David Fernández (footballer, born 1976)

David Fernández Miramontes (born 20 January 1976) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently a scout.

For other people named David Fernández, see David Fernández (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Miramontes.

David Fernández
Fernández before a game with Kilmarnock in 2009
Personal information
Full name David Fernández Miramontes
Date of birth (1976-01-20) 20 January 1976
Place of birth A Coruña, Spain
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Liceo
Ural
1990–1994 Deportivo La Coruña
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1999 Deportivo B 70 (20)
1995–2000 Deportivo La Coruña 42 (3)
1997–1998 → Sevilla (loan) 7 (0)
1999–2000 → Toledo (loan) 35 (7)
2000–2001 Airdrie 20 (7)
2001–2002 Livingston 41 (8)
2002–2005 Celtic 11 (0)
2003–2004 → Livingston (loan) 27 (3)
2005–2006 Dundee United 30 (5)
2006–2010 Kilmarnock 82 (5)
Total 365 (58)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He began his career with Deportivo de La Coruña, but spent most of it 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 La Coruña. In 1995, he helped the reserves promote to Segunda División B,[1] then was immediately promoted to the first team by manager John Toshack, making his competitive debut in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie against APOEL in Cyprus, on 14 September (0–0).[2] His first La Liga appearance took place on 26 November, as he again came on as a substitute for Txiki Begiristain midway through the second half of the 3–1 home win over Real Valladolid.[3]

Fernández finished his first season with Depor with 26 official matches and four goals, three of those coming within less than one month: against Real Sociedad (1–1 home draw),[4] Atlético Madrid (2–2, home)[5] and Real Zaragoza (1–0 Cup Winners' Cup victory).[6] 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 relegation, after which he was released by Deportivo.[7]

Scotland

In the 2000 off-season, former 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.[8][9] 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 Javier Sánchez Broto) was signed up by another club in that level, Livingston, who were on the verge of promotion to the Premier League.[10] He was cup-tied for the latter's appearance in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.[11]

In the 2001–02 season, Fernández featured prominently as the Livi Lions finished in third place and subsequently qualified for the UEFA Cup.[12] His form prompted Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to spend £1 million to sign him for the Glasgow giants, on a four-year contract.[13]

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 only goal for the team against Sūduva Marijampolė in the UEFA Cup, on 3 October 2002.[14] After a first season spent almost exclusively on the bench,[15] his future looked to lie away from Celtic, and he was loaned back to Livingston for 2003–04,[16] where he was part of the side that won the League Cup after beating Hibernian 2–0.[17]

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, agreeing to a three-year deal at Dundee United.[18] 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 at the end of the season.[19]

On 18 August 2006, Fernández agreed a severance package with United and promptly joined Kilmarnock on a two-year contract.[20] 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.[21]

Fernández was released by Kilmarnock when his contract expired in May 2010.[22] The 34-year-old subsequently returned to A Coruña, training with amateurs Silva SD to keep fit.[23]

Post-retirement

In summer 2012, Fernández was appointed as scout at Premier League side Manchester City.[24]

Honours

Deportivo

Airdrieonians

Celtic

Livingston

Kilmarnock

References
  1. "Historia del Fabril" [History of Fabril] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  2. Staramopoulos, Manos (15 September 1995). "El Depor va a lo seguro y empata" [Depor play it safe and draw]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. "Deportivo, 3 – Valladolid, 1". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 27 November 1995. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  4. Ríos, Xoan (19 February 1996). "La Real tampoco falia en Riazor" [Real also do not fail at Riazor]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  5. Ríos, Xoan (4 March 1996). "Otra polémica" [Another controversy]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  6. Ríos, Xoan (8 March 1996). "Decisivo David" [Decisive David]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. Centeno, Alexandre (2 June 2003). "David, en escocés Fernández" [David, Fernández in Scottish]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  8. "Archibald's new boys share Latin rhythm at Dens Park". The Scotsman. 31 July 2000. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  9. Domin, Martin (June 2017). "What became of the Airdrie Spanish Armada?". Nutmeg Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. "Spaniard snapped up by Livingston". The Scotsman. 1 April 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  11. "Kharine no go for Livvy". BBC Sport. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  12. Temple, Alan (22 May 2018). "Jim Leishman, the man who guided Livingston into Europe, reckons David Hopkin is 'worth his weight in gold' for the Lions". Deadline News. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  13. "Celtic sign Fernandez". BBC Sport. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  14. "Celtic stroll into second round". BBC Sport. 3 October 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  15. "Fernandez fears for future". BBC Sport. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  16. "Fernandez back at Livi". BBC Sport. 30 August 2003. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  17. "Livingston lift CIS Cup". BBC Sport. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  18. "Fernandez moves on to Tannadice". BBC Sport. 12 August 2005. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  19. "Tannadice trio told to leave club". BBC Sport. 10 April 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  20. "Kilmarnock wrap up Fernandez deal". BBC Sport. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  21. "Fernandez is facing 10 months out". BBC Sport. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  22. "Fernandez considers quitting football after Kilmarnock exit". STV News. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  23. García, David (13 August 2010). "El ex deportivista David Fernández se ejercita con el Silva" [Former Deportivo player David Fernández trains with Silva]. La Opinión A Coruña (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  24. Castles, Duncan (4 August 2012). "Mancini still keen to get De Rossi at Manchester City". The National. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  25. "Airdrie lift Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 19 November 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  26. "Porto end Celtic's UEFA dream". BBC Sport. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  27. "Livvy wrap up the title". BBC Sport. 28 April 2001. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
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