'I Wasn't the Best Partner': Ex-Man Utd Star Opens Up on Divorce From Model Wife

Javier Hernandez has publicly reflected on his shortcomings as a husband and father after his wife, model Sarah Kohan, left him, a separation that coincided with difficulties in his football career and subsequent controversy.

Hernandez, known as Chicharito, spent five years at Manchester United after being signed from Guadalajara by Sir Alex Ferguson. In his first season, he scored 20 goals in all competitions, helping United win the Premier League and reach the 2011 Champions League final.

Sarah Kohan is known for her racy photos

He won another Premier League title in 2013 and earned a reputation as an effective substitute with one of the best minutes-per-goal ratios in Premier League history. However, after David Moyes's problematic tenure, Hernandez was loaned to Real Madrid, transferred to Bayer Leverkusen, and later joined West Ham. His career concluded with spells at Sevilla and LA Galaxy, during which his marriage to Kohan deteriorated.

Sarah Kohan and Javier Hernandez had a whirlwind romance

Sarah Kohan, a former law graduate from Notre Dame with exchange studies at Harvard and Columbia, became known as a travel blogger and model. She built a large social media following by sharing travel content and provocative photos, including topless and nude images featuring creative elements like strategically placed food. Her Instagram attracted about one million followers.

Sarah posted a cheeky naked selfie when Javier Hernandez moved to the MLS

The couple married privately in 2019 but divorced by 2021 after having two children. Hernandez, who turned 38 on June 1, 2026, first spoke publicly about his personal issues while still playing in Major League Soccer. He revealed he had suffered from depression, worsened by personal difficulties including his grandfather's death.

Sarah Kohan and Javier Hernandez split up after tricky times together

In a 2021 interview with The Ringer, Hernandez did not name Kohan but admitted, "I wasn't the best partner I needed to be. I wasn't the greatest dad that I wanted to be. I wasn't a great friend. I wasn't the great human being I wanted to be."

His sister Ana Silvia described the effect of their grandfather Tomas Balcazar's passing, saying, "It was like all his world collapsed in a minute," and noted Hernandez struggled throughout the season to cope.

Despite scoring 59 goals in 157 appearances for Manchester United, Hernandez had avoided public discussion of his relationship with Kohan. The couple marked their son's second birthday together in June 2021, with Kohan posting photos on social media. Around the same time, TMZ Sports reported Kohan had filed for divorce earlier that year, alleging Hernandez was not involved in daily parenting and requesting about £73,000 monthly for child and spousal support.

Hernandez did not comment on the divorce in his interview but spoke about his grandfather, whom he regarded as a second father. He described losing motivation for daily tasks and breaking down in tears during training amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sarah Kohan demanded around £73,000 a month in the divorce

He acknowledged living up to a public persona rather than his true self, stating, "I had to learn how to accept myself. People always identified me not by me, but something else. I played a character because that's what we ask of famous people."

Hernandez also revealed he had considered retiring from football, saying, "I've always been very sensitive. A lot of times I tried to hide it. I realised I had to... I'm not the tallest. I'm not very big. I'm not very stereotypically masculine. We see a man cry, we think he's weak, but we are all human."

As Mexico's all-time leading scorer with 52 goals in 109 appearances, Hernandez later faced further personal challenges. After his divorce, he dated model Nicole McPherson, who had a child from a previous relationship, but that relationship ended. He was also linked to Spanish actress Andrea Duro, who ended their relationship citing feelings of abandonment and disappointment. Other partners accused him of infidelity.

Javier Hernandez's model ex-wife Sarah Kohan

In 2023, Hernandez expressed difficulty with limited contact with his children following his separation from Kohan, stating, "I was terrified to make the decision that the marriage was not where it should be and that we had to look for another way and that it could not happen, because I knew that these prices could come."

Controversy and Public Backlash

Hernandez faced fines and warnings from the Mexican Football Federation after making remarks about women that drew widespread criticism, including from Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum. In July 2025, he posted on Instagram and TikTok accusing women of "eradicating masculinity" and making society "overly sensitive," adding that women "need to learn to honour masculinity."

Responding to criticism, Hernandez stated, "So you want a man to provide for you, but cleaning is patriarchal oppression… interesting."

Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president, commented, "Hernandez is a good footballer, but when it comes to women, he still has a lot to learn. These are relationships of equality - it's enshrined in the constitution and called substantive equality. The idea that a woman's role is to stay at home… frankly, that's a very machista notion. Let's call things by their name. Women have everything it takes to grow and succeed."

Following the controversy, Hernandez's sponsors, including Puma, reportedly ended their contracts with him. Hernandez later apologized, saying, "I deeply regret any misunderstanding or discomfort my recent words may have caused. I never intended to limit, offend or divide anyone. I'll use this opportunity to grow and keep working to become a better version of myself. Thank you for your understanding, dedication, love and support along the way."

Post-Playing Career and Personal Life

Guadalajara released Hernandez in December 2025 after deciding not to renew his contract, which had been affected by injuries. Without a club, he turned to TikTok, sharing cooking videos where he demonstrated making his favorite Milanese sandwich, showcasing skills in frying beef, chopping vegetables, and preparing pesto.

Sarah Kohan and Javier Hernandez remain estranged following their divorce.