Biography
Who is Nacho?
Early life and career
Born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, José Ignacio Fernández Iglesias, known as Nacho, joined Real Madrid's youth system at the age of eleven. He made his senior debut with the club's reserves in the Segunda División B and progressed through the youth ranks of the Spain national team, playing for the under-16, under-17, under-19, and under-21 squads.
On April 23, 2011, Nacho made his first-team and La Liga debut for Real Madrid, starting as a left-back in a match against Valencia. He officially joined the main squad full-time at the start of the 2013-14 season, receiving the number 18 shirt after the departure of Raúl Albiol.
Real Madrid success
During his long career with Real Madrid, Nacho won numerous trophies and established himself as a reliable defensive option across the centre-back, right-back, and left-back positions. In 2014, he signed a contract extension and scored his first official goal for the club against Espanyol in January 2015. He later scored a crucial goal in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Paris Saint-Germain in November 2015.
Nacho made his 100th appearance for Real Madrid in February 2017 during a win over Osasuna. He became a vital player in the centre-back position as the club won the national championship. In the following years, he secured multiple Champions League titles, including scoring in a match against Deportivo La Coruña in January 2018 and featuring in the final against Liverpool.
Leadership and departure
Following the departure of Marcelo, Nacho was promoted to vice-captain for the 2022-23 season. He later signed a contract extension until June 2024, becoming club captain after the departure of Karim Benzema. During the 2023-24 season, he helped Real Madrid secure another La Liga title and captained the team to victory in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
With this triumph, Nacho lifted the European trophy for a record sixth time and achieved a total of 26 titles with Real Madrid, matching Luka Modrić as the most decorated player in the club's history. In June 2024, he announced his departure from Real Madrid after thirteen years and subsequently signed a two-year contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah.
International career
Nacho represented Spain at various youth levels and was part of the squad that won the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He received his first senior call-up in September 2013, making his debut in a friendly match against Chile by replacing his Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos.
He was selected for the squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he scored his first international goal in a match against Portugal. He later won the 2023 UEFA Nations League with Spain and was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2024, helping his team secure the championship title.
Birthday and age
Nacho was born on January 18, 1990, which makes Nacho 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Nacho shares the date with 47 other famous people.
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