David Fernández Miramontes

David Fernández

Fernández before a game with Kilmarnock in 2009
Personal information
Full nameDavid Fernández Miramontes
Date of birth20 January 1976
Place of birthA Coruña, Spain
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionStriker
Youth career
Liceo
Ural
1990–1994Deportivo La Coruña
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1994–1998Deportivo B70(20)
1995–2000Deportivo La Coruña42(3)
1997–1998→ Sevilla (loan)7(0)
1999–2000→ Toledo (loan)35(7)
2000–2001Airdrie20(7)
2001–2002Livingston41(8)
2002–2005Celtic11(0)
2003–2004→ Livingston (loan)27(3)
2005–2006Dundee United30(5)
2006–2010Kilmarnock82(5)
Total365(58)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Miramontes.

David Fernández Miramontes (born 20 January 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker, and a current scout for Manchester City.

He began his career with Deportivo, but spent most of his career in Scottish football. He had a successful spell with Livingston, which earned him a move to Celtic.

Club career

Spain

Born in A Coruña, Galicia, Fernández began his career with hometown club Deportivo de La Coruña. In 1995 he helped the reserves promote to Segunda División B, then was immediately promoted to the first team by manager John Toshack, making his official debut in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie against APOEL F.C. in Cyprus, on 14 September (0–0); his first La Liga appearance came on 26 November against Real Valladolid (3–1 home win), as he (again) came on as a substitute for Txiki Begiristain late into the second half of the match.

Fernández finished his first season with Depor with 25 official games and four goals, three of those coming within less than one month: against Real Sociedad (1–1 home draw), Atlético Madrid (2–2, home) and Real Zaragoza (1–0 Cup Winners' Cup triumph). He was eventually unable to break through to a regular starting place, being loaned twice to Segunda División clubs, starting with Sevilla FC in the first part of 1997–98; he spent the entire 1999–2000 campaign with CD Toledo, appearing regularly but suffering team relegation, after which he was released by Deportivo.

Scotland

In the summer of 2000, former FC Barcelona and Scotland player Steve Archibald was negotiating a deal to take control of Scottish First Division side Airdrieonians. Using his contacts in Spain he enticed a number of players from there to try their luck in Scotland, with Fernández among those accepting his offer.[1] Due to financial problems relating to the takeover, the Spanish imports all had to be released in March 2001, but as one of those whose performances for Airdrie had impressed, he (along with teammate Francisco Javier Sánchez Broto) was signed up by another club in the category, Livingston, who were on the verge of promotion to the Premier League.[2]

In the 2001–02 season, Fernández featured prominently as the Livi Lions finished in third place and subsequently qualified to the UEFA Cup. His form prompted Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to spend £1 million to sign the player for the Glasgow giants, on a four-year contract.[3]

Despite this investment, however, Fernández struggled to establish himself at Celtic, possibly because his thoughtful style of play did not fit in with the often direct approach of O'Neill's team. He scored his first and only goal for the team against FK Sūduva Marijampolė in the UEFA Cup, on 3 October 2002.[4] After a first season spent almost exclusively on the bench,[5] his future looked to lie away from Celtic, and he was loaned back to Livingston for 2003–04,[6] where he was part of the side that won the League Cup after beating Hibernian 2–0.[7]

Upon his return to Celtic Park, Fernández was confined to reserve team football and, in August 2005, he was released from his link but remained in Scotland, signing a three-year deal with Dundee United.[8] However, in April 2006, following a change in management at the club, he was informed by new manager Craig Brewster that he would be allowed to leave the club at the end of the season.[9]

On 18 August 2006, Fernández agreed a severance package with United and promptly signed a two-year contract with Kilmarnock.[10] On 29 October, after a mistimed tackled by Celtic defender Gary Caldwell, he suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury, going on to miss the remainder of the campaign.[11]

Fernández was released by Kilmarnock when his contract expired in May 2010.[12] The 34-year-old subsequently returned to A Coruña, training with amateurs Silva SD to keep fit.[13]

Honours

Deportivo
Airdrieonians
Celtic
Livingston
Kilmarnock

Post-retirement

In the 2012 summer, Fernández was appointed scout at Premier League side Manchester City.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Archibald's new boys share Latin rhythm at Dens Park". The Scotsman. 31 July 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Spaniard snapped up by Livingston". The Scotsman. 1 April 2001. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Celtic sign Fernandez". BBC Sport. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Celtic stroll into second round". BBC Sport. 3 October 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Fernandez fears for future". BBC Sport. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Fernandez back at Livi". BBC Sport. 30 August 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Livingston lift CIS Cup". BBC Sport. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Fernandez moves on to Tannadice". BBC Sport. 12 August 2005. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  9. ↑ "Tannadice trio told to leave club". BBC Sport. 10 April 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "Kilmarnock wrap up Fernandez deal". BBC Sport. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "Fernandez is facing 10 months out". BBC Sport. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  12. ↑ "Fernandez considers quitting football after Kilmarnock exit". STV. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  13. ↑ "El ex deportivista David Fernández se ejercita con el Silva" [Former Deportivo player David Fernández trains with Silva] (in Spanish). La Opinión La Coruña. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  14. ↑ "Airdrie lift Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 19 November 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "Porto end Celtic's UEFA dream". 21 May 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Mancini still keen to get De Rossi at Manchester City". The National. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.

External links