Biography
Who is Matías Fernandez?
Early years and Colo-Colo
Matías Fernandez began his path in football with the youth squads of Colo-Colo when he was twelve years old. He made his professional debut in the Primera División on August 1, 2004, against Club Universidad de Chile. One week later, he scored his first two goals as a professional player during a match against Cobresal. By the end of the 2004 season, he had netted eight goals and received recognition as the best young player of that year.
European club career
In late 2006, the Spanish club Villarreal CF signed Matías for a reported fee of 8.7 million euros. He arrived at the Valencia airport in December and played his first La Liga match in January 2007 against Valencia CF. During his time in Spain, he contributed to the team finishing as runners-up in the 2007–08 season. He also scored a penalty kick against FC Barcelona in May 2009 during a 3–3 draw.
International success and retirement
Matías Fernandez established himself as a prominent figure for the Chile national football team. He captained the under-20 squad at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, scoring against Honduras. He later became a regular for the senior national side, appearing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he started matches against Honduras and Switzerland. He was also a member of the squad that won the 2015 Copa América, scoring one of the penalties in the final against Argentina.
Personal life and family
Matías Fernandez married his wife in March 2013, and the couple had their first child in late 2008. Before moving to play in Europe, he was frequently compared to his compatriot David Pizarro. His daughter, Aylén, has achieved success in athletics as well, becoming a pre-junior champion in speed skating in November 2025.
Birthday and age
Matías Fernandez was born on May 15, 1986, which makes Matías 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Matías shares the date with 64 other famous people.
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