Full name Fabrice Fernandes 1998–2001 Rennes Position Midfielder Years Team Height 1.75 m | Playing position Role Footballer Name Fabrice Fernandes Date joined 2001 | |
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Date of birth (1979-10-29) 29 October 1979 (age 36) Number 20 (Stade Rennais F.C. / Midfielder) | ||
Fabrice fernandes debut goal
Fabrice Fernandes (born 29 October 1979 in Aubervilliers) is a French former footballer who played for several clubs, most particularly Southampton.
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Saints 3-3 Everton 03/04
Playing career
He first joined an English team in 2000, after signing a season-long loan deal at Fulham where he helped them get promoted to the Premier League. He played for the France national under-21 football team, impressing the likes of Rangers in the process, for whom he joined on loan in March 2001, scoring on his debut for the club, from 20 yards out against Motherwell.
In December 2001, he moved to Southampton, making his debut in a defeat to Leeds United, and played in many games during the season, despite sometimes being hit with injury. He picked up an FA Cup runners-up medal in season 2002-03, and had a solid 2003-04, at the end of which he was offered a new contract to run to 2006.
However, after Southampton were relegated to the Championship under manager Harry Redknapp at the end of the 2004-05 season, Fernandes negotiated for release from his contract. The Saints needed to reduce their payroll and engaged the services of agent Willie McKay to find a new club for him. Allegedly, McKay was paid a fee of £30,000 by Southampton for his services. This transfer is amongst those being scrutinised by the Stevens enquiry into corruption in English football. [1]
Sam Allardyce snapped him up for free at the end of August 2005 and he made his debut for Bolton in their first ever UEFA Cup game against Lokomotiv Plovdiv at the Reebok Stadium. He appeared once in the league for Bolton, as a substitute in a 5-1 defeat to Chelsea.
In February 2006 Fernandes moved to play in Israel for Beitar Jerusalem, the club owned by Arcadi Gaydamak, the father of Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak. After leaving the Jerusalem club he has had trial spells with Stoke City and Dunfermline Athletic.
In 2007, he was playing for Dinamo Bucharest (Romania) in the Romanian First League, but was released. From there he joined Le Havre.
In February 2012, Fernandes came out of retirement to join Doncaster Rovers on trial.