Place of birth Madrid, Spain Number 9 Height 1.83 m Career start 2010 | Playing position 2000–2003 Complutense Weight 74 kg Siblings Nacho | |
Full name Alejandro Fernández Iglesias Date of birth (1992-10-15) 15 October 1992 (age 24) Current team Elche CF (#9 / Midfielder) Similar Nacho, Pablo Hervías, Abraham González Profiles | ||
Alejandro Fernández Iglesias (born 15 October 1992), commonly known as Álex, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Elche CF as a central midfielder.
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Real Madrid
Born in Madrid, Álex joined Real Madrid's youth system at not yet 13, arriving from neighbouring RSD Alcalá. In 2010 he started appearing with Real Madrid Castilla in Segunda División B and, in July of that year, he was called by first-team coach José Mourinho to a preseason tour in the United States; he made his unofficial debut on 5 August in a friendly match against Club América (3–2 win), with his brother Nacho also making his first appearance that day.
Álex made his league debut with the B-team on 29 August 2010, playing 87 minutes in a 3–2 home win against Coruxo FC. On 3 October he scored his first goal, contributing to a 3–0 home success over AD Cerro de Reyes, and finished his first season with 30 games and two goals as the team fell short in the promotion playoffs.
On 6 March 2011, Álex made his La Liga debut, playing the last minute of the 3–1 win at Racing de Santander. He contributed with 35 appearances in the 2011–12 campaign – playoffs included – with Castilla returning to the second level after five years.
Espanyol
Álex left Real Madrid in August 2013, by mutual consent. He signed shortly after with RCD Espanyol in the top level, appearing in 30 competitive games in his first year but starting in only five.
On 28 January 2015, Espanyol loaned Álex to HNK Rijeka until the end of the season. On 18 August, in the same predicament, he joined Championship side Reading with a view to a permanent move at the end of the campaign. He scored his first goal for the latter on 19 January 2016, in a 5–2 home triumph over Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup.
Elche
On 31 August 2016, shortly after terminating his contract with the Pericos, due to expire the following year, Álex signed for Segunda División club Elche CF.
Personal life
Álex's older brother, José Ignacio, is also a footballer. A defender, he too graduated from Real Madrid's academy.