Víctor (footballer, born 1974) explained

Víctor
Upright:0.9
Fullname:Víctor Manuel Fernández Gutiérrez
Birth Date:17 April 1974
Birth Place:Mérida, Spain
Height:1.65 m
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Leganés
Years1:1993
Caps1:12
Goals1:2
Years2:1993–1994
Caps2:20
Goals2:5
Years3:1994–1996
Caps3:16
Goals3:2
Years4:1996
Clubs4:Toledo (loan)
Caps4:20
Goals4:10
Years5:1996–2000
Caps5:133
Goals5:38
Years6:2000–2004
Caps6:131
Goals6:39
Years7:2004–2009
Caps7:169
Goals7:52
Years8:2009–2011
Caps8:72
Goals8:21
Years9:2011–2012
Caps9:29
Goals9:9
Totalcaps:602
Totalgoals:178
Nationalyears1:2000
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2012
Managerclubs1:Leganés
Manageryears2:2015–2016
Managerclubs2:Cartagena

Víctor Manuel Fernández Gutiérrez (born 17 April 1974), known simply as Víctor, is a Spanish former professional footballer. Usually a striker, he could also be put to use behind a sole attacker.

Over 18 seasons, he appeared in 561 matches across both major levels of Spanish football, scoring 167 goals (342 games and 93 goals in La Liga). He played nine years with Valladolid (two spells), and four with Villarreal.

Playing career

Club

Víctor was born in Mérida, Extremadura. A product of CD Leganés' youth system, he made his senior debut with Real Madrid Castilla, and first appeared in La Liga with CD Tenerife, having little success in a one-and-a-half season stint. Towards the end of the second year, he played with CD Toledo in the Segunda División.

In 1996–97, Víctor joined Real Valladolid, scoring 16 top-flight goals in his debut campaign to help the club to rank seventh,[1] then spent another four years with Villarreal CF, where he was also a regular fixture (totalling 28 goals in his first two seasons). On 5 June 2000, the latter signed him to a seven-year contract worth 1.4 million pesetas over the next seven years.[2]

In summer 2004, Víctor was deemed surplus to requirements at Villarreal and rejoined Valladolid, teaming up with centre-forward Joseba Llorente for three years and netting nine goals to help the side to retain their top-tier status in 2008.[1]

In July 2009, after having once again helped the Castile and León team to avoid relegation – 29 games, five goals, 1,956 minutes[1] – Víctor, aged 35, was not offered a new contract and left. The following week, he penned a one-year deal with FC Cartagena, recently promoted to division two.[3]

Víctor scored nine league goals for the Murcian side in his first season, improving to 12 in the following as they consecutively managed to stay afloat.[1] In July 2011, the 37-year-old returned to first club Leganés who competed in the Segunda División B, signing for one year.[4]

International

Víctor played one match for Spain, coming on for Luis Enrique in a 0–0 friendly draw with Croatia in Split, on 23 February 2000.[5]

Coaching career

In April 2012, Víctor retired to become Leganés' manager until the end of the campaign.[6] With three wins and a draw, he saved them from relegation to Tercera División.[7]

On 29 June 2015, Víctor returned to third-tier management at his former club Cartagena.[8] His two-year contract ended with his dismissal on 1 February 2016, after seven games without a win.[9]

Honours

Villarreal

2003,[10] 2004[11]

Valladolid

2006–07[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pucelano histórico: Víctor Fernández. Historical pucelano: Víctor Fernández. Vavel. es. 17 January 2013. 7 December 2017.
  2. News: El Villarreal pagará 1.400 millones a Víctor en siete años. Villarreal will pay 1.400 million to Víctor in seven years. El País. es. 5 June 2000. 7 December 2017.
  3. News: Víctor, ex delantero del Valladolid y Villarreal, recala en Cartagena. Víctor, former forward of Valladolid and Villarreal, ends up in Cartagena. Diario AS. es. 10 July 2009. 7 December 2017.
  4. Web site: El Leganés ficha a Víctor Fernández, ex del Valladolid, Villarreal y Cartagena. Leganés sign Víctor Fernández, formerly of Valladolid, Villarreal and Cartagena. Europa Press. es. 5 July 2011. 7 December 2017.
  5. News: Molina, héroe por un día. Molina, hero for a day. Mundo Deportivo. Javier. Gascón. es. 24 February 2000. 13 March 2014.
  6. News: Víctor Fernández, nuevo entrenador del Leganés. Víctor Fernández, new manager of Leganés. El Día de Valladolid. es. 18 April 2012. 4 March 2019.
  7. News: El 'polizón' que salvó al Leganés. The 'stowaway' who saved Leganés. El País. Tono. Calleja. es. 21 May 2012. 4 March 2019.
  8. News: Víctor vuelve a Cartagena como entrenador cinco años después. Víctor returns to Cartagena as manager five years later. El Norte de Castilla. Fernando. Bravo. es. 29 June 2015. 4 March 2019.
  9. News: Cartagena destituye al entrenador Víctor Fernández tras 7 jornadas sin ganar . Cartagena dismiss manager Víctor Fernández after 7 games without winning. Mundo Deportivo. es. 1 February 2016. 4 March 2019.
  10. News: El Villarreal jugará la UEFA por primera vez en su historia. Villarreal will play UEFA for the first time in their history. Diario Córdoba. es. 27 August 2003. 25 July 2023.
  11. News: El Villarreal vuelve a la UEFA tras ganar la Intertoto. Villarreal return to UEFA after winning the Intertoto. El Mundo. es. 23 August 2004. 25 July 2023.
  12. News: El Valladolid, campeón de Segunda División. Valladolid, Segunda División champions. El Mundo. es. 10 June 2007. 26 July 2023.