Matías Fernández (footballer, born 1986)

Fernández began with the youth squads of Colo-Colo at the age of 12. His debut in the Primera División came on 1 August 2004 against Club Universidad de Chile, and a week later he scored his first two goals, against Cobresal.

Fernández would go on to net a total of eight goals in the 2004 Clausura, and was named best young player of the season. In the 2006 Apertura he helped his team capture their 24th title and, in December of the same year, he helped them reach the final of the Copa Sudamericana, lost to C.F. Pachuca of Mexico, by scoring nine times in six games for the tournament. He left on a high note, winning the 2006 Clausura tournament and the South American Footballer of the Year award.

In late October 2006, Fernández was signed by Spanish club Villarreal CF for a fee of €8.7 million, joining compatriot Manuel Pellegrini who was the coach.[3] The transaction was made before he received the "South American Player of the Year" award and, despite reports that Real Madrid and Chelsea were also interested, he agreed to terms and arrived at the Valencia airport on 27 December; on 7 January 2007 he made his La Liga debut in a 0–1 home loss against Valencia CF,[4] scoring his first competitive goal three months later in the 3–0 league win at Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[5]

Despite having had a buyout clause of €50 million inserted in his contract, Fernández failed to achieve significant playing time during his first three seasons, but still contributed 30 matches and three goals in 2007–08 as the side finished a best-ever runners-up. On 10 May 2009, he scored from a penalty kick in a 3–3 away draw against eventual champions FC Barcelona.[6]

On 1 July 2009, after being deemed surplus to requirements by new Villarreal manager Ernesto Valverde, Fernández joined Sporting CP on a four-year contract, for €3.65 million,[7] with a further €500,000 payable depending on appearances. Villarreal would retain 20% of the profit on any future sale of the player.[8]

Fernández scored his first goal for his new team on 27 October 2009, in a 1–1 draw at Vitória de Guimarães,[9] adding another the following week also in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, at home against C.S. Marítimo (again 1–1).[10] In the UEFA Europa League he netted once more, in injury time of the Lions' 3–0 victory over Everton in the round of 16 (4–2 on aggregate).[11]

Fernández remained an important attacking unit in 2011–12, under both Domingos Paciência and his successor Ricardo Sá Pinto. He scored three of his four league goals against U.D. Leiria, two in the 3–1 home win[12] and the game's only in the second match through a free kick in the 101st minute – the game had been interrupted for nine minutes due to floodlights malfunction.[13]

On 27 July 2012, Fernández transferred to Italian club ACF Fiorentina for about €3.1 million, plus €1.5 million bonuses.[14][15] During his spell at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, he was consistently bothered by physical problems.[16]

Fernández moved to fellow Serie A team AC Milan on 31 August 2016, on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.[17] He made his debut on 6 November, coming off the bench in the 2–1 away victory over U.S. Città di Palermo.[18]

On 4 September 2017, free agent Fernández signed with Club Necaxa.[19][20] On 4 February 2019 he joined Categoría Primera A defending champions Atlético Junior on a one-year contract,[21] scoring a late equaliser on his debut 12 days later after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 1–1 home draw with Rionegro Águilas; he was named player of the match.[22]

On 18 December 2019, Fernández returned to Colo-Colo by agreeing to a one-year deal with the option for a further season.[23] The 36-year-old announced his retirement on 14 February 2023, after 11 months in the same league with Deportes La Serena.[24][25]

As of match played 16 February 2019[37]