Place of birth Lima, Peru Number 1 Height 1.85 m Career start 2005 | Playing position 2000–2005 Universitario Weight 70 kg | |
Full name Raúl Omar Fernández Valverde Date of birth (1985-10-06) 6 October 1985 (age 31) Current teams Peru national football team (Goalkeeper), FC Dallas (#1 / Goalkeeper) Similar José Carvallo, Rinaldo Cruzado, Carlos Cáceda, Alberto Junior Rodríguez, Sergio Markarián Profiles | ||
Raúl Fernández Valverde ([ɾaˈul feɾˈnandeð βalˈβeɾðe]; born 6 October 1985 in Lima, Peru) is a professional Peruvian football goalkeeper. He started to play for the youth team of Universitario de Deportes and made his way to the first-team.
Contents
- Universitario de Deportes
- OGC Nice
- FC Dallas
- International career
- Club
- National team caps
- Country
- Individual
- References
He is also goalkeeper of the Peru national football team.
Universitario de Deportes
Fernández got his start in the youth system of Universitario de Deportes of the Peruvian first division. He made his professional debut with the club in a 1–1 draw with Unión Huaral on July 31, 2005.
After Juan Flores signed with Cienciano for the 2007 season, José Carvallo took over as Universitario's starting goalkeeper. Carvallo gained the team's trust because of his goalkeeping skills. However, during the Clausura 2007, the coach Julio Gomez decided to give Fernández a chance to start. He made his debut on 22 September 2007 playing against Total Clean and gained Gomez's trust because of his style of goalkeeping. Fernández became the starting goalkeeper of Universitario after that game.
In 2008, his second season in Universitario, Fernàndez was immediately inserted into the starting eleven and appeared in 26 official matches, helping his team to win the Torneo Apertura 2008, with Ricardo Gareca as a coach.
Fernandez was one of the key players to Universitario's success in the Peruvian domestic league of 2009. His performances throughout the year, especially in the first play-off game against Alianza Lima got the attention of international scouts who would later contact him from various clubs in Europe. Fernández would go on to play in 143 matches for Universitario between his debut and 2010.
OGC Nice
Fernández signed with OGC Nice on December 2010. Universitario de Deportes opted to take him on loan for six months. He made his debut for OGC Nice in the Coupe de France, in a 1–2 victory against Toulouse at the Stadium Municipal. He had a good performance in the OCG Nice's match against Dijon, when he stopped a penalty and led his team to the semifinals of the Coupe de France
FC Dallas
Fernandez signed with FC Dallas on 10 January 2013. He was the starting goalkeeper for the MLS All-Stars in 2013. After two seasons with Dallas, Fernández was released at the end of the 2014 season following their acquisition of Dan Kennedy.
International career
His international career began in 2008. José del Solar called up Fernàndez to play his first international game for his country against Costa Rica, in a friendly match. In June 2011 he was called up by Sergio Markarian for the national team for Copa America 2011 in Argentina.
Club
As of 21 January 2012
National team caps
As of 10 January 2013.
Scores and results list Peru's goal tally first.