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Fernando Ruiz Hierro (born 23 March 1968 in
Vélez-Málaga, Málaga|Vélez-Málaga) is a
former Spain|Spanish football (soccer) player. He
played as a defender (football)|defender for the
Spain national football team|Spanish national team
and Real Madrid football club. He was also the
captain of both teams. At his peak, Hierro's
ability to combine solid defensive play with a
near-unlimited passing range made him one of the
world's most sought-after players.

With Real Madrid, Hierro won the Liga championship
five times and the UEFA Champions League|Champions
League three times: 1998, 2000, and 2002. He was
released by Real Madrid at the end of the 2002-03
season. After playing for one year for Qatar club
Al Rayyan, Hierro returned to Europe for the
2004-05 season, signing with FA Premier
League|English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers
F.C.|Bolton Wanderers. He announced his retirement
after one season in England and finished playing
football on May 15th 2005.
Hierro had made a great impact at Bolton playing
in an anchor midfield role and consigning
compatriot Ivan Campo to bench duty and manager
Sam Allardyce would have loved him to stay on but
Hierro had made up his mind to hang up his boots.

Hierro has been capped 89 times for Spain, a
record for a Spanish outfield player, and has
scored 29 goals.  He played for his country in the
Football World Cup 1994|1994, Football World Cup
1998|1998, and Football World Cup 2002|2002 World
Cups, as well as 1996 European Football
Championship|Euro 96 and 2000 European Football
Championship|Euro 2000.  At the time of the 2002
World Cup, he was the leading goalscorer for the
Spanish national team.  He retired from the
national team in 2002 and was since replaced both
as captain and as leading goalscorer by Raúl
González|Raúl.

=== Quote ===
:"I think the Premiership is fantastic. I can't
express how great it is - the atmosphere, the
fans, how they play football, I love everything
I've seen. I feel like I definitely had the right
idea coming here, because I have seen things I
never would have seen if I hadn't come."