Luis López Fernández


Luis Aurelio López Fernández, also known as Buba López, is a Honduran professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Real España and the Honduras national team.

Club career

Real España

López started his career with Liga Nacional team Real C.D. España in 2013. He won the 2013 Apertura title and was integral for his side in the final against
Real Sociedad.

LAFC and Orange County SC loan

On 24 January 2018, Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC announced the signing of López from Real España. The following 31 January, it was announced that López was rehabbing from a stress fracture in his right tibia. On 13 July, he was loaned out to Los Angeles FC's affiliate club Orange County SC. Immediately the day after, he started his first match in a 3–0 home win against San Antonio FC. He was later recalled and started his first league game in the MLS in a 2–0 home loss against Sporting Kansas City.
He returned to Real España after Los Angeles FC opted not to exercise his buy option.

International career

Honduras U-20

López started his international career with the Honduras U-20 national team. He was a part of the squad selected to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Honduras hosted their group but lost their first game to rivals Costa Rica and drew their second against Nicaragua, which ended in failure to qualify.

Honduras U-23

López was called up to the Olympic team for the football competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The year prior to the competition, Honduras had lost the final of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship to Mexico, but qualification was sealed for both nations and Honduras qualified for their third straight Olympics. López was the first choice keeper throughout the tournament but kept only one clean sheet. He helped Honduras to the knockout stage where they were eliminated by Brazil in the semi-finals. López started in the bronze medal match, in which Honduras were defeated by Nigeria.

Honduras

López was an unused third goalkeeper for Honduras' 2014 World Cup campaign.
His first major for the national team was when he was selected as the starting keeper for Honduras in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. López struggled with an injury throughout the tournament and ultimately Honduras were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Mexico. Lopez had played a few games in World Cup qualification but due to injury he was replaced by veteran keeper Donis Escober.

Honors

Real C.D. España