Fabrice Fernandes
Encyclopedia
Fabrice Fernandes is a French
former football
er who played for several clubs, most particularly Southampton
.
. He played for the France national under-21 football team
, impressing the likes of Rangers
in the process, for whom he joined on loan in March 2001, scoring on his debut for the club, from 20 yards out against Motherwell
.
In December 2001, he moved to Southampton
, making his debut in a defeat to Leeds United
, and played in many games during the season, despite sometimes being hit with injury. He picked up an FA Cup runners-up medal in season 2002-03, and had a solid 2003-04, at the end of which he was offered a new contract to run to 2006.
However, after Southampton were relegated to the Championship under manager Harry Redknapp
at the end of the 2004-05 season, Fernandes negotiated for release from his contract. The Saints needed to reduce their payroll and engaged the services of agent Willie McKay
to find a new club for him. Allegedly, McKay was paid a fee of £30,000 by Southampton for his services. This transfer is amongst those being scrutinised by the Stevens
enquiry into corruption in English football. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1938488,00.html
Sam Allardyce
snapped him up for free at the end of August 2005 and he made his debut for Bolton in their first ever UEFA Cup game against Lokomotiv Plovdiv at the Reebok Stadium
.
In February 2006 Fernandes moved to play in Israel
for Beitar Jerusalem, the club owned by Arcadi Gaydamak
, the father of Portsmouth
owner Alexandre Gaydamak
. After leaving the Jerusalem club he has had trial spells with Stoke City
and Dunfermline Athletic
.
In 2007 he was playing for Dinamo Bucharest (Romania
) in the Romanian First League, but was released. From there he joined Le Havre
.
Dinamo Bucuresti
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played for several clubs, most particularly Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Playing career
He first joined an English team in 2000, after signing a season-long loan deal at FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. He played for the France national under-21 football team
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, impressing the likes of Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the process, for whom he joined on loan in March 2001, scoring on his debut for the club, from 20 yards out against Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
In December 2001, he moved to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, making his debut in a defeat to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, and played in many games during the season, despite sometimes being hit with injury. He picked up an FA Cup runners-up medal in season 2002-03, and had a solid 2003-04, at the end of which he was offered a new contract to run to 2006.
However, after Southampton were relegated to the Championship under manager Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
at the end of the 2004-05 season, Fernandes negotiated for release from his contract. The Saints needed to reduce their payroll and engaged the services of agent Willie McKay
Willie McKay
Willie McKay is a Scottish football agent based in Monaco. He is the agent of many top-level footballers, mainly based in England and France - specifically the Premier League...
to find a new club for him. Allegedly, McKay was paid a fee of £30,000 by Southampton for his services. This transfer is amongst those being scrutinised by the Stevens
John Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington
John Arthur Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington KStJ QPM DL FRSA was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2000 until 2005. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Constable of Northumbria Police before being appointed one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary in September 1996...
enquiry into corruption in English football. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1938488,00.html
Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
snapped him up for free at the end of August 2005 and he made his debut for Bolton in their first ever UEFA Cup game against Lokomotiv Plovdiv at the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
.
In February 2006 Fernandes moved to play in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for Beitar Jerusalem, the club owned by Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak, is a Russian-Israeli businessman, who was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour. On April 29, 2011 the Court of Appeal in Paris acquitted him of charges of arms dealing...
, the father of Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
owner Alexandre Gaydamak
Alexandre Gaydamak
Alexandre "Sacha" Gaydamak is a French businessman of Russian Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and also holds an Israeli passport. A member of the wealthy Gaydamak family, he is the son of Arcadi Gaydamak....
. After leaving the Jerusalem club he has had trial spells with Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
.
In 2007 he was playing for Dinamo Bucharest (Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) in the Romanian First League, but was released. From there he joined Le Havre
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist - 2003
Dinamo Bucuresti
- Liga ILiga I 2006-07The 2006-07 season of the Romanian Liga I began on July 28, 2006 and ended on May 23, 2007.-Clubs:Eighteen teams played in the Liga I 2006-07...
- 2007