Its with a heavy heart that I relay to the USMNT community that Fernando Clavijo has passed. 61 caps and a member of the US soccer hall of fame. Technical Director and architect of the FCD team that recently won a USOC and SS. He will be greatly missed. It is with deep sadness that we deliver the news that our dear friend and former FC Dallas Technical Director, Fernando Clavijo, has passed away after a five-year battle with multiple myeloma. He was 63.https://t.co/I6orpyEgPK pic.twitter.com/cTRvWLXBhn— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) February 9, 2019 A life dedicated to the game. #USMNT World Cup veteran Fernando Clavijo has passed away at age 63 after a courageous battle with cancer. » https://t.co/qzOn2yQlO2 pic.twitter.com/W6wPdVd3ki— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) February 9, 2019 Having acquired U.S. citizenship in 1987, Clavijo debuted for the United States on Nov. 21, 1990, against the Soviet Union in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The veteran defender became a mainstay on the MNT the next four years, helping the USA to the inaugural Concacaf Gold Cup title in 1991 before making the 22-man roster for the 1994 FIFA World Cup on home soil. The oldest player on the squad at age 38, Clavijo featured at left back in three matches during the tournament, including the historic 2-1 victory against Colombia on June 22 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The defender ended his five-year international career with 61 caps. Owing to his indoor soccer experience, Clavijo also played for the USA at the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Cup, helping the squad to a runner-up finish in Hong Kong.
Hard to believe he's died... I am remember that world cup vividly..... The work he did with FCD was first class. RIP, Fernando.
He was a fine player and a good guy. A defender with skill-who ever heard of a yank like that in those days! RIP
I like this story from @bshredder so much I'm going to post it here. I remember having lunch with Fernando Clavijo in late 2010 in Atlanta. I was in town to cover the US U-20’s. He wasn’t yet at FC Dallas but he was telling me all about this special player on Colombia’s U-20 team to watch, Fabian Castillo. But he told me another great story...— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 9, 2019 2) as an immigrant, Fernando took a ton of pride playing for the #USMNT. After his playing career, he returned it to his native Uruguay. He had a friend there, who I believe worked in a higher levels of the game there. His friend gave him an Uruguayan NT jersey... 2— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 9, 2019 3) Fernando’s friend wanted him to put the jersey on for a picture. Fernando thanked him for the jersey & said he’d keep it but he couldn’t wear it. Even retired at the time, he said he never wanted to wear another jersey besides the #USMNT jersey. Something I’ll always remember— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 9, 2019
This is a really nice tribute to Fernando that was written about a year ago. There’s not a better person out there than @fclavijo. Dive deep into his unlikely career, soccer journey and life. https://t.co/KsNX7XxUUN— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) April 20, 2017