To speak of Fernando Hierro, the new Chivas Sporting Director, is to speak of a man who has achieved success at the highest levels of soccer. As a player, he was captain and multi-champion with Real Madrid, a club with which he played more than 600 official matches, while as a manager he helped the Spanish National Team achieve its highest sporting achievement.
He was born and raised in the tourist community of Velez-Malaga, about 40 minutes east of Malaga, the capital of the province of Andalusia, in Spain. His career on the pitch began at the end of the 80's; he played with the youth division in Malaga and joined the Valladolid youth team, to later make his debut and play there for two years; his great potential led him almost immediately to the Merengue team, which he joined in 1989 and soon became the leader and reference point of the backline.
In the 14 years he played for Madrid, he won all the cups he played at the club: 3 Champions League, 1 European Super Cup, 5 Spanish Leagues, 4 Spanish Super Cups, 1 King's Cup and several international titles; he was a symbol and reference of that era of the white team. He was considered by UEFA as the best defender in Europe in 1998, besides being part of the FIFA's ideal 11 of the 2002 World Cup.
As a national team player, he played a total of 89 matches, participated in 4 World Cups and wore the captain's badge between 1998 and 2002.
After a brief stint with Qatar's Al-Rayyan SC and England's Bolton Wanderers between 2003 and 2005, Hierro fully dedicated himself to continuing his preparation by taking coaching and sports management courses, and in 2007 he took on his first big desk challenge by becoming the Sports Director of the Real Federación Española.
As the one in charge of La Roja, his first big decision was to appoint Vicente del Bosque, with whom he coincided during their time together at Madrid. The result is clear to see, as they turned the national team into a soccer reference in the world and led them to glory in 2010, when they lifted the World Cup. Under his management, Spain also won 1 Euro Cup, 1 U21 World Cup and 1 U19 Euro Cup.
In 2011, Fernando left his country's federation to take the desktop decisions at Malaga CF, where he collaborated in leading the team to its best season in their history by finishing in 4th place in La Liga with 58 points, thus returning the Boquerón team to a European competition after 10 years since their first and last participation.
He took of his suit and put on his sweats in the 2014-2015 season to be Carlo Ancelotti's assistant coach at Real Madrid and in the 2016-2017 campaign he had his first experience as a coach when he took over Real Oviedo of the Spanish second division, with which he finished in 8th place in the standings.
That same year he received an invitation from the Real Federación Española to resume his position as Sporting Director for the Russia 2018 World Cup, but 2 days before the start of the tournament he had to take over as Technical Director of the team, due to the departure of the then coach Julen Lopetegui.
No doubt that when we talk about Fernando Hierro, we are talking about a person who is synonymous with success and that is why we are more than excited to say... Welcome Fernando, you are already our ChivaHermano!Technical Sheet:
- Name: Fernando Ruiz Hierro
- Date of birth: March 23, 1968
- Place of birth: Velez-Malaga, Malaga, Spain (Andalusia)
- Career as a player: Valladolid, Real Madrid, Al-Rayyan SC and Bolton Wanderers.
- Coaching career: Real Oviedo and Spanish National Team.
- Career as Sports Director: Real Federación Española de Futbol (2007-2011) (2017-2018) and Málaga CF (2011-2012).
Honors
- As player: 3 Champions League, 1 European Super Cup, 5 Spanish Leagues, 1 King's Cup, 4 Spanish Super Cups and 2 Intercontinental Cups.
- As Sporting Director: 1 World Cup, 1 Eurocup, 1 Under 21 World Cup and 1 Under 19 Eurocup.
Personal distinctions:
- Gold Medal as Favorite Son of the Province of Malaga (2012).
- Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit (2002).
- Medal of Andalusia for being an example for the youth (1996).
