Fernando Miguel Fernández Escribano, known simply as Fernando (Spanish pronunciation:[feɾˈnando]; born 2 June 1979), is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder but also as a supporting striker.
Over 12 seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 276 matches and 55 goals, mostly at Betis (six years) and Málaga (three). In the competition, he also appeared for Real Madrid and Valladolid.
On 27 June 2008, as his role was a lesser one from 2005 to 2008 – only ten matches in his last season – Fernando signed a four-year contract with Málaga, returning to his first youth club after 11 years.[7]
Málaga and later years
Fernando netted his first league goal for Málaga on 23 September 2009 against Espanyol, more than one year after arriving; however, this happened in a 2–1 away loss.[8] Sparingly used in his debut season, he became a starter in 2009–10, scoring on five occasions.[9]
Fernando continued in the starting lineups in the 2010–11 campaign, under new manager Jesualdo Ferreira. In the second matchday, he scored twice in a 5–3 win at Zaragoza, the first goal coming after just 73 seconds.[10] Rarely used by the following coach, Manuel Pellegrini, he still contributed 21 games as the Boquerones finally avoided relegation.[9]
On 21 August 2011, the 32-year-old Fernando was released from his contract.[9] He moved abroad for the first time on 4 February of the following year, joining several compatriots at Hungarian side Diósgyőri VTK.[11] He retired from football in June 2013.
Fernando started working as a full-time manager in 2016, with amateurs CD El Palo[13] which he had already coached briefly the previous year[14] after starting out with their youths.[15] Early into the season in Tercera División, he resigned.[16]
On 23 April 2018, Fernando was appointed at former club Diósgyőr with the purpose of avoiding relegation from the Nemzeti Bajnokság I,[17] which was finally achieved.[18] On 3 September 2019, with his team placed last in the standings and following a 1–0 defeat against Ferencvárosi TC at the Groupama Arena, he was dismissed.[19]
Fernando returned to Betis in summer 2020, reuniting with Pellegrini as part of the newly signed manager's staff.[20]
^Fernández, Emilio (30 December 2012). "El fútbol español habla andaluz" [Spanish football speaks Andalusian]. La Opinión de Málaga (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2013.