Gelson Fernandes
Gelson da Conceição Tavares Fernandes is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Born in Cape Verde, he represented the Switzerland national team. He is most well known for scoring the winner for Switzerland against eventual champions Spain in a group game at the 2010 World Cup.
Fernandes' professional football career spans 16 years across clubs in Switzerland, England, France, Italy, Portugal and Germany.
Club career
FC Sion
Fernandes started his football career at FC Sion when he first joined the club at age seven years old. Fernandes was promoted to the first team in 2004 after being called by manager Gilbert Gress. Having previously made a total of five appearances in the 2004–05 season, the 2005–06 season proved to be the breakout year for the player as he got more playing time for Sion, playing in the central midfielder position for the side. Fernandes also led his team win the Swiss Cup in a penalty shootout against Young Boys. In his first full season at the club, he went on to make 22 league appearances and scoring none.In the 2006–07 season, Fernandes continued to remain in the first team for Sion, playing in the midfield position. He then scored his first goals of the season, in a 3–1 win against FC Naters in the first round of the Swiss Cup. Fernandes then made his European debut for Sion in a 0–0 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, in a 0–0 draw in the first round of the UEFA Cup first leg. In the return leg, he scored his first European Cup goal against Leverkusen which Sion lost 3–1 on aggregate. On 14 October 2006, Fernandes scored his first league goal for Sion in a 1–1 draw against Luzern. On the final league game of the 2006–07 season, he received a second bookable offense in the 90th minute after receiving a yellow card in a first half, which turned out to be his last appearance for Sion as Sion won 3–0 against St. Gallen. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Fernandes went on to make forty–one appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
Manchester City
Fernandes signed for Manchester City from Sion on 14 July 2007 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around €6 million, which would make his sale the second highest transfer in the history of the Swiss League. Following his signing, Sven-Göran Eriksson commented that he thought Fernandes was the "best young player in Switzerland." Upon joining the club, he was given a number twenty–eight shirt.Fernandes made his Manchester City debut, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Bristol City in the second round of the League Cup. Two months later on 20 October 2007, he made his league debut after coming on for Elano in the 89th minute in a 1–0 victory over Birmingham City. By November, Fernandes soon established himself in the starting eleven, playing in the midfield position. He scored his first goal in a 2–0 victory against Newcastle United on 2 January 2008, after coming on as a substitute for Stephen Ireland and it took just 40 seconds for Fernandes and Kelvin Etuhu to combine for the former to finish from the edge of the box. On 2 February 2008, he scored his second goal in the 1–3 loss to Arsenal at the City of Manchester Stadium when Vedran Ćorluka took advantage of a Gaël Clichy defensive error, who slipped in a pass into the six-yard box for Fernandes to tuck home. The goal was not enough to secure any points for Manchester City, but showed the City fans that Fernandes was also capable of having an eye for goal like fellow youth midfielder, Michael Johnson. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he went on to make thirty–two appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Fernandes switched number shirt from number 28 to number 19 after his previous number was taken by Daniel Sturridge. He then scored his first goal of the season against Portsmouth on 21 September 2008, as Manchester City won 6–0. Three days later on 24 September 2008, Fernandes scored his second goal of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round of the League Cup, as the club lost 5–3 on penalties following a 2–2 draw throughout the 120 minutes match. He found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench after Mark Hughes took over as manager. As the 2008–09 season progressed, Fernandes found himself away from the first team further, due to being on the substitute bench and his own injury concern. At the end of the 2008–09 season, he went on to make twenty–seven appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
Following this, it was expected that Fernandes would be leaving Manchester City, as clubs from Europe were interested in signing him.
Saint-Étienne
On 9 July 2009, Fernandes passed a medical to complete a £2 million move to Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne and the move was confirmed the next day, signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.He made his league debut in the opening game of the season against Nice, starting a match and played 64 minutes before being substituted, in a 0–2 loss. Since joining the club, Fernandes quickly established himself playing in the defensive midfield position. At one point, he played in the right–back position, coming against Sochaux on 5 December 2009. His time at Saint Etienne had a difficult start and Fernandes moved little-by-little in the middle with some fighting and a good state of mind without being convincing. Despite this, he later helped the club avoid relegation and finished seventeenth place in the league. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Fernandes went on to make thirty–eight appearances in all competitions for Saint-Étienne in his first season.
Loan spells
After fallen out of favour by Manager Christophe Galtier and was told that he can leave Saint-Étienne on loan, it was announced on 30 August 2010, it was announced that Fernandes would be going out on loan with an option to purchase to Chievo. He made his debut for the club, coming on as a 59th-minute substitute, in a 3–1 win over Genoa on 12 September 2010. Since joining Chievo, Fernandes became involved in a number of matches in the first team for the club. He scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over Napoli on 22 September 2010. On 31 October 2010, Fernandes received a red card after a second bookable offense against Parma. On 20 February 2011, he scored his second goal for Chievo, in a 2–1 loss against A.C. Milan. Despite facing suspensions on five occasions throughout the 2010–11 season, Fernandes went on to make thirty appearances and scoring two goals for Chievo in all competitions. Following this, the club decided against signing him on a permanent basis.On 4 August 2011, Fernandes signed for Championship club Leicester City on a season long loan, subject to international clearance, and he was joined by Sven-Göran Eriksson who signed him at Manchester City. Following his return move to England on loan, Fernandes revealed he was told that his move will become permanent, but only if the club gain promotion to the Premier League. Fernandes made his debut for Leicester City in a 1–0 away win over Coventry City on 6 August 2011. Two weeks later on 20 August 2011, he scored his first goal for the club, as well as, setting up Leicester City's first goal of the game, in a 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest on 20 August. Since making his debut for the club, Fernandes became a first team regular for the side, playing in the midfield position. This lasted until his Eriksson's sacking due to poor results, and was replaced by Nigel Pearson, who didn't play Fernandes until on 3 December 2011 and made his last appearance for Leicester City in a 2–1 loss against Hull City. On 30 December 2011, he asked for his loan contract at the club to be terminated and to return to France. Six days later on 4 January, it was announced that Fernandes's loan deal with Leicester City had been cancelled by mutual consent. By the time he left the club, Fernandes made eighteen appearances and scoring once in all competitions for Leicester City.
After his loan deal at Leicester City ended, Fernandes was then sent out for another loan deal, but this time he signed for current Serie A frontrunners Udinese until the end of the season to strengthen the squad after some of the players went to play at the African Cup of Nations. So Udinese wanted a player who could acclimatise quickly. On 22 January 2012, Fernandes made his debut for the club in a 2–1 win over Catania in the Coppa Italia. Since making his debut for Udinese, he became a first team regular, starting in the next ten matches, playing in the midfield position. This lasted until Fernandes was dropped to the substitute bench for the next four matches. On 11 April 2012, he returned to the starting line–up and scored his first goal, on his return, in a 3–1 loss against Roma. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Fernandes made seventeen appearances and scoring once in all competitions. Following this, he returned to his parent club after the club decided against signing him permanently.
Sporting Clube de Portugal
Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Fernandes once again not featured for the Saint-Étienne's pre-season training, putting his future at the club in doubt. It was announced on 4 July 2012 he signed a four-year contract with Sporting Clube de Portugal, with a €25 million buy-out clause.Fernandes made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Vitória de Guimarães in the opening game of the season. He then helped Sporting Lisbon beat AC Horsens in the second round of the UEFA Europa League Play–Off Round, in a 5–0 win. However, his first team opportunities was limited, having been placed on the substitute bench and was restricted to twelve appearances in all competitions for the club. After his loan spell at Sion ended, Fernandes was among with many players to be sold.
FC Sion (loan)
On 21 December 2012, it was confirmed that he returned to Sion, signing a loan until the end of the 2012–13 season with an option to sign him at the end of the loan.Fernandes made his debut for the club, starting the match and played 81 minutes before being substituted, in a 3–0 win against SC Kriens on 3 February 2013. Since joining FC Sion, he quickly became the club's first team regular for the rest of the season. However, towards the end of the season, Fernandes faced restrictions, as he faced suspension on two occasions and suffered an injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Fernandes made sixteen appearances in all competitions. Following this, his options to join FC Sion permanently has ended after the club have to pay the price to sign Fernandes.