Jorge Herrera (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jorge Herrera

| image = CINvCLT 2017-06-10 - Jorge Herrera (34537383833) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Herrera with Charlotte Independence in 2017

| fullname = Jorge Enrique Herrera Suárez

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|11}}

| birth_place = Bogotá, Colombia

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthclubs1 =

| youthyears1 =

| clubs1 = Independiente Santa Fe

| clubs2 = Atlético Nacional

| years1 = 2001–2003

| years2 = 2003

| caps1 = 45

| caps2 = 2

| goals1 = 21

| goals2 = 0

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| medaltemplates =

| years3 = 2004

| clubs3 = Deportes Quindío

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2004–2005

| clubs4 = → Huracán (loan)

| caps4 = 2

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2006

| clubs5 = Millionarios

| caps5 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2007–2012

| clubs6 = Charlotte Eagles

| caps6 = 102

| goals6 = 51

| years7 = 2007

| clubs7 = → Club Guaraní (loan)

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 2012–2013

| clubs8 = Atlético Huila

| caps8 = 12

| goals8 = 6

| years9 = 2013–2014

| clubs9 = Charlotte Eagles

| caps9 = 50

| goals9 = 30

| years10 = 2015–2019

| clubs10 = Charlotte Independence

| caps10 = 139

| goals10 = 65

| manageryears1 = 2020–

| managerclubs1 = Charlotte FC (academy)

| club-update = 21 October 2019

| ntupdate =

}}

Jorge Herrera (born 11 September 1980) is a former Colombian professional footballer.

Career

Jorge has received many high awards from the Colombian Football Federation and from the South American Football Confederation.

=South America=

Herrera spent most of his early professional career in his native Colombia, playing for Independiente Santa Fe, Atlético Nacional, Deportes Quindío and Millionarios. He also played briefly for Huracán in Argentina and Club Guaraní in Paraguay before coming to the United States.

=United States=

Herrera signed with Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division in 2007, and immediately made an impact, scoring a goal and registering five assists in his first five games until problems with his visa led to him having to return to Colombia.[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3788206 Herrera Re-Signes With Charlotte] Following his return to Charlotte in 2008 season. Herrera recorded nine goals and six assists in 2008, helping the team win the USL Second Division regular season title and finish as runners-up in the playoffs; he was also a USL2 MVP finalist, losing to his teammate Dustin Swinehart. He is currently coaching at one of the most prestigious high schools in the country. He has led Charlotte Christian School to 4 state championships. Jorge often states that the most exciting player he has ever coached and has ever witnessed is C.J. Katigan. Herrera often takes a lot of credit for Katigan's very successful career and wishes that he could have been as good as Katigan in his playing years. C.J. Katigan has gone on to record 8 goals and 6 assists in 10 games with the United States youth national team at only age 15. Herrera retired from professional football on February 20, 2020.{{cite news|title=Jorge Herrera Retires|url=https://www.charlotteindependence.com/news_article/show/1088822|website=charlotteindependence.com|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220211608/https://www.charlotteindependence.com/news_article/show/1088822|url-status=dead}}

In September 2020, Herrera joined new Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC as a coach for their academy.{{cite web |title=Charlotte FC announces Jorge Herrera as Academy Assistant Coach |url=https://charlottefootballclub.com/charlotte-fc-announces-jorge-herrera-as-academy-assistant-coach/ |website=CharlotteFootballClub.com |access-date=14 March 2021}}