# Yago Fernández

Yago Fernández Prieto (born 5 January 1988), known simply as Yago, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

## Club career
### Early career

Born in Lisbon to a Spanish father, Yago played for four clubs during his youth career, starting with S.L. Benfica at the age of 9 then successively representing Sporting CP, Real Madrid and Valencia CF. As a senior, his first spell was with the latter's reserve team in the Tercera División, in a promotion-ending campaign.
Subsequently, Yago continued in Spain, spending two years with RCD Espanyol B, helping the side to promote to Segunda División B and being relegated in his second season. In January 2010, he returned to his country for an unassuming loan spell with Gil Vicente F.C. in the Segunda Liga (no appearances whatsoever).

### Malmö FF

In July 2010, after not having his contract renewed by Espanyol, Yago was taken on trial by Swedish club Malmö FF, which had just lost Jasmin Sudić with a ruptured cruciate ligament. He played against Fulham in a 0–0 friendly draw, and his performance earned him a contract for the rest of the year, with the deal being confirmed by manager Roland Nilsson.
On 8 December 2010, shortly after winning the Allsvenskan title, Yago signed a new one-year extension. However, they chose not to offer him a new contract after the 2011 season.

### AEK Athens

In August 2012, following a five-month spell with Girona FC in the Segunda División, during which he scored in a 5–3 home win over Xerez CD, Yago agreed to a three-year contract at AEK Athens FC. He scored his only goal in the Super League Greece on 16 September, opening an eventual 1–1 home draw with Aris Thessaloniki FC.

### Häcken

On 19 August 2013, Yago joined BK Häcken, thus returning to Sweden. In November, after failing to make an appearance, he left the club.

### Oriental

Yago moved to Clube Oriental de Lisboa in early August 2014, following a short stint in Kazakhstan with FC Shakhter Karagandy. He played his first game as a professional in his country on 5 October, featuring the full 90 minutes in the 0–0 home draw against G.D. Chaves.

### Later career

Yago retired in 2018 aged 30, following unassuming spells with Spanish amateurs La Roda CF and CF Torre Levante and Portuguese third-tier side U.D. Leiria.

## International career

Yago represented Portugal at youth level.

## Career statistics

    As of 15 March 2015
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Valencia B | 2007–08 | Tercera División | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Espanyol B | 2008–09 | Tercera División | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Espanyol B | 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Espanyol B | Total | Total | 36 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Gil Vicente (loan) | 2009–10 | Segunda Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Malmö FF | 2010 | Allsvenskan | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Malmö FF | 2011 | Allsvenskan | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Malmö FF | Total | Total | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 4 |
| Girona | 2011–12 | Segunda División | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| AEK Athens | 2012–13 | Super League Greece | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Shakhter Karagandy | 2014 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Oriental | 2014–15 | Segunda Liga | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 101 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 107 | 7 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in Svenska Supercupen
* ↑ Appearances in Kazakhstan Super Cup

## Honours

Malmö FF
* Allsvenskan: 2010