| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fernando Miguel Fernández Escribano | ||
| Date of birth | 2 June 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Málaga, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder / Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–1997 | Málaga | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997–1999 | Real Madrid C | ||
| 1999–2000 | Real Madrid B | 34 | (1) |
| 2000–2002 | Real Madrid | 1 | (0) |
| 2000–2002 | → Valladolid (loan) | 58 | (21) |
| 2002–2008 | Betis | 148 | (28) |
| 2008–2011 | Málaga | 69 | (7) |
| National team | |||
| 2001 | Spain U21 | 4 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Fernando Miguel Fernández Escribano, simply Fernando (Spanish pronunciation: [ferˈnando]; born 2 June 1979 in Málaga, Andalusia), is a Spanish footballer. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also appear as a supporting striker.
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After starting at hometown's Málaga CF, Fernando finished his football grooming in the ranks of La Liga giants Real Madrid, having appeared once for its first team, in 1999–2000, against Real Zaragoza (90 minutes, 1–0 home win). After that, he joined, on loan, Real Valladolid, as many Real Madrid canteranos would move to that club in that timeframe (Alberto Marcos, Víctor, José García Calvo, etc.).
In 2002, Fernando signed with top division outfit Real Betis, scoring 15 times in his debut campaign, with Betis snapping an eighth place, thanks greatly to his braces against Málaga CF (3–0), RCD Espanyol (4–2) and Real Sociedad (3–2). He won the only trophy of his career in 2005, the Copa del Rey, against CA Osasuna (2–1).
On 27 June 2008, as his role with Betis was a lesser one from 2005–08 (only 10 matches in his last season), Fernando signed a four-year contract with Málaga, returning to his first youth club after 11 years.[1]
Fernando scored his first league goal for Málaga on 23 September 2009 against RCD Espanyol, more than one year after arriving; however, this happened in a 1–2 away loss.[2] Sparingly used in his debut season, he became a starter in 2009–10, scoring on five occasions.
31-year old Fernando continued in the starting lineups in the 2010–11 season, under new manager Jesualdo Ferreira. In the second matchday, at Zaragoza, he scored twice in a 5–3 win, the first goal coming after just 73 seconds.[3] Rarely used by the following coach, Manuel Pellegrini, he still contributed with 21 games as the Andalusians finally avoided relegation.
On 21 August 2011, 32-year old Fernando was released from his Málaga contract.