Luis Fernández Gutiérrez
Encyclopedia
Luis Fernández Gutiérrez (born 29 September 1972 in Argomilla, Cantabria
) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a left defender.
In a professional career which spanned almost 20 years, he is best known for his spell at Real Betis
(also represented Racing de Santander
), in which he played one full decade.
, Fernández made his La Liga
debut for local giants Racing de Santander
against Atlético Madrid, on 24 May 1994. He featured in more than 50 league games before being transferred to Real Betis
for the 1996–97 season.
At Betis, he consistently appeared as the side's main left back for 10 years, and featured in the UEFA Champions League
for the Seville
club in 2005–06, after contributing with 22 league appearances in the previous campaign
.
Aged 34, Fernández returned to his first club, Racing Santander, for 2006–07, appearing in 19 contests in his second year, as the Cantabria
outfit achieved a first-ever UEFA Cup qualification; on 19 April 2009, as he was nothing more than a fringe player at Racing, he appeared in his 300th first division match, a 0–1 loss at RCD Espanyol
, and retired in the summer, aged 37, continuing to work with the club as a scout in the following seasons.
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
) is a retired Spanish
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 a professional career which spanned almost 20 years, he is best known for his spell at Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
(also represented Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
), in which he played one full decade.
Club career
After making his professional starts with lowly Gimnástica de TorrelavegaGimnástica de Torrelavega
Real Sociedad Gimnástica de Torrelavega is a Spanish football team based in Torrelavega, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded on September 28, 1907, it is the oldest football club in the region, and currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2, holding home matches at Estadio El...
, Fernández made his 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...
debut for local giants Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
against Atlético Madrid, on 24 May 1994. He featured in more than 50 league games before being transferred to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
for the 1996–97 season.
At Betis, he consistently appeared as the side's main left back for 10 years, and featured in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
for the Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
club in 2005–06, after contributing with 22 league appearances in the previous campaign
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
.
Aged 34, Fernández returned to his first club, Racing Santander, for 2006–07, appearing in 19 contests in his second year, as the Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
outfit achieved a first-ever UEFA Cup qualification; on 19 April 2009, as he was nothing more than a fringe player at Racing, he appeared in his 300th first division match, a 0–1 loss at RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, and retired in the summer, aged 37, continuing to work with the club as a scout in the following seasons.