Quick Facts
Biography
Luis Miguel Fernández Toledo known as Luis Fernández (French pronunciation: [lwis fɛʁ.nɑ̃.dɛz]; Spanish pronunciation: [lwis feɾˈnandeθ] born on 2 October 1959) is a French former footballer who played as a defender/midfielder. He retired as a player in 1993 to become a manager.
Fernández has managed AS Cannes and Paris Saint-Germain among other clubs, and is the individual credited with bringing Ronaldinho to Europe.
As an active player, Fernández got 60 international caps and 6 goals for the French national team, between 1982 and 1992. He served as the Stade de Reims manager from December 2008 to June 2009.
Fernández was born in Tarifa (Spain) and moved to France with his parents at the age of 9. He began playing football at the AS Minguettes. He was naturalized as a French citizen in 1981.
He is currently a sport radio talk host with RMC, his daily show is called "Luis Attaque".
Playing career
Club career
It was at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) that Spanish-born Luis Fernández signed his first professional contract, at 19 years of age.
After the elimination from the 1986 World Cup, and just after he had won the French Ligue 1 championship with PSG, Fernández made the decision to join Jean-Luc Lagardere's team Racing Club de Paris. But in spite of a team that was strong on paper, the club and Fernandez did not succeed, and he left Racing after three seasons. Following the 1986 World Cup, the French national team did not manage to qualify for Euro 1988 and the 1990 World Cup.
From Racing, Fernández went to AS Cannes in 1989, a more modest club with a friendlier environment. On the club level Cannes were relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of the 1991–1992 season, but Fernández decided to remain with the club and end his career when his contract ran out. But Fernández wasn't allowed a slow retirement, when after a few weeks, Cannes decided to entrust Fernández with the post of manager. Fernández thus finished the season as player-manager, and led Cannes back to Ligue 1 at the end of the season, and retired from playing to become full-time manager.
International career
Quickly he established himself as an expert in winning the ball, but also capable of precise passing, and at the end of the year 1982 he was called up for the French national team and debuted against the Netherlands on 10 November 1982. At only 23 years, Luis Fernández was immediately an important part of the team that only months earlier had been semi-finalists of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He formed the national midfield with such French national greats as Jean Tigana in the central midfield, and the offensive players Alain Giresse and Michel Platini, a midfield that became known as the "magic square". With the national team, Luis Fernandez won Euro 1984 at home in France, and reached the semi-final of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
He was still a part of the French national team in spite of a declining physique. Not a starting player under new national team manager Michel Platini, Fernández would play the role of a late joker, with the job to clinch a result at the end of the match. Fernández took part in the Euro 1992, where France were eliminated in the group stage, and Fernández decided to end his international career.
Managerial career
Cannes
After the promotion of AS Cannes to the Ligue 1, Luis Fernández continued his work at the club and qualified for the UEFA Cup. He won the Best Trainer of Ligue 1 award at the end of the season 1993–1994, on grounds of Fernández' alluring philosophy of offensive tactics with a use of young players. The profile of Fernández particularly interested Paris Saint-Germain. Despite winning the Ligue 1 championship and a good run in the European Cup, PSG failed to play attractive football, partly because of the Portuguese trainer Artur Jorge, who applied a more rigid strategic system. The board of PSG saw in Fernandez the ideal manager to reform the image of the club.
Paris Saint-Germain
Fernández's first season in charge of Paris Saint-Germain was a success. Even though PSG was quickly outpaced in the Ligue 1 championship race by an irresistible FC Nantes side, PSG managed to win the two national cups, the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, as well as an impressive showing in the UEFA Champions League concluded by elimination in the semi-finals by A.C. Milan. The strongest displays by Fernández and the PSG team being the quarterfinal win, over two matches, against the great FC Barcelona side of Johan Cruyff. The second season at PSG, saw the beginning of the end for Fernández. Beaten to the title once more in Ligue 1, PSG found the European competitions to be a breath of fresh-air, and they won the European Cup Winners Cup after victory in the final against Rapid Vienna, making Fernández the first French manager to win a major European trophy. This prestigious victory was not sufficient to keep Fernandez in the PSG hotseat however, following the missed championship, Fernández left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 1995–1996 season.
Athletic Club de Bilbao
Fernández was then contacted by Athletic Club de Bilbao from the Spanish La Liga, a club Fernández managed to qualify for the Champions League, and where he would spend four seasons.
Paris Saint-Germain (second spell)
In 2000, Fernández returned to France and in December that year he once more took the seat at PSG, replacing Philippe Bergeroo. Even though he was in charge of a team of such stars as Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicolas Anelka and especially Ronaldinho, Fernández never got the results to satisfy the ambitions of the club. In spite of the support of the fans with whom his popularity always remained very strong, Luis Fernández was sacked at the end of the 2002–2003 season, after two and half years.
RCD Espanyol
On 4 November 2003, was hired by La Liga's bottom club RCD Espanyol. He managed to save the Catalan club from relegationbefore leaving at the end of the season.
Al-Rayyan & Beitar Jerusalem
After leaving Espanyol, Fernández enjoyed brief spells in the Middle East with Qatar's Al-Rayyan and Israel's Beitar Jerusalem, taking the latter to the UEFA Cup.
Real Betis
Luis Fernandez joined Real Betis midway through the 2006–07 La Liga season and Betis's centenary season. Fernandez was released on 10 June 2007 following a 5–0 loss at the Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera to CA Osasuna, with just one game remaining in Betis's relegation threatened season. Including cup games, Luis Fernandez competed as Real Betis manager in 26 games – winning 5, drawing 16, and losing 7. His tenure lasted from 27 December 2006 to 10 June 2007.
Stade de Reims
Luis Fernández joined Stade de Reims halfway through the 2008/2009 season. Reims were playing in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football, but Fernández was unable to avoid relegation. He was replaced in June 2009 by Marc Collat.
Israel
On 21 March 2010, a press conference was held to announce Fernández's appointment as the Israeli national team's new head coach. His contract was not renewed after Israel failed to qualify for Euro 2012.
Guinea
On 24 June 2016, Fernandez left the Guinea.
Honours
Player
Club
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Coupe de France: 1982, 1983; Runner-up 1985
- French Division 1: 1986
National
- France
- UEFA European Championship: 1984
- Artemio Franchi Trophy: 1985
- FIFA World Cup Third place: 1986
- FIFA World Cup Fourth place: 1982
Individual
- French Player of the Year: 1985
- Etoile d'Or: 1986
Manager
Club
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Coupe de France: 1995
- Coupe de la Ligue: 1995
- Trophée des Champions: 1995
- Cup Winners' Cup: 1996
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001
- Ligue 1: Runner-up 1996
- Athletic Bilbao
- La Liga: Runner-up 1998