Sergio Fernández (footballer, born 1977)

Sergio Fernández González (born 23 May 1977), known simply as Sergio, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender.

For the Argentine rower, see Sergio Fernández González (rower).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is González.

Sergio
Sergio during the 2012 European Match Day Against Hunger
Personal information
Full name Sergio Fernández González
Date of birth (1977-05-23) 23 May 1977
Place of birth Avilés, Spain
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1992–1994 Sporting Gijón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1996 Sporting Gijón B 51 (2)
1996–1999 Sporting Gijón 84 (2)
1999–2006 Celta 130 (4)
2006–2008 Zaragoza 55 (1)
2008–2012 Osasuna 81 (4)
2012 Sporting Gijón 1 (0)
Total 402 (13)
International career
1997–2000 Spain U21 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In 16 years as a professional, he played mainly for Celta and Osasuna, starting and ending his career with Sporting de Gijón. He appeared in 295 La Liga matches over 15 seasons, scoring nine goals.

Club career

A tall, lanky defender, Sergio was born in Avilés, Asturias, and emerged through Sporting de Gijón's youth system, making his first appearance for the main squad on 7 January 1996 in a 3–2 home win against UD Salamanca.[1] He would play three further seasons as first choice, with the club being relegated from La Liga in 1998.

Sergio joined RC Celta de Vigo in the summer of 1999, being a somewhat important defensive figure in the Galicians' domestic and European consolidation. After relegation at the end of the 2003–04 campaign (19 games played), he contributed with one goal in a 2–1 home victory over Xerez CD on 9 January 2005 as the side eventually returned to the top division, and continued to appear prominently as they immediately achieved a UEFA Cup position.[2]

Sergio moved to Real Zaragoza for 2006–07, reuniting with former Celta manager Víctor Fernández and teammate Juanfran[3] and playing 28 matches en route to another sixth place in the league, which again led to the UEFA Cup. However, in spite of his late equaliser against Real Madrid on 11 May 2008, in a 2–2 home draw, the Aragonese were relegated at the end of his second year.[4]

In mid-November 2008, Sergio signed with CA Osasuna until the end of the top-flight season, as the Navarrese lost Rovérsio for its duration due to a serious knee injury in a Copa del Rey tie against Getafe CF. He received the Brazilian's No. 16 jersey.[5]

The veteran continued to be regularly used the following years, under both José Antonio Camacho and his successor José Luis Mendilibar.[6] On 6 March 2011, he headed home a 92nd-minute corner kick in a 1–0 away defeat of Málaga CF in what was his team's first away win of the campaign.[7]

On 20 June 2012, after having contributed one goal[8] from 20 appearances to help Osasuna retain their league status, the 35-year-old Sergio signed for two years with former club Sporting, in turn relegated to the second division.[9] Only four months later, however, he decided to retire due to a chronic injury.[10]

References
  1. El Sporting respira (Sporting breathe); Mundo Deportivo, 8 January 1996 (in Spanish)
  2. SERGIO FERNÁNDEZ; Yo Jugué en el Celta, 1 May 2008 (in Spanish)
  3. Fernández lands former charges; UEFA, 3 July 2006
  4. Real Zaragoza 2–2 Real Madrid; ESPN Soccernet, 11 May 2008
  5. Osasuna llega a un acuerdo por Sergio Fernández (Osasuna reach agreement for Sergio Fernández); CA Osasuna, 19 November 2008 (in Spanish)
  6. Sergio: "Mendilibar unió a afición y equipo" (Sergio: "Mendilibar united fans and team"); Marca, 20 October 2011 (in Spanish)
  7. Fernandez breaks Osasuna duck in dramatic style; ESPN Soccernet, 6 March 2011
  8. El Reyno de la alegría (Kingdom ("Reyno" in English, pun on ground's name) of joy); Marca, 18 December 2011 (in Spanish)
  9. Sergio Fernández presentado oficialmente en Mareo (Sergio Fernández officially presented in Mareo); Sporting Gijón, 26 June 2012 (in Spanish)
  10. Sergio Fernández decide dejar el fútbol (Sergio Fernández decides to quit football); Sporting Gijón, 21 October 2012 (in Spanish)
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