Álex Fernández

Álex
Personal information
Full nameAlejandro Fernández Iglesias
Date of birth15 October 1992
Place of birthMadrid, Spain
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Rijeka (on loan from Espanyol)
Number8
Youth career
2000–2003AD Complutense
2003–2005Alcalá
2005–2010Real Madrid
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–2013Real Madrid B99(6)
2011Real Madrid1(0)
2013–Espanyol29(0)
2015→ Rijeka (loan)5(2)
National team
2008–2009Spain U1714(2)
2010Spain U182(0)
2010–2011Spain U1910(0)
2011Spain U201(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 March 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Iglesias.

Alejandro Fernández Iglesias, commonly known as Álex (born 15 October 1992), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Croatian club HNK Rijeka on loan from RCD Espanyol as a central midfielder.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Madrid, Álex joined Real Madrid's youth system at not yet 13, arriving from neighbouring RSD Alcalá. In 2010 he started appearing with Real Madrid Castilla in Segunda División B and, in July of that year, he was called by first-team coach José Mourinho to a preseason tour in the United States;[1] he made his unofficial debut on 5 August in a friendly match against Club América (3–2 win), with his brother Nacho also making his first appearance that day.[2]

Álex made his league debut with the B-team on 29 August 2010, playing 87 minutes in a 3–2 home win against Coruxo FC.[3] On 3 October he scored his first goal, contributing to a 3–0 home success over AD Cerro de Reyes,[4] and finished his first season with 30 games and two goals as the team fell short in the promotion playoffs.

On 6 March 2011 Álex made his La Liga debut, playing the last minute of the 3–1 win at Racing de Santander.[5] He contributed with 35 appearances in the 2011–12 campaign – playoffs included – with Castilla returning to the second level after five years.

Espanyol

Álex left Real Madrid in August 2013, by mutual consent. He signed shortly after with RCD Espanyol in the top level,[6][7] appearing in 30 competitive games in his first year but starting in only five.

On 28 January 2015, Espanyol loaned to Álex to HNK Rijeka until the end of the season.[8]

Honours

Club

Real Madrid Castilla

Country

Spain U19

Individual

Personal life

Álex's older brother, Nacho, is also a footballer. A defender, he too graduated from Real Madrid's academy.[9]

References

  1. ↑ At the gates of the first team; Real Madrid's official website, 30 July 2010
  2. ↑ The Whites win first preseason match; Real Madrid's official website, 5 August 2010
  3. ↑ 3–2: The youth team takes the first three points at stake; Real Madrid's official website, 29 August 2010
  4. ↑ RM Castilla 3–0 Cerro Reyes; Real Madrid's official website, 3 October 2010
  5. ↑ Benzema double keeps Real hopes alive; ESPN Soccernet, 6 March 2011
  6. ↑ Real Madrid y Espanyol acuerdan el traspaso de Álex Fernández (Real Madrid and Espanyol agree Álex Fernández transfer); Goal.com, 23 August 2013 (Spanish)
  7. ↑ Espanyol ficha a Alex Fernández, procedente del Real Madrid Castilla (Espanyol signs Alex Fernández, from Real Madrid Castilla); Goal.com, 28 August 2013 (Spanish)
  8. ↑ Principi d'acord amb el HNK Rijeka per a la cessió d'Álex (Agreement in principle with HNK Rijeka for the loan of Alex); Espanyol's official website, 28 January 2015 (Catalan)
  9. ↑ Nacho y Álex, sangre blanca en la familia Fernández (Nacho and Álex, white blood in the Fernández family); Real Madrid's official website, 3 May 2010 (Spanish)

External links