Fernando Redondo

Lore & Background

A defensive midfielder with the ability to contribute offensively and creatively, he turned professional playing for Argentinos Juniors and played one full decade in La Liga, for CD Tenerife and Real Madrid, then finished his career (curtailed by several injury problems) in Italy, with AC Milan. With Real Madrid, he won two La Liga championships and as many Champions League trophies. Redondo was a member of the Argentina national team in the 1990s, representing the nation in the 1994 World Cup, and also winning the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 1993 Copa América.

Reader's Guide

Redondo's key years were at Real Madrid, where he won two league championships and the UEFA Champions League in 1998 and 2000. He transferred to AC Milan in 2000 but suffered a serious knee injury early on. He contributed in a peripheral role to Milan's successes in the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, making 16 league appearances combined and adding five in the 2002–03 Champions League and six in the Coppa Italia, including the two-legged final. He retired in late 2004 at age 35 following another knee injury.

Did You Know?

• Redondo earned the nickname El Principe ('The Prince') during his time at Real Madrid.
• He was named by Marca as a member of the 'Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history' in April 2013.
• In the 2000 Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United, he backheeled the ball past Henning Berg and assisted Raúl.
• He studied law at university in the early years of his playing career.
• His sons Federico and Fernando Jr. were also involved in football.