Yago Fernández Prieto (born 5 January 1988), known simply as Yago, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Yago
Personal information
Full name Yago Fernández Prieto[1]
Date of birth (1988-01-05) 5 January 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1998–2001 Benfica
2001–2002 Sporting CP
2002–2005 Real Madrid
2005–2007 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Valencia B 3 (0)
2008–2010 Espanyol B 36 (0)
2010Gil Vicente (loan) 0 (0)
2010–2011 Malmö FF 23 (4)
2012 Girona 5 (1)
2012–2013 AEK Athens 13 (1)
2013 Häcken 0 (0)
2014 Shakhter Karagandy 9 (1)
2014–2015 Oriental 12 (0)
2015–2016 La Roda 3 (0)
2016–2017 Torre Levante 2 (0)
2017–2018 União Leiria 1 (0)
Total 107 (7)
International career
2003–2004 Portugal U16 4 (0)
2004–2005 Portugal U17 12 (1)
2005–2006 Portugal U18 5 (0)
2006–2007 Portugal U19 8 (0)
2008 Portugal U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Lisbon to a Spanish father, Yago played for four clubs during his youth career, starting with S.L. Benfica at the age of 9 then successively representing Sporting CP, Real Madrid[2] and Valencia CF. As a senior, his first spell was with the latter's reserve team in the Tercera División, in a promotion-ending campaign.[3]

Subsequently, Yago continued in Spain, spending two years with RCD Espanyol B,[4] helping the side to promote to Segunda División B[5] and being relegated in his second season. In January 2010, he returned to his country for an unassuming loan spell with Gil Vicente F.C. in the Segunda Liga (no appearances whatsoever).[6]

Malmö FF

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In July 2010, after not having his contract renewed by Espanyol, Yago was taken on trial by Swedish club Malmö FF, which had just lost Jasmin Sudić with a ruptured cruciate ligament. He played against Fulham in a 0–0 friendly draw, and his performance earned him a contract for the rest of the year, with the deal being confirmed by manager Roland Nilsson.[7][8]

On 8 December 2010, shortly after winning the Allsvenskan title, Yago signed a new one-year extension.[9] However, they chose not to offer him a new contract after the 2011 season.[10]

AEK Athens

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In August 2012, following a five-month spell with Girona FC in the Segunda División,[11] during which he scored in a 5–3 home win over Xerez CD,[12] Yago agreed to a three-year contract at AEK Athens FC. He scored his only goal in the Super League Greece on 16 September, opening an eventual 1–1 home draw with Aris Thessaloniki FC.[13]

Häcken

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On 19 August 2013, Yago joined BK Häcken, thus returning to Sweden.[14] In November, after failing to make an appearance, he left the club.[15]

Oriental

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Yago moved to Clube Oriental de Lisboa in early August 2014, following a short stint in Kazakhstan with FC Shakhter Karagandy.[16] He played his first game as a professional in his country on 5 October, featuring the full 90 minutes in the 0–0 home draw against G.D. Chaves.[17]

Later career

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Yago retired in 2018 aged 30, following unassuming spells with Spanish amateurs La Roda CF and CF Torre Levante and Portuguese third-tier side U.D. Leiria.[18]

International career

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Yago represented Portugal at youth level.[19][20][21]

Career statistics

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As of 15 March 2015
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Valencia B 2007–08[22] Tercera División 3 0 3 0
Espanyol B 2008–09[22] Tercera División 19 0 19 0
2009–10[22] Segunda División B 17 0 17 0
Total 36 0 36 0
Gil Vicente (loan) 2009–10[22] Segunda Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Malmö FF 2010[23] Allsvenskan 10 3 0 0 10 0
2011[23] Allsvenskan 13 1 0 0 1[a] 0 1[b] 0 15 0
Total 23 4 0 0 1 0 1 0 25 4
Girona 2011–12[23] Segunda División 5 1 0 0 5 1
AEK Athens 2012–13[23] Super League Greece 13 1 1 0 14 1
Shakhter Karagandy 2014[23] Kazakhstan Premier League 9 1 0 0 1[c] 0 10 1
Oriental 2014–15[23] Segunda Liga 12 0 1 0 1 0 14 0
Career total 101 7 2 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 107 7
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in Svenska Supercupen
  3. ^ Appearances in Kazakhstan Super Cup

Honours

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Malmö FF

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Yago" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  2. ^ Gouveia, Ricardo (19 December 2003). "Yago Fernandez: o português desconhecido do Real Madrid" [Yago Fernandez: Real Madrid's unknown Portuguese] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  3. ^ "El Liverpool, interesado en Yago Fernández, del filial valencianista" [Liverpool, interested in Yago Fernández, of Valencia's reserves]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 February 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Torrejón empieza la recuperación" [Torrejón starts recovering]. Sport (in Spanish). 5 September 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Gimnástica y Espanyol B son ya equipos de Segunda B" [Gimnástica and Espanyol B are already Segunda B teams]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 May 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. ^ Vieira, Mário (30 January 2010). "Yago reforça defesa" [Yago bolsters defence]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Yago Fernández klar för Malmö FF" [Yago Fernández ready for Malmo FF] (in Swedish). Malmö FF. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  8. ^ Johansson, Helen (30 July 2010). "Yago Fernández klar för Malmö FF" [Yago Fernández ready for Malmo FF] (in Swedish). Svenska Fans. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Yago och Malm klara!" [Yago and Malm done!] (in Swedish). Malmö FF. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Inget MFF-kontrakt för Nkili" [No MFF contract for Nkili]. Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). 29 November 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  11. ^ "El Girona ficha al defensa portugués Yago Fernández" [Girona sign Portuguese defender Yago Fernández]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 24 January 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  12. ^ "5–3: El Girona respira en un partido con alternativas y polémica" [5–3: Girona breathe in game of alternatives and controversy]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 10 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Yago Fernández marca no empate do AEK de Atenas" [Yago Fernández scores in AEK Athens draw]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 September 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  14. ^ Jönsson, Fredrik (19 August 2013). "Guldhjälte i Malmö ska rädda Häcken" [Golden hero in Malmö will save Hacken]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Officiellt: BK Häcken släpper sex spelare" [Official: BK Häcken release six players] (in Swedish). Fotbolltransfers. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Defesa Yago Férnandez reforça Oriental por uma temporada" [Defender Yago Fernández strengthens Oriental for one season] (in Portuguese). Visão. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Oriental-Chaves, 0–0: Jogo muito disputado a meio campo" [Oriental-Chaves, 0–0: Hard-fought game in midfield]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  18. ^ Roque, José (27 July 2017). "Yago Fernández e Fabrice Kah 'fecham' plantel da UD Leiria" [Yago Fernández and Fabrice Kah 'close' UD Leiria squad] (in Portuguese). Futebol Distrital de Leiria. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Sub-17: Portugal goleia São Marino" [Under-17: Portugal thrash San Marino]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 September 2004. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Sub-19: Portugal perde (2–3) na Dinamarca" [Under-19: Portugal lose (2–3) in Denmark]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 September 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Sub-19: Problemas em Ibiza atrasam voo de Yago" [Under-19: Problems in Ibiza delay Yago's flight]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 July 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d Yago Fernández at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Yago". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
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