Fernando Hierro

From Free net encyclopedia

Fernando Ruiz Hierro (born March 23rd 1968 in Vélez-Málaga) is a former Spanish football (soccer) player. He played as a defender, and sometimes as a defensive midfielder for the Spain and Real Madrid. He was also the captain of both teams. At his peak, Hierro's ability to combine solid defensive play with a near-unlimited passing range made him one of the world's most sought-after players.

With Real Madrid, Hierro won the La Liga championship five times and the UEFA Champions League three times: 1998, 2000, and 2002.

He was released by Real Madrid at the end of the 2002-03 season under rather unceremonious circumstances and without proper fanfare normally accorded to a player of his stature at the club. Hierro then chose a lucrative move to the wealthy but developing middle east football industry. After playing for one year for Qatar club Al Rayyan, Hierro returned to Europe for the 2004-05 season, signing with English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers on the advice of his English team-mate at Real Madrid, Steve McManaman. He announced his retirement after one season in England and finished playing football on May 15th 2005. Hierro had made a great impact at Bolton playing in an anchor midfield role and consigning compatriot Ivan Campo to bench duty and manager Sam Allardyce would have loved him to stay on but Hierro had made up his mind to hang up his boots.

Hierro has been capped 89 times for Spain, a record for a Spanish outfield player, and has scored 29 goals. He played for his country in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups, as well as Euro 96 and Euro 2000. At the time of the 2002 World Cup, he was the leading goalscorer for the Spanish national team. He retired from the national team in 2002 and was since replaced both as captain and as leading goalscorer by Raúl.

His brother Manuel also a footballer, played for FC Barcelona. Now the coach of Málaga CF.

Quote

"I think the Premiership is fantastic. I can't express how great it is - the atmosphere, the fans, how they play football, I love everything I've seen. I feel like I definitely had the right idea coming here, because I have seen things I never would have seen if I hadn't come."de:Fernando Hierro

es:Fernando Hierro fr:Fernando Hierro it:Fernando Hierro he:פרננדו היירו nl:Fernando Hierro ja:フェルナンド・イエロ fi:Fernando Hierro sv:Fernando Hierro