Fernando Niño Bejarano

Fernando Niño

Personal information
Full name	Fernando Niño Bejarano
Date of birth	(1974-09-16) 16 September 1974
Place of birth	Rota, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Centre back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–1996	Rota
1996–1998	Xerez	69	(5)
1998–2005	Mallorca	149	(2)
2006–2009	Elche	79	(5)
Total		297	(12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Niño and the second or maternal family name is Bejarano.

Fernando Niño Bejarano (born 16 September 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

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.

Honours

Mallorca

• Copa del Rey: 2002–03
• Supercopa de España: 1998
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: Runner-up 1998–99

External links

• Fernando Niño profile at BDFutbol
• Stats at Footballdatabase