Fernando Niño (footballer, born 1974)

Fernando Niño Bejarano (born 16 September 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Niño and the second or maternal family name is Bejarano.
Fernando Niño
Personal information
Full name Fernando Niño Bejarano[1]
Date of birth (1974-09-16) 16 September 1974[1]
Place of birth Rota, Spain[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1996 Rota
1996–1998 Xerez 69 (5)
1998–2005 Mallorca 149 (2)
2006–2009 Elche 79 (5)
Total 297 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Niño was born in Rota, Cádiz, Andalusia. After beginning professionally with lowly hometown Club Deportivo Rota, he moved to neighbouring Xerez CD for the 1996–97 season, achieving promotion to the second division in his first year but being immediately relegated.

However, Niño's individual performances caught the attention of RCD Mallorca in La Liga and, however mainly registered with the Balearic Islands club's reserves, he finished his first year with 16 first-team appearances.

Subsequently, Niño became an undisputed starter, partnering Spain international Miguel Ángel Nadal during six full seasons.[2][3] On 29 January 2003, he was one of three players on target for the hosts in a 4–0 home win against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey (5–1 on aggregate),[4] which ended in conquest.[5]

In January 2006, after a serious injury had cut his 2004–05 campaign short, Niño left the team and joined second level side Elche CF. His injury woes were recurrent in 2008–09, as he was forced to miss 18 league games.[6] He retired from football with immediate effect at the season's end, aged almost 35, amassing professional totals of 264 matches and nine goals.[7][8]

Personal life

Niño's son, also named Fernando, was also a footballer.[9]

Honours

Mallorca

References
  1. "Fernando NIÑO Bejarano". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  2. "Deportivo prepare for Mallorca visit". Special Broadcasting Service. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  3. Izquierdo, José (25 April 2017). "Los equipos que la Liga echa de menos (V): el Mallorca" [Teams the League is missing (V): Mallorca]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  4. Llamas, Fernando (29 January 2003). "El Mallorca aparta a los 'pavones' de la Copa del Rey" [Mallorca oust the 'pavones' (reference to Real Madrid player Francisco Pavón) from the King's Cup]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  5. Miguelez, José (29 June 2003). "Eto'o pone Mallorca a brindar" [Eto'o has Mallorca toasting]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  6. Padilla, C. (29 December 2008). "Las lesiones hacen que Niño medite su retirada" [Injuries have Niño brooding over retirement]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  7. "Fernando Niño confirma que 'cuelga las botas'" [Fernando Niño confirms he is 'hanging up boots']. Marca (in Spanish). 15 June 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  8. "Elustondo da la última victoria a los 'txuri urdin'" [Elustondo gives last win to the txuri urdin]. Marca (in Spanish). 20 June 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  9. Franch, Victor (25 January 2020). "La semana mágica de Niño" [Niño's magical week]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  10. Segurola, Santiago (20 May 1999). "El Mallorca pierde con orgullo" [Mallorca lose proudly]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
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