Christian Fernández
![]() Christian in action for Almería | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Christian Fernández Salas | ||
Date of birth | 15 October 1985 | ||
Place of birth | Santander, Spain | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Left back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Oviedo | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Youth career | |||
Racing Santander | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2007 | Racing B | 108 | (16) |
2007–2012 | Racing Santander | 90 | (8) |
2008 | → Las Palmas (loan) | 23 | (4) |
2012–2013 | Almería | 36 | (6) |
2014 | D.C. United | 15 | (0) |
2014–2016 | Las Palmas | 16 | (0) |
2015–2016 | → Huesca (loan) | 29 | (3) |
2016– | Oviedo | 71 | (5) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 September 2018 |
Christian Fernández Salas (born 15 October 1985), known simply as Christian, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Oviedo mainly as a left back.
Football career
Born in Santander, Cantabria, Christian was a product of hometown Racing de Santander's youth ranks, and he made his first-team debut on 7 January 2007 in a 0–2 away loss against Levante UD.[1] During that season he appeared in a further ten La Liga games, scoring his first goal in a 5–4 home defeat of Athletic Bilbao three months later.[2]
Midway through the 2007–08 campaign, Christian was loaned alongside teammate Samuel to second division strugglers UD Las Palmas,[3] and both proved instrumental as the Canarians retained their league status, with the former netting four goals.[4][5][6][7]
In 2009–10, Christian had a breakthrough year, playing 29 league matches for Racing and scoring twice, including in a 3–1 win at CA Osasuna on 21 March 2010[8] as the club eventually avoided relegation. After S.L. Benfica decided to recall László Sepsi from his loan, he had virtually no competitor for his position, and helped his team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, notably netting in a 3–2 away win over AD Alcorcón (which had previously ousted Real Madrid), also the final aggregate score.[9]
After the arrival of Domingo Cisma, Christian's playing time became more limited, but he still appeared in 38 contests in his last two seasons combined (as either a left or centre-back),[10] scoring four goals. Santander suffered relegation in 2012 and, on 9 July of that year, he signed a two-year contract with UD Almería in the second level.
On 29 December 2013, after being first-choice in the Andalusians' return to the top flight but only third-string subsequently, Christian was released. On 7 February of the following year, aged 28, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Major League Soccer club D.C. United.[11]
On 6 July 2014, Christian returned to his country and joined former club Las Palmas for three years, still in division two.[12] On 6 August of the following year, he was loaned to fellow league team SD Huesca for one year.[13]
On 7 July 2016, Christian signed a two-year deal with Real Oviedo in the second tier.[14]
Personal life
Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Christian announced that we would wear a shirt with the name Bolaño in it, in honour to his father's second name.[15]
References
- ^ Importante victoria levantinista ante un Racing sin puntería (2–0) (Important Levante win against aimless Racing (2–0)); Diario Siglo XXI, 7 January 2007 (in Spanish)
- ^ Racing Santander 5–4 Athletic Bilbao; ESPN Soccernet, 1 April 2007
- ^ Christian Fernández se despide de la Unión rumbo a Santander (Christian Fernández bids farewell to Unión heading for Santander); Marca, 4 June 2008 (in Spanish)
- ^ Volvemos a la cruda realidad (2–1) (Back to the naked truth (2–1)) Archived 8 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine; La Verdad, 20 January 2008 (in Spanish)
- ^ Las Palmas salva un punto ante el Racing de Ferrol (Las Palmas rescue point against Racing de Ferrol); Marca, 9 February 2008 (in Spanish)
- ^ La UD Las Palmas derrota a un Cádiz sin rumbo (UD Las Palmas beat drifting Cádiz); Diario Bahía Cádiz, 23 March 2008 (in Spanish)
- ^ Repaso de Las Palmas a un indolente Elche (Las Palmas steamroll dormant Elche); Marca, 31 May 2008 (in Spanish)
- ^ Racing rediscover scoring touch; ESPN Soccernet, 21 March 2010
- ^ El Alcorcón se baja de la carroza (Alcorcón get off pedestal); El País, 6 January 2010 (in Spanish)
- ^ Christian se postula como sustituto de Cisma (Christian poised as Cisma replacement); La Nueva España, 22 February 2012 (in Spanish)
- ^ DC United sign Spanish left back Christian Fernandez Salas; Major League Soccer, 7 February 2014
- ^ Christian Fernández, refuerzo para la banda izquierda (Christian Fernández, addition for left flank) Archived 9 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine; UD Las Palmas, 7 July 2014 (in Spanish)
- ^ Christian Fernández jugará cedido en el Huesca hasta final de temporada (Christian Fernández will play on loan at Huesca until the end of the season) Archived 10 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine; UD Las Palmas, 6 August 2015 (in Spanish)
- ^ Christian Fernández, nuevo jugador del Real Oviedo (Christian Fernández, new player of Real Oviedo); Real Oviedo, 7 July 2016 (in Spanish)
- ^ "Dorsales oficiales de la temporada 2018/19" [Official jerseys of the 2018/19 season] (in Spanish). Real Oviedo. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
External links
- Racing Santander official profile Template:Es icon
- Christian at BDFutbol
- Christian at Soccerway
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Santander, Spain
- Spanish footballers
- Cantabrian footballers
- Association football defenders
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Segunda División B players
- Tercera División players
- Racing de Santander B players
- Racing de Santander players
- UD Las Palmas players
- UD Almería players
- SD Huesca footballers
- Real Oviedo players
- Major League Soccer players
- D.C. United players
- Spanish expatriate footballers
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States