1. Early Life and Background
Matías Fernández was born on 15 May 1986, in the Caballito neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. His mother, Mirtha, is Argentine, and his father, Humberto, is Chilean. At the age of four, he relocated to La Calera, Chile, with his family. He has two younger brothers. Having moved to Chile at a very young age, Fernández considers himself Chilean.
2. Club Career
Matías Fernández's professional football career spanned various clubs across Chile, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, and Colombia, marked by periods of immense success and challenges.
2.1. Youth and Early Professional Career
Fernández joined the youth academy of Colo-Colo in Chile at the age of 12. He made his professional debut in the Primera División on 1 August 2004, against Club Universidad de Chile. Just one week later, he scored his first two competitive goals against Cobresal. During the 2004 Clausura tournament, he scored eight goals and was recognized as the best young player of the season. His spectacular goal against O'Higgins earned him the lasting nickname "Matigol."
In the 2006 Apertura, Fernández played a pivotal role in helping Colo-Colo secure their 24th league title. In December of the same year, he led the team to the final of the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, where they ultimately lost to C.F. Pachuca of Mexico. Throughout the tournament, he scored nine goals in six games. He concluded his time at Colo-Colo on a high note, winning the 2006 Clausura tournament and receiving the prestigious South American Footballer of the Year award, becoming the first Chilean to do so since Marcelo Salas in 1997. During his initial stint with Colo-Colo, he made a total of 112 appearances and scored 57 goals.
2.2. European Club Career
Fernández's success in South America led to his move to European football, where he spent several seasons.
2.2.1. Villarreal
In late October 2006, before receiving the South American Player of the Year award, Fernández was signed by Spanish club Villarreal CF for a transfer fee of 8.70 M EUR. He joined fellow Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, who was the coach of Villarreal at the time. Despite interest from major clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea, he agreed to terms and arrived in Valencia on 27 December. On 7 January 2007, he made his La Liga debut in a 0-1 home loss against Valencia CF. Three months later, he scored his first goal for Villarreal in a 3-0 league victory against Gimnàstic de Tarragona. He also assisted a goal against Real Madrid, contributing to the club's first-ever victory against them.
During the 2007-08 La Liga season, Fernández contributed to Villarreal's best-ever finish as runners-up, appearing in 30 matches and scoring three goals. On 10 May 2009, he scored from a penalty kick in a 3-3 away draw against eventual champions FC Barcelona. Despite having a high buyout clause of 50.00 M EUR in his contract, Fernández faced challenges in securing consistent playing time during his two and a half seasons, starting only 30 of his 70 appearances.
2.2.2. Sporting CP
On 1 July 2009, after being deemed surplus to requirements by new Villarreal manager Ernesto Valverde, Fernández transferred to Portuguese club Sporting CP on a four-year contract for 3.65 M EUR, with a potential additional 500.00 K EUR based on appearances. Villarreal retained 20% of any future profit from his sale.
Fernández scored his first goal for Sporting CP on 27 October 2009, in a 1-1 draw against Vitória de Guimarães. He added another goal the following week in a 1-1 home draw against C.S. Marítimo in the Primeira Liga. In the UEFA Europa League, he scored in injury time during the Lions' 3-0 victory over Everton in the round of 16, securing a 4-2 aggregate win.
He remained an important attacking player during the 2011-12 Primeira Liga season under both Domingos Paciência and his successor Ricardo Sá Pinto. He scored three of his four league goals against U.D. Leiria, two in a 3-1 home win and the game's only goal in the second match through a free kick in the 101st minute, a game that had been interrupted due to floodlight malfunction.
2.2.3. Fiorentina
On 27 July 2012, Fernández moved to Italian club ACF Fiorentina for approximately 3.10 M EUR, plus 1.50 M EUR in bonuses. His contract with Fiorentina was for four years. During his tenure at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, he was frequently affected by physical problems, which impacted his consistency on the field.
2.2.4. AC Milan
On 31 August 2016, Fernández moved to fellow Serie A team AC Milan on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy, reuniting with his former Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella. He made his debut on 6 November 2016, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 away victory over U.S. Città di Palermo.
2.3. Later Career and Return to South America
After his time in Europe, Fernández moved to play in Mexican and Colombian leagues before eventually returning to Chile for the final years of his career.
On 4 September 2017, as a free agent, Fernández signed with Mexican club Club Necaxa. On 4 February 2019, he joined Categoría Primera A defending champions Atlético Junior in Colombia on a one-year contract. He scored a late equalizer on his debut 12 days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 home draw with Rionegro Águilas, for which he was named player of the match.
On 18 December 2019, Fernández made an emotional return to his former club, Colo-Colo, by agreeing to a one-year deal with an option for an additional season. He later moved to Deportes La Serena in the same league. On 14 February 2023, Matías Fernández announced his retirement from professional football after 11 months with Deportes La Serena, concluding a distinguished career.
3. International Career
Matías Fernández represented Chile at various levels, from youth national teams to the senior squad, and was a key figure in significant tournaments.
3.1. Youth National Teams
Fernández served as the captain of the Chile U20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. He scored a goal in a dominant 7-0 victory over Honduras U20. Despite a second-round exit to the Netherlands U20, Fernández demonstrated overall strong performance, playing alongside notable talents such as Nicolás Canales, Carlos Villanueva, and José Pedro Fuenzalida. He was also a former under-17 international.
3.2. Senior National Team
Fernández quickly established himself as an integral part of the senior side. He made his debut for the senior team on 17 August 2005, in a match against Peru. On 8 October 2006, he scored his first two goals for the national team in a Pacific Cup match against Peru, contributing to a 3-2 victory. He participated in the 2007 Copa América, where Chile advanced past the group stage but suffered a 1-6 defeat to Brazil in the semifinals.
Fernández featured prominently in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, scoring against Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay, helping Chile secure its spot in the finals. He was selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, starting in group stage matches against Honduras and Switzerland, both 1-0 wins for Chile. Chile advanced as runners-up in their group but were eliminated in the round of 16 after a 0-3 loss to Brazil.
In May 2014, Fernández underwent ankle surgery on his right foot, which unfortunately prevented him from participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, he was included in the Chilean squad for the 2015 Copa América. In the opening match, a 2-0 win over Ecuador at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, he was sent off. In the final against Argentina, which ended 0-0 after extra time, Fernández, who had come on as a 75th-minute substitute for Jorge Valdivia, was one of four players to score in the subsequent penalty shootout, leading Chile to a 4-1 victory and their first Copa América title. He was initially named in the Copa América Centenario squad in 2016 but had to withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Mark González, as Chile went on to win the tournament again.
3.2.1. International Goals
Matías Fernández scored 14 goals for the senior Chile national team.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 October 2006 | Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile | Peru | 1-1 | 3-2 | Pacific Cup |
| 2. | 8 October 2006 | Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile | Peru | 2-1 | 3-2 | Pacific Cup |
| 3. | 7 February 2007 | José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela | Venezuela | 0-1 | 0-1 | Friendly |
| 4. | 17 October 2007 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | Peru | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 10 September 2008 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | Colombia | 4-0 | 4-0 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
| 6. | 29 March 2009 | Monumental "U", Lima, Peru | Peru | 1-3 | 1-3 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
| 7. | 6 June 2009 | Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay | Paraguay | 0-1 | 0-2 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 26 March 2011 | Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal | Portugal | 1-1 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 9. | 29 March 2011 | Kyocera, The Hague, Netherlands | Colombia | 0-1 | 0-2 | Friendly |
| 10. | 19 June 2011 | David Arellano, Santiago, Chile | Estonia | 1-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 11. | 7 October 2011 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Argentina | 3-1 | 4-1 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 12. | 29 February 2012 | PPL Park, Pennsylvania, United States | Ghana | 1-1 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 13. | 9 June 2012 | José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela | Venezuela | 0-1 | 0-2 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
| 14. | 11 September 2012 | David Arellano, Santiago, Chile | Colombia | 1-0 | 1-3 | 2014 World Cup qualification |
4. Playing Style
Matías Fernández was primarily an attacking midfielder, celebrated for his exceptional technical abilities on the field. His most distinctive skills included his masterful dribbling, allowing him to navigate tight spaces and evade defenders with agility. He was also widely recognized as a free-kick specialist, capable of delivering powerful and accurate shots from set pieces. His role as a playmaker involved creating scoring opportunities and orchestrating attacks for his teams.
5. Personal Life
Matías Fernández married his Chilean wife in March 2013, although their first child was born in late 2008. A notable anecdote from his personal life occurred when he was fined for speeding while driving from Santiago to Viña del Mar to witness the birth of his first child. Throughout his career, Fernández was often compared to fellow Chilean footballer David Pizarro, who spent a significant portion of his professional career in Italy. The two players later became teammates during Fernández's time at Fiorentina.
6. Post-retirement
Following his retirement from professional football, Matías Fernández has embarked on a new chapter in his career. In December 2024, he successfully graduated as a football manager from the National Institute of Football, Sports and Physical Activity (INAF).
7. Career Statistics
7.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | International | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Colo-Colo | 2004 | Primera División | 23 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 8 |
| 2005 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | ||
| 2006 | 30 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 20 | ||
| Total | 82 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 37 | ||
| Villarreal | 2006-07 | La Liga | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| 2007-08 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2008-09 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| Total | 71 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 78 | 7 | ||
| Sporting CP | 2009-10 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 46 | 5 |
| 2010-11 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 7 | ||
| 2011-12 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 38 | 7 | ||
| Total | 69 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 30 | 6 | 113 | 19 | ||
| Fiorentina | 2012-13 | Serie A | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| 2013-14 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2014-15 | 29 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||
| 2015-16 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 1 | ||
| Total | 96 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 131 | 7 | ||
| AC Milan | 2016-17 | Serie A | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Total | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||
| Necaxa | 2017-18 | Liga MX | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||
| Total | 37 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 5 | ||
| Junior | 2019 | Primera A | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Career Total | 369 | 69 | 31 | 2 | 60 | 6 | 460 | 77 | ||
7.2. International Statistics
Matías Fernández represented the Chile national team from 2005 to 2018, accumulating a total of 74 caps and scoring 14 goals.
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 3 | 2 |
| 2007 | 13 | 2 |
| 2008 | 7 | 1 |
| 2009 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | 8 | 4 |
| 2012 | 7 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 74 | 14 |
8. Honours
Matías Fernández achieved significant success both at club and international levels, earning numerous collective and individual accolades throughout his career.
8.1. Club Honours
Colo-Colo
- Chilean Primera División: 2006 Apertura, 2006 Clausura
- Copa Chile: 2019
- Copa Sudamericana runner-up: 2006
Sporting CP
- Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2011-12
Fiorentina
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2013-14
Milan
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2016
Necaxa
- Copa MX: Clausura 2018
- Supercopa MX: 2018
Junior
- Categoría Primera A: 2019-I
8.2. International Honours
Chile
- Copa América: 2015
- Copa América Centenario: 2016
8.3. Individual Honours
- South American Footballer of the Year: 2006
9. Legacy and Assessment
Matías Fernández is remembered as one of Chile's most gifted attacking midfielders of his generation. His electrifying dribbling and pinpoint free kicks earned him admiration from fans and peers alike. His early career at Colo-Colo was particularly brilliant, culminating in the prestigious South American Footballer of the Year award, a testament to his immense talent and impact on the South American football scene. While his European club career, particularly in Spain and Italy, was sometimes hampered by physical problems, he still contributed to significant achievements, such as Villarreal's second-place finish in La Liga and Milan's Supercoppa Italiana win. On the international stage, Fernández was a vital component of Chile's "Golden Generation," playing a key role in their historic 2015 Copa América triumph. His contributions solidified his place as a beloved figure in Chilean football history, celebrated for his skill, creativity, and the joy he brought to the game.