Roberto Fernández
Encyclopedia
Roberto Eladio Fernández Roa (born 29 July 1956 in Asunción
) is a retired football goalkeeper from Paraguay
. He was capped 78 times for the Paraguay national football team
in an international career that lasted from 1976 to 1989. He was also a member of the Paraguayan team that won the 1979 Copa América
. He earned the nickname "El Gato" (The Cat) for his outstanding stretching saves.
, Deportivo Cali
, RCD Espanyol
Internacional
and Palmeiras
. He made his international debut for the Paraguay national football team
on 10 March 1976 in a Copa del Atlántico match against Uruguay
(2-2).
Fernández played his final professional game in 1997 (Cerro Porteño vs. Sportivo Luqueño) at the age of 43`, making him the oldest goalkeeper to play professionally in Paraguayan football history.
.
During the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Fernández started for Paraguay in all four games. He stopped a penalty kick from Mexican Hugo Sánchez
to hold the host team to a 1-1 draw.
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
) is a retired football goalkeeper from Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. He was capped 78 times for the Paraguay national football team
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
in an international career that lasted from 1976 to 1989. He was also a member of the Paraguayan team that won the 1979 Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
. He earned the nickname "El Gato" (The Cat) for his outstanding stretching saves.
Club career
Fernández began his career, debuting professionally, at the age of 17 for Club River Plate of Paraguay. Some of his clubs include Cerro PorteñoCerro Porteño
Club Cerro Porteño is a professional Paraguayan football club, based in the neighbourhood of Barrio Obrero in Asunción. Founded in 1912, Cerro has won 28 Primera División titles and is one of the most popular football club in Paraguay...
, Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
, RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
and Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
. He made his international debut for the Paraguay national football team
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
on 10 March 1976 in a Copa del Atlántico match against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
(2-2).
Fernández played his final professional game in 1997 (Cerro Porteño vs. Sportivo Luqueño) at the age of 43`, making him the oldest goalkeeper to play professionally in Paraguayan football history.
International career
During the late seventies to the mid to late 80's, his only challenger in goal for the Paraguayan national team was Ever Hugo Almeida. Finally, in the late 80's, Fernández became the back-up to Jose Luis ChilavertJosé Luis Chilavert
José Luis Félix Chilavert González is a Paraguayan former football player who played as a goalkeeper. He was a three-time IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award winner....
.
During the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Fernández started for Paraguay in all four games. He stopped a penalty kick from Mexican Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez Márquez , popularly nicknamed Pentapichichi, or Hugol, is a Mexican football coach and former striker. He played for four European clubs, including Real Madrid. Sanchez is considered the first highly talented Mexican player. He was also a member of the Mexico national team, and...
to hold the host team to a 1-1 draw.
Retirement
After retiring, Fernández dedicated himself to working as a board of director at his original club (River Plate of Paraguay), and representing other footballers. His son, Roberto "Gatito" Fernandez, is a professional goalkeeper, currently in the registry of the Racing Club of Argentina.External links
- International statistics at rsssf
- playerhistory