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Fernando Ruiz Hierro (born 23 March 1968 in Velez) is a Spanish football (soccer) player. He played as a defender for the 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 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, he returned to Europe for the 2004-05 season, signing with English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers.
Hierro has been capped 89 times for Spain and scored 29 goals. He played for his country in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups, as well as Euro 96 and 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.
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- "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."
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