Fernando Hierro

Fernando Hierro was one of the greatest defenders in Spanish football history and one of the pillars of Real Madrid who dominated Europe in the late 1990s. Versatile, he played both as a central defender and as a midfielder, being celebrated for his leadership, physical strength and rare finishing ability for a defender — he scored more than 100 goals for Real Madrid, most of them from free kicks and penalties. His imposing presence and captain's personality made him the defensive heart of the Spanish national team for more than a decade. He participated in three World Cups and is considered one of the most complete defenders Spain has ever produced. At Real Madrid, he was a key figure in the Champions League victories of 1998, 2000 and 2002, as well as four La Liga titles. Decades after retiring as a player, Hierro returned to the spotlight by temporarily taking on the role of coach of the Spanish national team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament — an unprecedented situation in world football.