Nacho (footballer, born 1990)

"Nacho Fernández" redirects here. For other Spanish footballers with the same nickname, see Nacho (disambiguation).
Nacho

Nacho in action for Spain in 2015
Personal information
Full name José Ignacio Fernández Iglesias
Date of birth (1990-01-18) 18 January 1990
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 6
Youth career
1999–2001 AD Complutense
2001–2009 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2009–2013 Real Madrid B 111 (4)
2011– Real Madrid 53 (1)
National team‡
2005 Spain U16 1 (0)
2006–2007 Spain U17 11 (0)
2008–2009 Spain U19 9 (2)
2011–2013 Spain U21 6 (0)
2013– Spain 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:52, 30 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 08:54, 10 April 2016 (UTC)
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Iglesias.

José Ignacio Fernández Iglesias (born 18 January 1990), commonly known as Nacho (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈnatʃo]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid mainly as a central defender but also as a right or left back.

Club career

Born in Madrid, Nacho arrived in Real Madrid's youth system at the age of 11. He made his senior debuts in 2008–09, playing two games with the reserves in Segunda División B and subsequently appearing in a further two full seasons in the category.

On 23 April 2011, Nacho made his first-team – and La Liga – debut, starting as a left back in a 3–6 away win against Valencia CF and playing in the entire match.[1] His second appearance came the following week, in a 2–3 home loss to Real Zaragoza.[2]

Nacho was one of the youth team players chosen to accompany the first team on their summer friendlies in North America, prior to the start of the 2011–12 campaign. He came on as a substitute in all three matches, against the Los Angeles Galaxy, C.D. Guadalajara and Philadelphia Union.

On 2 September 2012, main squad manager José Mourinho announced that Nacho, along with Álvaro Morata and Jesús, would be promoted to the first team, but continue to play with Castilla.[3] He became an official full-time first team member at the start of 2013–14, receiving the number 18 shirt after the departure of Raúl Albiol.

On 3 July 2014, Nacho signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2021.[4] He scored his first official goal with the main squad on 10 January of the following year, closing the score in a 3–0 home victory against RCD Espanyol.[5]

Two minutes after replacing the injured Marcelo in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on 3 November 2015, Nacho scored the only goal and sealed his team's advance to the last-16 with his first goal in a European competition.[6]

International career

Nacho during his debut with Spain in 2013

After playing for Spain at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, Nacho was first called by the full side on 2 September 2013 for a friendly with Switzerland on the 10th, in place of injured Iñigo Martínez.[7] He made his debut by replacing Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos early into the second half of the 2–2 draw against Chile in Geneva.[8]

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 April 2016[9][10]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Real Madrid 2010–11 2000000020
2011–12 0010000010
2012–13 90301000130
2013–14 120403000190
2014–15 141206000221
2015–16 1601051—221
Career total 53111015100792

1 Includes Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

International

As of 27 March 2016[11]
Spain
YearAppsGoals
201310
201510
201620
Total40

Honours

Club

Real Madrid
Real Madrid Castilla

Country

Spain U21
Spain U17

Personal life

Nacho's younger brother, Álex, is also a footballer. A midfielder, he too graduated from Real Madrid's academy, and both made their first-team debut in the same game.[12]

Ever since joining Real's academy, Nacho managed to avoid major injuries, attributing his success to his eating habits and preparation.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Madrid continue impressive form; ESPN Soccernet, 23 April 2011
  2. ↑ Zaragoza dent Real title dream; ESPN Soccernet, 30 April 2011
  3. ↑ "Mourinho promotes Nacho Fernandez to senior Real Madrid squad". Tribal Football. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Nacho, six more years at Real Madrid; Real Madrid's official website, 3 July 2014
  5. ↑ "El Real Madrid se reencuentra con la Victoria" [Real Madrid returns to winning ways] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Malyon, Ed (3 November 2015). "Real Madrid 1–0 PSG: 5 things we learned as Nacho's goal seals qualification". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Nacho, convocado por la selección española absoluta (Nacho, called up by Spain's full team); Real Madrid's official website, 2 September 2013 (Spanish)
  8. ↑ Spain 2–2 Chile: Last gasp Navas saves the day; Inside Spanish Football, 10 September 2013
  9. ↑ "Nacho". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  10. ↑ Nacho at ESPN FC
  11. ↑ "Nacho". European Football. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  12. ↑ Nacho y Álex, sangre blanca en la familia Fernández (Nacho and Álex, white blood in the Fernández family); Real Madrid's official website, 3 May 2010 (Spanish)
  13. ↑ "Nacho, sin lesiones ¡desde infantiles!" [Nacho, injury-free since the youth team!] (in Spanish). Marca. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.

External links

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