Fernando Gómez (footballer, born 1965)


Fernando Gómez Colomer, 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 score more than 100 official goals and working with the club in directorial capacities following his retirement.
Fernando represented Spain at the 1990 World Cup.

Club career

Born in Valencia, Fernando spent the vast majority of his career at hometown's Valencia CF, representing them during 15 seasons as a senior. He would garner a reputation as an outstanding playmaker who boasted an exceptional scoring record from midfield, also being team captain; he played a club record 421 La Liga matches for the Che, and also ranked as the fourth-highest scorer with 142 goals in all competitions.
Fernando made his debut with the main squad on 15 January 1984 in a 1–2 away loss against Real Valladolid, after moving up from the B-side CD Mestalla. He truly came to the forefront in 1986–87 as the team won promotion back from Segunda División at the first attempt; 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.
Fernando won the Don Balón's Best Spanish Player Award for 1988–89, and broke into the Spanish national team later that year. He finally left the Mestalla Stadium in August 1998, to join English First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers on a free transfer; he returned to Spain after only one year, signing with Segunda División B's CD Castellón also in the Valencian Community.
After another sole season, Fernando retired in 2000 at the age of nearly 35. He remained at the club as director of football, switching afterwards to sports commentator on both radio and television. In July 2008, however, he returned to Valencia again as sporting director, leaving the post two years later.

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 Cup qualifiers, closing the score in Seville. 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.
Fernando had earlier represented the nation at youth level in the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship, finishing joint-top scorer with three goals en route to the final.

Honours

Club

Valencia
Spain U20