Fernando Hierro


Fernando Ruiz Hierro is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender, sweeper or defensive midfielder, and a coach.
He won five La Liga and three Champions League trophies with Real Madrid over 14 years after signing from Valladolid, during which he appeared in more than 500 official matches. He also competed professionally in Qatar and England.
Hierro represented Spain on nearly 90 occasions, appearing in four World Cups and two European Championships. He started working as a manager in 2016 with Oviedo, being appointed at the helm of the national team two years later.

Playing career

Club

Early years / Real Madrid

Hierro was born in Vélez-Málaga, Province of Málaga. After beginning his football career at local club Vélez CF he had a very brief youth spell with neighbouring CD Málaga, where he was told he was not good enough for the sport, which prompted a return home. He eventually made his La Liga debut with Real Valladolid, being bought by Real Madrid in the summer of 1989 after two solid seasons.
At Real, Hierro scored seven goals in 37 games in his first season, and eventually had his position on the field advanced by coach Radomir Antić, continuing his good performances with the addition of goals – in three seasons combined he netted an astonishing 44 league goals, 21 alone in 1991–92, a career-best. During years, he often partnered club great Manolo Sanchís in the centre of the defense, being instrumental in the conquest of five leagues and three UEFA Champions League trophies and being named captain after the latter's retirement.
On 24 March 2002, Hierro scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win against Real Zaragoza, although the ultimate leader would be Valencia CF. He was released at the end of the 2002–03 season alongside club manager Vicente del Bosque, under rather unceremonious circumstances; having appeared in 497 top division matches over the course of 16 seasons, he then chose a lucrative move to the wealthy but developing Middle East football industry, joining Qatar's Al Rayyan Sports Club.

Bolton

After just one year, Hierro returned to Europe to sign with Premier League side Bolton Wanderers on the advice of his English teammate at Real Madrid Steve McManaman, and teaming up with another former player of that club, Iván Campo. He scored once during his tenure, which came in a 2–3 loss at Norwich City in December 2004 and, even though hard-pressed by fans and manager Sam Allardyce to stay for a further campaign, he announced his retirement from professional football on 10 May 2005.

International

Hierro was capped 89 times for Spain and scored 29 goals, being only surpassed by Raúl, David Silva, Fernando Torres and David Villa. He made his debut on 20 September 1989 – freshly signed by Madrid – in a 1–0 friendly win with Poland in A Coruña, and appeared for the nation in the 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 1996 and 2000.
One of Hierro's most important goals came during the 1994 World Cup qualification, as he headed the winner against Denmark that allowed ten-men Spain to qualify for the final tournament in the United States. In the finals, he scored after an individual effort against Switzerland in the round of 16, before his team was eliminated by Italy in the quarter-finals following a 2–1 loss.

Coaching career

Although he had already been in charge for a few weeks, Hierro was officially presented as sporting director of the Royal Spanish Football Federation in late September 2007. He remained four years in the position.
Hierro returned to his native region in July 2011, being appointed Málaga CF's director of football. On 28 May 2012, even though the club finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League for the first time ever, he left his position.
On 10 July 2014, Hierro was named assistant coach of Real Madrid, replacing Zinedine Zidane – who left to take the reins of Real Madrid Castilla – in Carlo Ancelotti's staff. He was given his first full managerial role two years later, being appointed at Segunda División side Real Oviedo for the upcoming season with the option of a further year; on 14 June 2017, after missing out on the promotion playoffs on the final matchday, he left the Estadio Carlos Tartiere by mutual consent.
Hierro returned to the Royal Spanish Football Federation as sporting director on 27 November 2017. He was appointed as the manager of Spain on 13 June 2018 after the sacking of Julen Lopetegui two days before their first match at the World Cup, following the latter's decision to join Real Madrid after the tournament. Two days later, he led the team to a 3–3 group stage draw against Portugal; on 8 July, following a penalty shootout loss to hosts Russia in the round of 16, he stepped down from his post and also announced that he would not return to his role as sporting director.

Style of play

Equally at ease as a central defender, sweeper or defensive midfielder, Hierro had the ability, at his peak, to combine solid defensive play with a near-unlimited passing range and surprising goalscoring talent, which made him one of the world's most sought-after players. A large, physically imposing and intimidating defensive presence, he was also known for his positional sense, strength in the air, tenacity and the ability to time his challenges well.
Regarded as a highly competitive and hard-tackling defender, The Times placed Hierro at number 43 in their list of the 50 hardest footballers in history in 2007.

Personal life

Hierro's older brothers, Antonio and Manuel, were also professional footballers and defenders. The latter paired up with Fernando at Valladolid, as the club finished eighth in 1987–88.

Career statistics

Club

International statistics

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 December 1990Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain4–09–0Euro 1992 qualifying
2.19 February 1992Luís Casanova, Valencia, Spain1–11–1Friendly
3.11 March 1992Nuevo José Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain2–02–0Friendly
4.22 April 1992Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain3–03–01994 World Cup qualification
5.28 April 1993Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain3–13–11994 World Cup qualification
6.17 November 1993Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain1–01–01994 World Cup qualification
7.2 July 1994RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, United States1–03–01994 FIFA World Cup
8.17 December 1994Constant Vanden Stock, Brussels, Belgium1–11–4Euro 1996 qualifying
9.7 June 1995Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain1–0 1–0Euro 1996 qualifying
10.6 September 1995Nuevo Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain5–06–0Euro 1996 qualifying
11.11 October 1995Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark0–1 1–1Euro 1996 qualifying
12.4 September 1996Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands1–52–61998 World Cup qualification
13.13 November 1996Heliodoro Rodríguez López, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain4–14–11998 World Cup qualification
14.30 April 1997Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia0–1 1–11998 World Cup qualification
15.8 June 1997Nuevo José Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain1–0 1–01998 World Cup qualification
16.13 June 1998La Beaujoire, Nantes, France1–02–31998 FIFA World Cup
17.24 June 1998Félix-Bollaert, Lens, France1–0 6–11998 FIFA World Cup
18.14 October 1998Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel1–11–2Euro 2000 qualifying
19.27 March 1999Mestalla, Valencia, Spain4–0 9–0Euro 2000 qualifying
20.5 May 1999Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain2–1 3–1Friendly
21.5 June 1999El Madrigal, Villarreal, Spain1–09–0Euro 2000 qualifying
22.4 September 1999Ernst-Happel, Vienna, Austria1–21–3Euro 2000 qualifying
23.8 September 1999Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz, Spain8–08–0Euro 2000 qualifying
24.7 October 2000Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain2–02–02002 World Cup qualification
25.15 November 2000La Cartuja, Seville, Spain1–01–2Friendly
26.24 March 2001José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain3–0 5–02002 World Cup qualification
27.2 June 2001Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo, Spain1–04–12002 World Cup qualification
28.2 June 2002Gwangju World Cup Stadium, Gwangju, South Korea3–1 3–12002 FIFA World Cup
29.7 June 2002Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea3–1 3–12002 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Club

Real Madrid
Al Rayyan