://www.rpctv.com/liga-panamena-futbol-lpf/futbol/lpf-el-cai-se-corona-campeon-del-clausura-2022-n5802119|title=LPF: El CAI se corona campeón del Clausura 2022|date=12 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.panamaamerica.com.pa/deportes/cai-campeon-del-clausura-2022-de-la-lpf-1214283|title=CAI, campeón del Clausura 2022 de la LPF|date=12 November 2022}} and 2023 Apertura seasons.{{cite web|url=https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/independiente-chorrera-campeon-apertura-panama-1257201|title=CAI, campeón del Apertura de Panamá|date=27 May 2023|publisher=BeSoccer}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rpctv.com/liga-panamena-futbol-lpf/futbol/asi-se-corono-campeon-el-cai-del-torneo-apertura-2023-la-lpf-n5885690|title=Así se coronó campeón el CAI del Torneo Apertura 2023 de la LPF|date=27 May 2023|publisher=RPC TV}} He played his last match on 23 August 2023 in a 3–1 victory against Real Estelí at the Estadio Rommel Fernández, at the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.rpctv.com/liga-panamena-futbol-lpf/futbol/cai-confirma-el-fallecimiento-gilberto-hernandez-n5917882|title=CAI confirma el fallecimiento de Gilberto Hernández|date=3 September 2023|publisher=RPC TV}}

International career

Hernández was called up by the Panama U-22 team to play the 2019 Pan American Games.{{cite web|url=https://fepafut.com/dely-valdes-escoge-los-18-jugadores-para-juegos-panamericanos/|title=DELY VALDÉS ESCOGE LOS 18 JUGADORES PARA JUEGOS PANAMERICANOS|date=13 July 2019}} He made his debut with the senior team on 12 March 2023 against Guatemala in a friendly.{{cite web|url=https://fepafut.com/empate-con-sabor-a-futuro-2/|title=EMPATE CON SABOR A FUTURO|date=13 March 2023}}

Death

Hernández was killed and six others were injured on 3 September 2023 on Calle 5, Avenida Herrera, Colón Province, after two men arrived in a taxi and opened fire on a street. The shooting was most likely related to a gang rivalry going on in Colón.{{cite web|url=https://www.critica.com.pa/sucesos/asesinan-al-jugador-de-la-sele-gilberto-hernandez-fue-en-colon-657845|title=Asesinan al jugador de la Sele Gilberto Hernández. Fue en Colón|date=3 September 2023|publisher=Crítica}}{{cite web|url=https://www.prensa.com/deportes/fallece-en-medio-de-una-balacera-en-colon-el-jugador-del-cai-gilberto-hernandez/|title=Fallece en medio de una balacera en Colón el jugador del CAI Gilberto Hernández|date=3 September 2023|publisher=La Prensa}}{{cite web|url=https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/230903/fiscalia-dij-realizan-allanamientos-localizar-implicados-asesinato-gilberto-hernandez|title=Fiscalía y DIJ realizan allanamientos para localizar a implicados en el asesinato de Gilberto Hernández|date=3 September 2023|last1=Vega Loo|first1=Manuel|publisher=La Estrella de Panama}}