Lester Fernandez

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lester Fernandez

| image = Lester Fernandes.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|12|6|df=y}}{{soccerway|lester-fernandez/72802}}

| birth_place = Bangalore, Karnataka, India{{cite web|title=Lester Fernandez|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/people/india/28460/lester-fernandez|work=Goal.com|accessdate=20 February 2014}}

| height = {{height|m=1.76}}

| currentclub = Kenkre

| clubnumber = 22

| position = Attacking midfielder

| youthyears1 = 2003–2007

| youthclubs1 = Tata FA

| years1 = 2007–2008

| clubs1 = Dempo

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2008–2009

| clubs2 = Vasco

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2009–2010

| clubs3 = Salgaocar

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2010–2012

| clubs4 = Pune

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 2012–2013

| clubs5 = United SC

| caps5 = 11

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2013

| clubs6 = Mumbai Tigers

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014

| clubs7 = Pune

| caps7 = 1

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2014

| clubs8 = ATK

| caps8 = 6

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2015

| clubs9 = Bharat

| caps9 = 9

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2019–

| clubs10 = Kenkre

| caps10 = 9

| goals10 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2012

| nationalteam1 = India

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 = SP Academy

| club-update = 17:33, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

}}

Lester Fernandez (born 6 December 1986), is an Indian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Kenkre in the I-League. He is currently a football coach too.{{Cite web|title=Whatever happened to Lester Fernandez? The talented midfielder who won the ISL {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-i-league-isl-whatever-happened-to-lester/qhg656wfpgsp1931wa8v3908m|access-date=2020-06-30|website=www.goal.com}}

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Bangalore, Karnataka, Fernandez graduated from the Tata Football Academy in 2007.{{cite web|title=Pune FC re-sign winger Lester Fernandez|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/Pune-FC-re-sign-winger-Lester-Fernandez/articleshow/30630347.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=20 February 2014}} He then signed his first professional deal with Dempo of the I-League. He then signed for Vasco next season before signing with Salgaocar the next season in 2009.

He then signed for I-League side Pune F.C. in 2010. After the 2010–11 season, Fernandez was voted the Fans' Player of the Year.

=Prayag United and Mumbai Tigers=

On 11 June 2012 it was announced that Fernandez had been sold to fellow I-League side Prayag United for Rs 20 lakh.{{cite web|title=Pune FC sells Lester to Prayag United for Rs 20 lakh|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Pune-FC-sells-Lester-to-Prayag-United-for-Rs-20-lakh/articleshow/14027172.cms?referral=PM|work=Times of India|accessdate=20 February 2014}} He made his debut for Prayag United on 7 October 2012 against Air India in a league match. He came on in the 82nd minute for C.K. Vineeth as Prayag United won 5–1.{{cite web|title=United vs. Air India 5 - 1|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/10/07/india/i-league/chirag-united-sc/air-india/1394149/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=20 February 2014}}

After the 2012–13 season, Fernandez left Prayag United due to lack of playing time and signed for Mumbai Tigers who were expected to participate in the I-League for the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|title=Mumbai Tigers to rope in Lester Fernandez and Shylo Malsawmtluanga|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2013/07/17/4121851/mumbai-tigers-to-rope-in-lester-fernandez-and-shylo|work=Goal.com|accessdate=20 February 2014}} However, before the season began, it was announced that Mumbai Tigers had dropped out of the I-League, meaning that Fernandez would not participate in the league.{{cite web|title=Mumbai Tigers pull out of I-League|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/mumbai-tigers-pull-out-of-i-league_768144.html|work=Zee News|accessdate=20 February 2014}}

=Pune=

On 18 February 2014 it was announced that Fernandez had re-signed with former club Pune. He made his return debut for the club on 19 February 2014 against Mohammedan. He came on as a 65th-minute substitute for Anthony D'Souza as Pune won 2–0.{{cite web|title=Pune vs. Mohammedan 2 - 0|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/02/19/india/i-league/pune-fc/mohammedan-sporting-club/1585420/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=20 February 2014}}

= Atletico de Kolkata =

Fernandez was drafted by Indian Super League franchise Atlético de Kolkata in the 10th round.{{cite web|title=ISL 10th round draft|url=https://www.facebook.com/IndianSuperLeague/photos/pb.158120631030535.-2207520000.1406339794./312845182224745/?type=1&permPage=1|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=14 November 2014}} In his second match against Chennaiyin FC, he won the ISL Emerging player of the match award.{{cite web|title=Atletico de Kolkata vs Chennaiyin FC|url=http://www.indiansuperleague.com/matchcentre/2014111413847-atletico-de-kolkata-vs-chennaiyin-fc|publisher=Indian Super League|accessdate=14 November 2014}}

International career

In February 2012 Fernandez was selected into India head coach Savio Medeira's 30-man squad.{{cite web|title=Team India leaves for Dubai|url=http://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=4850|work=The All India Football Federation|accessdate=20 February 2014}} He then made his international debut for India on 23 February 2012 against Oman in which he started and played 56 minutes as India lost 5–1.{{cite web|title=Oman thrash India 5-1 in an international friendly|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Oman-thrash-India-5-1-in-an-international-friendly/articleshow/12005565.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=20 February 2014}}{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/46671/Lester_Fernandes.html|title=NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Lester Fernandes|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=18 January 2022|archive-date=28 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228052830/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/46671/Lester_Fernandes.html|website=national-football-teams.com}}