Víctor (footballer, born 1974)


Víctor Manuel Fernández Gutiérrez, known simply as Víctor, is a Spanish retired footballer. Usually a striker, he could also be put to use behind a sole attacker.
Over 18 seasons, he appeared in 561 matches both major levels of Spanish football combined, scoring 167 goals. He played nine years with Valladolid, and four with Villarreal.

Playing career

Club

Víctor was born in Mérida, Extremadura. A product of CD Leganés' youth system, he made his senior debut with Real Madrid Castilla, and first appeared in La Liga with CD Tenerife, having little success in a one-and-a-half season stint. Towards the end of the second year, he played with CD Toledo in the second division.
In 1996–97, Víctor joined Real Valladolid, scoring 16 top-flight goals in his debut campaign to help the club rank seventh, then spent another four years with Villarreal CF, where he was also a regular fixture. On 5 June 2000, the latter signed him to a seven-year contract worth 1.4 million pesetas over the next seven years.
In 2004, Víctor was deemed surplus to requirements at Villarreal and rejoined Valladolid, teaming up with centre forward Joseba Llorente for three years and netting nine goals to help the side retain their top level status in 2008.
In July 2009, after having once again helped the Castile and León team avoid relegation – 29 games, five goals, 1,956 minutes– Víctor, aged 35, was not offered a new contract and left. The following week he penned a one-year deal with FC Cartagena, recently promoted to division two.
Víctor scored nine league goals for the Murcian side in his first season, improving to 12 in the following as they consecutively managed to stay afloat. In July 2011, the 37-year-old returned to first club Leganés who competed in the third tier, signing for one year.

International

Víctor played one match for Spain, coming on for Luis Enrique in a 0–0 friendly draw with Croatia in Split, on 23 February 2000.

Coaching career

In April 2012, Víctor retired to become Leganés' manager until the end of the campaign. With three wins and a draw, he saved them from relegation to Tercera División.
On 29 June 2015, Víctor returned to third-tier management at his former club Cartagena. His two-year contract ended with his dismissal on 1 February 2016, after seven games without a win.

Honours

Villarreal