Fernando Gómez Colomer (born 11 September 1965), known simply as Fernando, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
His professional career was closely connected to Valencia with which he made his La Liga debut at the age of 18, going on to make a record 556 appearances and score 142 official goals. He worked with the club in directorial capacities following his retirement.[1]
Born in Valencia, Fernando spent the vast majority of his career at hometown's Valencia CF, representing them for 15 seasons as a senior. He would garner a reputation as an outstanding playmaker who boasted an exceptional scoring record from midfield (he scored 14 league goals twice, ten three times), also being team captain; he played a club-record 420 La Liga matches, and also ranked as the fourth-highest scorer with 142 goals in all competitions.[2][3]
Fernando made his debut with the main squad on 15 January 1984 in a 2–1 away loss against Real Valladolid,[4] after moving up from the reserves CD Mestalla. He truly came to the forefront in 1986–87 as the team won promotion back from the Segunda División at the first attempt;[5] aside from this campaign he spent all of his spell with Valencia in the top flight, where he twice finished second in the championship, also helping to a runner-up finish in the Copa del Rey of 1995.[6]
Fernando began managing already in his 50s, at CF Torre Levante in the Tercera División. He resigned in September 2016 with the team in eighth, calling the situation "unsustainable".[11] The following July, he joined UD Alzira in the same league,[12] and received a one-year extension in June 2018.[13]
A seven-game winless run ending with four straight defeats saw Fernando dismissed in November 2018.[14] After a season at UD Benigànim, another local amateur side, he became sporting director at Castellón in June 2021.[15]
International career
Fernando earned eight caps and scored two goals for Spain, making his international debut on 15 November 1989 in a 4–0 win against Hungary for the 1990 FIFA World Cupqualifiers, closing the score in Seville.[16] He was subsequently selected for the squad that competed in the finals in Italy, where he made a substitute appearance in the 3–1 group stage victory over South Korea.[17]
Fernando's father was head of a university department, while his brothers became a law professor and a doctor, respectively. His sons followed him into football, but did not turn professional.[19] For his studious background, he was nicknamed "El Catedrático" (The Professor).[20]
In April 2011, Fernando was recruited by the People's Party in Chiva, Valencia to run as number 3 on their list for the local elections.[21] After serving one term as the councillor in charge of sports, he did not run for re-election in 2015.[22]
^Astruells, Andrés (16 November 1989). "El remate de una gran faena" [Icing on tasty cake]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 May 2014.
^Guasch, Tomás (18 June 1990). "Victoria para la rehabilitación" [Win for rehabilitation]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 May 2014.
^ abDíez, Óscar (1 November 2014). "España en los mundiales sub'20: URSS 1985" [Spain in the under'20 World Cups: USSR 1985] (in Spanish). Cuadernos de Fútbol. Retrieved 14 June 2018.