David Fernández

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David Fernández

Personal information
Full name	David Fernández Miramontes
Date of birth	20 January 1976 (1976-01-20) (age 35)
Place of birth	A Coruña, Spain
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–2000	Deportivo	42	(3)
1997–1998	→ Sevilla (loan)	8	(0)
1999–2000	→ Toledo (loan)	35	(7)
2000–2001	Airdrieonians	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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 May 2010. † Appearances (Goals).

David Fernández Miramontes (born January 20, 1976 in A Coruña, Galicia) is a Spanish footballer. Fernández began his career with his hometown club of Deportivo, but has spent most of his career in Scottish football. He had a successful spell with Livingston, which earned Fernández a £1M move to Celtic. Fernández failed to establish himself at Celtic, however, and has since played for Livingston (on loan), Dundee United and Kilmarnock.

Career

Spain

Fernández began his career with the local Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña. In 1995, he was part of the Deportivo B team that won promotion to Second Division B, and was then brought in to the first team by coach John Toshack, making his debut in a UEFA Cup tie against APOEL FC in Cyprus that September. He scored four goals for Deportivo in that 1995/1996 season, all of them being important and within 2 months: during a 1–1 home draw with Real Sociedad, a 2–2 home draw with Atlético Madrid, a 1–0 UEFA Cup home win against Real Zaragoza and a 2–3 Liga away win at that same Zaragoza.

But Fernández was unable to break through to a regular starting place, leading to him being loaned out to Sevilla FC in 1996/1997. This move failed to work out, and the player returned to Depor to find himself further out of contention. After another loan spell during the 1999–2000 season, with CD Toledo, he was released by Deportivo and was looking for a new start to revitalise his career.

Scotland

In the summer of 2000, former FC Barcelona and Scotland striker 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 Archibald's offer. 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, Fernández (along with teammate Javier Sánchez Broto) was signed up by another First Division side, Livingston, who were on the verge of promotion to the top flight.

Season 2001–02 was to be the player's most successful to date, as Livingston's first ever season in the SPL saw them finish in third place and qualify for the UEFA Cup, with Fernández considered to be their key playmaker. His form prompted Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to spend £1 million to sign the Galician for the Glasgow giants on a four year contract.

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 first and what turned out to be only Celtic goal against FK Suduva in the UEFA Cup on 3 October 2002.^[1] After a first season spent mainly on the bench, his future looked to lie away from Celtic, and he was loaned back to Livingston for a season. Thereafter he returned to Celtic Park, but was almost totally confined to reserve team football in his final season at the club. In August 2005 he was released from his contract but remained in Scotland, signing a three year contract with Dundee United. However, following a change in management at the club, Fernández was informed by his new manager Craig Brewster in April 2006 that he would be allowed to leave the club at the end of the current season.^[2]

On 18 August 2006, Fernández agreed a severance package with United and promptly signed a two year contract with Kilmarnock. During a match on 29 October 2006, Gary Caldwell of Celtic mistimed a tackle on Fernández, causing him to suffer a serious cruciate ligament injury.^[3]

Fernández was released by Kilmarnock when his contract expired in May 2010.^[4]

In August of the same year, already back to La Coruña, David began to train with amateur team Club Silva SD while waiting for the call of some foreign team. In the meanwhile he will keep fit training with the amateur team and he is not planning to play for them in the Segunda Autonómica, seventh level in Spain. He has anyway already taken part in some friendly matches of the club. He plans to stay at Silva SD until December.^[5]

Honours

• UEFA Cup Runner-up 2002–03

References

1. ^ "Celtic stroll into second round". BBC. 3 October 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/uefa_cup/2291685.stm. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
2. ^ "Tannadice trio told to leave club". BBC News. 10 April 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/4897128.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
3. ^ "Fernandez is facing 10 months out". BBC News. 30 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/6096976.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
4. ^ "Fernandez considers quitting football after Kilmarnock exit". STV. 27 May 2010. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/kilmarnock/180014-fernandez-considers-quitting-football-after-kilmarnock-exit/. Retrieved 29 July 2010. 
5. ^ "Former Deportivo player David Fernández trains with Silva". La Opinión La Coruña. 13 August 2010. http://www.laopinioncoruna.es/deportes/2010/08/13/ex-deportivista-david-fernandez-ejercita-silva/410308.html. Retrieved 3 September 2010. 

External links

• David Fernández career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Fernandez, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	20 January 1976
Place of birth	A Coruña, Spain
Date of death
Place of death