Rommel Fernández

Infobox Football biography
playername = Rommel


fullname = Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez
dateofbirth = birth date|1966|1|15
cityofbirth = El Chorrillo
countryofbirth = Panamá
dateofdeath = death date and age|1993|5|6|1966|1|15
cityofdeath = Albacete
countryofdeath = Spain
height = height| m = 1.85
weight = 81 kg
position = Centre Forward
currentclub = Deceased
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1985-1987
1987-1991
1991-1992
1992-1993
clubs = Alianza FC
CD Tenerife
Valencia CF
Albacete(loan)
caps(goals) = - (-)
124 (50)
21 (2)
18 (7)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
nationalyears = 1986-1992
nationalteam = flagicon|PAN Panamá
nationalcaps(goals) =

Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez (born January 15, 1966; died May 6, 1993) was a Panamanian football (soccer) player who played for the Spanish clubs CD Tenerife, Valencia CF, and Albacete, as well as for the Panama national team. He was the first Panamanian footballer ever to play in Europe. A stadium in Panama City is named after him.

Club career

Nicknamed "Panzer", Fernández played for Atlético Panamá and Alianza Panamá in his native country. In 1986, after five years in the Panamanian soccer league with Atlético Panamá, Alianza and Macabi FC, he was called up by CD Tenerife in the Spanish second division. As the first Panamanian to ever play football in Europe, he became an idol to his fans.

After three years in the Second Division, Fernández helped Tenerife win promotion in 1989. He made his "La Liga" debut against Sevilla FC on September 3, 1989. In the 1989-90 season, he scored 10 goals and was named the best South American in the Spanish League. The following year, he was named the best Ibero-American player in "La Liga" by Spanish news agency EFE, receiving the Trofeo EFE, which is awarded yearly. [http://www.efe.com/premios/trofeo/principal.asp?opcion=11&seccion=111 Trofeo EFE winners] - efe.com - Agencia EFE S.A., Spain. Retrieved October 17, 2006.]

He played one more season with Tenerife and after scoring 48 goals in five years, Fernández signed with Valencia in 1991. With Valencia, he was rarely given the opportunity to play and only scored two goals in his first season. After that, he landed with Albacete for the 1992-93 season, returning to form. He ended up scoring his 50th Spanish first division goal with Albacete, and notably enough it was against Tenerife, who had given him his first shot seven years earlier.

International career

Fernández represented the Panama national team numerous times. It was on a trip with the national team to Spain at the age of 20 that got him his first international recognition. In the "Mundialito de la Emigración", a tournament where Tenerife played a select squad of players with Spanish ancestry, Fernández played well enough to be offered a contract by the hosts. His last match with the national team was a 1-5 World Cup qualifying defeat on August 23, 1992 in Costa Rica.

Death and legacy

Fernández died tragically on May 6, 1993 near Albacete, victim of a car accident just outside Albacete when he lost control of his car and hit a tree. The "Estadio Revolución" was renamed in his honor. He was so beloved by his fans and such a crucial part of Panamanian soccer, that they renamed Estadio Revolución to Estadio Rommel Fernandez. Even before Fernández' death, the stadium was associated with him as one of the most important sportsman to ever come out of Panama. He was known for his wonderful nature and kindheartedness.

References