George Fernandez is an American retired soccer defender who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He coached in both the Continental Indoor Soccer League and NPSL and was the 1994 CISL Coach of the Year.
Playing career
Youth Born in San Francisco, Fernandez spent much of his youth in Hawaii. He played both soccer and football in high school and was offered a football scholarship by the University of the Pacific but chose to attend Cal State Hayward instead.His Game is Growing Again Fernandez played soccer at Hayward from 1979 to 1983.CSU East Bay Soccer Records He was a 1982 and 1983 NCAA Division II First Team All American and has been inducted into the CSU East Bay Athletic Hall of Fame.1982 All AmericansCSU East Bay Hall of Fame
Professional In 1983, the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League drafted Fernandez but he did not sign with them. In October 1983, the Tacoma Stars had the first selection in the Major Indoor Soccer League Draft but swapped their pick with the Cleveland Force. The Force used the pick to select Fernandez."NETTLES FILES FOR FREE AGENCY" Miami Herald Thursday, October 27, 1983 Fernandez played only six games over two seasons with the Force before being released in October 1985."SPIRIT, REFS TOO MUCH FOR FORCE TO OVERCOME" Akron Beacon Journal (OH) Saturday, October 26, 1985 On December 27, 1985, the Los Angeles Lazers for the remainder of the season. He ended up playing two seasons in Los Angeles. In 1987, Fernandez joined the San Diego Sockers as a free agent. On July 30, 1990, he moved to the Cleveland Crunch as a free agent."Fernandez signs with Cleveland" Evening Tribune (San Diego) Tuesday, July 31, 1990 In 1992, the Crunch moved to the National Professional Soccer League. In 1994, he became the head coach of the Anaheim Splash in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. NPSL rules prohibited players and coaches from the CISL to compete in the NPSL. Therefore, the Crunch released Fernandez."CRUNCH PLAYER NOW ANAHEIM COACH \ FERNANDEZ TAKES JOB WITH CISL TEAM, UNCERTAIN IF HE EVER WILL PLAY AGAIN" Akron Beacon Journal (OH) Saturday, May 7, 1994 In 1995, he returned to the NPSL when he signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks."Silverbacks sign two" The Cincinnati Post Saturday, November 25, 1995NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1995–1996 NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1996–1997NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1997–1998
National team In 1981, he played two games with the United States U-20 men's national soccer team at the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship. He was a member of the United States national futsal team at both the 1992 and 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship.
Coaching career In 1994, Fernandez became the head coach of the Anaheim Splash of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. He took the team, to the second best record in the league and was named the 1994 CISL Coach of the Year. In September 1996, Fernandez became a player-coach with the Cincinnati Silverbacks."Silverbacks hire player-coach" The Cincinnati Post Friday, September 20, 1996 He coached the Silverbacks for two seasons. In September 1998, the Buffalo Blizzard hired Fernandez."BLIZZARD TO NAME FERNANDEZ NEW COACH" The Buffalo News Thursday, September 3, 1998 The team fired him on March 1, 2000."BUFFALO FIRES FERNANDEZ; KITSON TAKES THE HELM" The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) Wednesday, March 1, 2000 He then moved to the Cleveland Crunch as an assistant coach. When the Crunch fired head coach Bruce Miller in March 2001, Fernandez served as interim head coach for the remainder of the season."Crunch's Marinaro defends fired Miller" The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) Wednesday, March 7, 2001
Yearly Awards CISL Coach of the Year – 1994
References
External links articles.latimes.com MISL stats