Fernando de Ornelas, anyone remember him playing for Celtic?
Nope you most likely won’t and that’s because Fernando failed to make any kind of impact at our football club.
Fernando was the first and indeed still the only Venezuelan to have played for the club. He was signed in 2000 on a free transfer from Crystal Palace. Fernando signed for the then cash-strapped Eagles on an expenses deal only, after leaving Hong Kong side South China.
Fernando was described as a pacey winger who could also play in midfielder. His agent also happened to be Ian Wright.
Fernando de Ornelas had failed to make an impact at Crystal Palace making only nine appearances for the London side in his only season in English football, so was hoping to advance his career north of the border.
John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish brought in a number of trialists that season to run the rule over and Fernando was one of a few who impressed.
Fernando never completed ninety minutes at the first team level and his only appearances were in a friendly against Bayern Munich, and two substitute appearances against Dundee and Hibs, both of which ended in stalemates.
He was on the move at again at the end of the season after failing to impress at Celtic, but to be fair we were in some turmoil due to the disastrous John Barnes reign, and even the most experienced player found it tough going in that environment.
Fernando was on the look out for yet another club and headed back to the similar surroundings of Hong Kong as he returned for a brief spell at South China before a swift return to the UK and London once more this time with QPR. His time in the London was as brief as his last spell and he was on the move again this time back to the Far East via Portugal.
He would then play for a host of clubs in a an eight year spell, with his travels taking him to Germany, Cyprus, Norway, and a return to his native Venezuela before heading back to Norway where he would end his career.
Indeed he settled in Scandinavia, Bamble Norway to be precise, a place where he still resides and is a Pentecostal pastor in a Norwegian free church.
Fernando could also look back on his international career with pride as he represented his nation 27 times scoring five goals, including appearing at the 2007 Copa America helping his side reach the quarter final stage.
He may not have made the grade at Celtic, but Fernando had a pretty well travelled and interesting career in the beautiful game.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Miku ?
correct
The less said about the barnes reign and the majority of his signings the better !
Yeah Miku Fedor played for Celtic whilst on loan from Getafe. I believe he played in the famous win against Barca in 2012