Fernando Martínez Perales
Encyclopedia
Fernando Martínez Perales (born 21 May 1967), aka Nando, is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a left defender.
In his career, the majority of which was spent at Valencia CF
and Deportivo de La Coruña
, he played in 412 games in 14 senior seasons in the top-two tiers of Spanish football
.
, but moved across town to Valencia CF
after helping the team to promotion from the fourth division
in 1987. An offensive-minded fullback who started his career as a midfielder
, he spent five seasons at Valencia, but he started less frequently in his final two years, following the Ches signing of Brazil
ian Leonardo
.
Nando joined Deportivo de La Coruña
on a free transfer in the summer of 1992, which also saw Bebeto
, Mauro Silva
and Adolfo Aldana
arrive at the Riazor Stadium. During his spell, the Galician side began its rise to Super Depor fame, winning its first two trophies – the domestic Cup
and Supercup
, both in 1995 – which were the player's first and only honours.
Following the arrival of John Toshack
as Deportivo manager in 1995, Nando once again found himself increasingly on the sidelines. Although he regained first-choice status for the 1996–97 season, he lost his place to Frenchman
Jérôme Bonnissel
in the following campaign, and left for second division
side Sevilla FC
in January 1998, after five-and-a-half years and more than 200 official appearances.
Nando helped the Andalusia
club promote to La Liga
in his first full season, but suffered immediate relegation back in a campaign in which he played in 30 league games, and met the same fate in the following year, with second level outfit SD Compostela
, after which he retired from professional football, aged 34, going on to play at amateur level with Atlético Arteixo
.
on 14 September 1988, in a 1–2 friendly
loss to Yugoslavia
, in Oviedo
.
His second – and final – appearance came four-and-a-half years later in a 1–1 draw with Mexico
, another friendly, which was played in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a left defender.
In his career, the majority of which was spent at Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
and Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, he played in 412 games in 14 senior seasons in the top-two tiers of Spanish football
Spanish football league system
The Spanish football league system refers to the system in Spanish club football that consists of several football leagues bound together hierarchically by promotion and relegation.-Primera División:...
.
Club career
Born in Valencia, Nando began his career with local Levante UDLevante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, but moved across town to Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
after helping the team to promotion from the fourth division
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
in 1987. An offensive-minded fullback who started his career as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, he spent five seasons at Valencia, but he started less frequently in his final two years, following the Ches signing of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Leonardo
Leonardo Araújo
Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo, known as Leonardo , is a football manager and a former midfielder. He is currently active as director of football of French club Paris Saint-Germain....
.
Nando joined Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
on a free transfer in the summer of 1992, which also saw Bebeto
Bebeto
José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, known as 'Bebeto', is a former football forward, a World Champion for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup...
, Mauro Silva
Mauro Silva
Mauro da Silva Gomes , simply Silva, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a defensive midfielder....
and Adolfo Aldana
Adolfo Aldana
Adolfo Aldana Torres is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a right midfielder.-Club career:...
arrive at the Riazor Stadium. During his spell, the Galician side began its rise to Super Depor fame, winning its first two trophies – the domestic Cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
and Supercup
Supercopa de España
The Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
, both in 1995 – which were the player's first and only honours.
Following the arrival of John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
as Deportivo manager in 1995, Nando once again found himself increasingly on the sidelines. Although he regained first-choice status for the 1996–97 season, he lost his place to Frenchman
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Jérôme Bonnissel
Jérôme Bonnissel
Jérôme Bonnissel is a French former football left defender.Bonnissel started his career with hometown club Montpellier HSC, and proceeded to spend three seasons in La Liga with Deportivo de La Coruña....
in the following campaign, and left for second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
side Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
in January 1998, after five-and-a-half years and more than 200 official appearances.
Nando helped the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
club promote to La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
in his first full season, but suffered immediate relegation back in a campaign in which he played in 30 league games, and met the same fate in the following year, with second level outfit SD Compostela
SD Compostela
Sociedade Deportiva Compostela also known as Compostela is a Spanish football team based in Santiago de Compostela, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded on 26 June 1962, it currently plays in Preferente Autonómica.-History:...
, after which he retired from professional football, aged 34, going on to play at amateur level with Atlético Arteixo
Atlético Arteixo
Club Atlético Arteixo is a Spanish football team based in Arteixo, A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1949, it currently plays in Primeira Autonómica, holding home games at Estadio Ponte dos Brozos, with a capacity of 2,000 spectators.In 2004–05, after four seasons in...
.
International career
Nando made his international debut for SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
on 14 September 1988, in a 1–2 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
loss to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
, in Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
.
His second – and final – appearance came four-and-a-half years later in a 1–1 draw with Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, another friendly, which was played in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria commonly known as Las Palmas is the political capital, jointly with Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half of the people of the island...
.