David Fernández
Encyclopedia
David Fernández Miramontes (born January 20, 1976 in A Coruña
, Galicia) is a Spanish
footballer. Fernández began his career with his hometown club of Deportivo
, but has spent most of his career in Scottish football. He had a successful spell with Livingston
, which earned Fernández a £1M
move to Celtic
. Fernández failed to establish himself at Celtic, however, and has since played for Livingston
(on loan), Dundee United
and Kilmarnock
.
. In 1995, he was part of the Deportivo B team that won promotion to Second Division B, and was then brought in to the first team by coach John Toshack
, making his debut in a UEFA Cup
tie against APOEL FC
in Cyprus
that September. He scored four goals for Deportivo in that 1995/1996 season, all of them being important and within 2 months: during a 1–1 home draw with Real Sociedad, a 2–2 home draw with Atlético Madrid, a 1–0 UEFA Cup home win against Real Zaragoza and a 2–3 Liga away win at that same Zaragoza.
But Fernández was unable to break through to a regular starting place, leading to him being loaned out to Sevilla FC
in 1996/1997. This move failed to work out, and the player returned to Depor to find himself further out of contention. After another loan spell during the 1999–2000 season, with CD Toledo
, he was released by Deportivo and was looking for a new start to revitalise his career.
and Scotland
striker 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 Archibald's offer. 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, Fernández (along with teammate Javier Sánchez Broto) was signed up by another First Division side, Livingston
, who were on the verge of promotion to the top flight.
Season 2001–02
was to be the player's most successful to date, as Livingston's first ever season in the SPL saw them finish in third place and qualify for the UEFA Cup
, with Fernández considered to be their key playmaker. His form prompted Celtic
manager Martin O'Neill
to spend £1 million to sign the Galician for the Glasgow
giants on a four year contract.
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 what turned out to be only Celtic goal against FK Suduva in the UEFA Cup
on 3 October 2002. After a first season spent mainly on the bench, his future looked to lie away from Celtic, and he was loaned back to Livingston for a season. Thereafter he returned to Celtic Park
, but was almost totally confined to reserve team football in his final season at the club. In August 2005 he was released from his contract but remained in Scotland
, signing a three year contract with Dundee United
. However, following a change in management at the club, Fernández was informed by his new manager Craig Brewster
in April 2006 that he would be allowed to leave the club at the end of the current season.
On 18 August 2006, Fernández agreed a severance package with United and promptly signed a two year contract with Kilmarnock. During a match on 29 October 2006, Gary Caldwell
of Celtic mistimed a tackle on Fernández, causing him to suffer a serious cruciate ligament
injury.
Fernández was released by Kilmarnock when his contract expired in May 2010.
In August of the same year, already back to La Coruña, David began to train with amateur team Club Silva SD while waiting for the call of some foreign team. In the meanwhile he will keep fit training with the amateur team and he is not planning to play for them in the Segunda Autonómica, seventh level in Spain. He has anyway already taken part in some friendly matches of the club. He plans to stay at Silva SD until December.
A Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
, Galicia) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer. Fernández began his career with his hometown club of Deportivo
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, but has spent most of his career in Scottish football. He had a successful spell with Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
, which earned Fernández a £1M
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
move to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Fernández failed to establish himself at Celtic, however, and has since played for Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
(on loan), Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
and Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
.
Spain
Fernández began his career with the local Spanish club Deportivo de La CoruñaDeportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
. In 1995, he was part of the Deportivo B team that won promotion to Second Division B, and was then brought in to the first team by coach John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
, making his debut in a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tie against APOEL FC
APOEL FC
APOEL F.C. is a professional football club based in Lefkosia , Cyprus and they are one of the founding members of the Cyprus Football Association. APOEL is one of the most popular football teams in Cyprus and they are the most successful with an overall tally of 21 championships, 19 cups and 12...
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
that September. He scored four goals for Deportivo in that 1995/1996 season, all of them being important and within 2 months: during a 1–1 home draw with Real Sociedad, a 2–2 home draw with Atlético Madrid, a 1–0 UEFA Cup home win against Real Zaragoza and a 2–3 Liga away win at that same Zaragoza.
But Fernández was unable to break through to a regular starting place, leading to him being loaned out to Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
in 1996/1997. This move failed to work out, and the player returned to Depor to find himself further out of contention. After another loan spell during the 1999–2000 season, with CD Toledo
CD Toledo
Club Deportivo Toledo, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Toledo, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded in 1928, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 1, holding home games at Estadio Salto del Caballo, with a seating capacity of 5,300.Home uniforms consist of green...
, he was released by Deportivo and was looking for a new start to revitalise his career.
Scotland
In the summer of 2000, former FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
striker Steve Archibald
Steve Archibald
Steven Archibald is a former Scottish football player and manager.- Club career :He first came to prominence playing in midfield for Scottish First Division side Clyde, but was converted to striker when he signed for Aberdeen, forging a prolific partnership with Joe Harper...
was negotiating a deal to take control of Scottish First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
side Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
. Using his contacts in Spain he enticed a number of players from there to try their luck in Scotland, with Fernández among those accepting Archibald's offer. 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, Fernández (along with teammate Javier Sánchez Broto) was signed up by another First Division side, Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
, who were on the verge of promotion to the top flight.
Season 2001–02
2001-02 in Scottish football
The 2001–02 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:Celtic, domestic treble winners a year earlier, retain their Premier League title....
was to be the player's most successful to date, as Livingston's first ever season in the SPL saw them finish in third place and qualify for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, with Fernández considered to be their key playmaker. His form prompted Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
manager Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
to spend £1 million to sign the Galician for the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
giants on a four year contract.
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 what turned out to be only Celtic goal against FK Suduva in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
on 3 October 2002. After a first season spent mainly on the bench, his future looked to lie away from Celtic, and he was loaned back to Livingston for a season. Thereafter he returned to Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
, but was almost totally confined to reserve team football in his final season at the club. In August 2005 he was released from his contract but remained in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, signing a three year contract with Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. However, following a change in management at the club, Fernández was informed by his new manager Craig Brewster
Craig Brewster
Craig James Brewster is a Scottish football player and coach. He made his name in a long and successful career playing as a striker for numerous clubs in Scotland, particularly Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers, Dundee United and Dunfermline Athletic...
in April 2006 that he would be allowed to leave the club at the end of the current season.
On 18 August 2006, Fernández agreed a severance package with United and promptly signed a two year contract with Kilmarnock. During a match on 29 October 2006, Gary Caldwell
Gary Caldwell
Gary Robert Caldwell is a Scottish footballer who is currently the captain of Wigan Athletic and also plays for the Scotland national football team....
of Celtic mistimed a tackle on Fernández, causing him to suffer a serious cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injury.
Fernández was released by Kilmarnock when his contract expired in May 2010.
In August of the same year, already back to La Coruña, David began to train with amateur team Club Silva SD while waiting for the call of some foreign team. In the meanwhile he will keep fit training with the amateur team and he is not planning to play for them in the Segunda Autonómica, seventh level in Spain. He has anyway already taken part in some friendly matches of the club. He plans to stay at Silva SD until December.