Antonio Fernández (football executive)

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Antonio Fernández (born 27 August 1970 in Guadalcacín, Jerez de la Frontera) is a Spanish football coach, scout and director. He has worked as a scout and analyst for the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), as technical director for Sevilla FC and Valencia CF, and as director of football at Xerez CD and Málaga CF.

Fernández joined Sevilla in 2000 as a scout for the academy and Sevilla Atlético. He soon joined the first team scouting staff and became head of international recruitment. He is known for discovering Dani Alves and pushing to sign him after seeing him in youth tournaments. Monchi, Sevilla’s sports director, then appointed Fernández as technical director. He helped shape signings like Júlio Baptista, Renato, Adriano Correia and Luís Fabiano. Sevilla won the 2006 UEFA Cup and the 2006 UEFA Super Cup, and were recognized by IFFHS as one of the world’s best clubs.

In 2006/07, Fernández became director of football at Xerez in Spain’s Segunda División. The team led the league for 14 weeks but finished 8th due to budget differences with rivals. In July 2007, he moved to Valencia CF as technical director, where he oversaw signings such as Edwiges Maduro, Manuel Fernandes and Éver Banega, and the club won the 2008 Copa del Rey.

In 2008, Fernández joined the Spain national team coaching staff as a scout and analyst, aiming for the 2010 World Cup. Spain won the World Cup on 11 July 2010. After that success, Málaga CF owner Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani hired Fernández as director of football. He left Málaga in August 2012, during which the club reached the Champions League group stage for the first time.

Following Málaga, Fernández spent three years with White Elephant Academy, then in 2016 worked with La Liga de Fútbol Profesional on Southeast Asia projects, especially in Indonesia. In 2018 he joined Cádiz CF as a scout. In 2021, he returned to Sevilla as Director of International Youth Recruitment, reuniting with Monchi.

In July 2010, Guadalcacín’s local board named the stadium Estadio Municipal Antonio Fernández Marchán in recognition of his work with Spain’s national team.