30 Facts About Gelson Fernandes

Gelson da Conceicao Tavares Fernandes was born on 2 September 1986 and is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Gelson Fernandes is most well known for scoring the winner against eventual champions Spain in a group game at the 2010 World Cup.

Gelson Fernandes started his football career at FC Sion when he first joined the club at age seven years old.

Gelson Fernandes was promoted to the first team in 2004 after being called by manager Gilbert Gress.

Gelson Fernandes led his team win the Swiss Cup in a penalty shootout against Young Boys.

The goal was not enough to secure any points for Manchester City, but showed the City fans that Gelson Fernandes was capable of having an eye for goal like fellow youth midfielder, Michael Johnson.

Gelson Fernandes found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench after Mark Hughes took over as manager.

Since joining the club, Gelson Fernandes quickly established himself playing in the defensive midfield position.

Since joining Chievo, Gelson Fernandes became involved in a number of matches in the first team for the club.

On 31 October 2010, Gelson Fernandes received a red card after a second bookable offense against Parma.

On 4 August 2011, Gelson Fernandes signed for Championship club Leicester City on a season long loan, subject to international clearance, and he was joined by Sven-Goran Eriksson who signed him at Manchester City.

Since making his debut for the club, Gelson Fernandes became a first team regular for the side, playing in the midfield position.

Since joining SC Freiburg, Gelson Fernandes became a first team regular, playing as a defensive midfielder.

Since returning from injury, Gelson Fernandes continued to establish himself in the starting eleven, playing in the midfield position.

On 2 June 2017, Gelson Fernandes joined Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on a two-year deal.

Gelson Fernandes then appeared in the first two months for the Eintracht Frankfurt, playing in the midfield position.

Gelson Fernandes was involved in the first team for the first two months to the season until he suffered a knock that saw him miss one match.

Gelson Fernandes was eligible to play for Switzerland and Cape Verde.

Gelson Fernandes's progress attracted interests from the Switzerland Youth Team, playing from the U16 to U21 sides.

Gelson Fernandes was captain of the Switzerland U-21 that played against the England U21 side in their Euro 2007 qualifying match, becoming the first player with African roots to do so.

Gelson Fernandes went on to make nine appearances for the U21 side.

Gelson Fernandes made his first full international appearance for Switzerland against the Netherlands on 22 August 2007.

Gelson Fernandes was named in the Swiss squad for their co-hosting of UEFA Euro 2008.

Gelson Fernandes played in all three of the national side's fixtures in the tournament, as Switzerland were eliminated in the Group Stage.

Gelson Fernandes then helped Switzerland qualify for the FIFA World Cup after beating Israel on 14 October 2009.

In May 2010, Gelson Fernandes was called up to the national team squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

Gelson Fernandes was included in the Switzerland national football team 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Gelson Fernandes arrived in Switzerland with his mother at the age of five from the Cape Verde islands, the family settling in Sion, as his father, Jose, works for FC Sion as a groundskeeper.

Gelson Fernandes natively speaks Portuguese, the official language of his birthplace, Cape Verde.

Gelson Fernandes is married to his wife, Tiffany, and they have a daughter, Sienna.