Full name Fernando Nino Bejarano 1996–1998 Xerez 1993–1996 Rota Height 1.85 m | Years Team Role Footballer Place of birth Rota, Spain Name Fernando Bejarano | |
Date of birth (1974-09-16) 16 September 1974 (age 41) | ||
Fernando Niño Bejarano (born 16 September 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.
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Football career
Niño was born in Rota, Cádiz, Andalusia. After beginning professionally with lowly hometown Club Deportivo Rota, he moved to neighbouring Xerez CD for the 1996–97 season, achieving promotion to the second division in his first year but being immediately relegated back.
However, Niño's individual performances caught the attention of RCD Mallorca in La Liga and, however mainly registered with the Balearic Islands club's B-team, he finished his debut campaign with 16 first-team appearances.
Subsequently, Niño became an undisputed starter, partnering Spanish international Miguel Ángel Nadal during six full seasons. In January 2006, after a serious injury had cut his 2004–05 campaign short, he left the team, joining second level side Elche CF.
Niño's injury woes were recurrent in 2008–09, as he was forced to miss 18 league games. He retired from football with immediate effect at the season's end, aged almost 35, amassing professional totals of 264 matches and nine goals.