César Ferrando Jiménez (born 25 July 1959) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder, currently a manager.

Playing career

Born in Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencian Community, Ferrando started his professional career with local giants Valencia CF, first spending nearly four years with the reserves. He made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 26 April 1981, playing the last minutes of the 3–1 home win against UD Las Palmas.

After a further three full seasons with the Che, Ferrando left in 1984 and went on to play professionally with UD Salamanca, CE Sabadell FC and UD Alzira, competing almost exclusively in the Segunda División but appearing in seven top-division games with the second club in the 1986–87 campaign. He closed out his career in 1991 at the age of 32, retiring at lowly Ontinyent CF in his native region.

Managerial career

Ferrando started coaching at amateur level, with his local club, UD Tavernes. In 1997, he moved to Segunda División B, where he spent three years in charge of CF Gandía. In 2001, he led Valencia B to a return to the latter competition.

Ferrando was appointed at second-tier Albacete Balompié in summer 2002, achieving promotion to the top flight in his first year and leading the team to safety the following season, which prompted his signing for Atlético Madrid.

After the Colchoneros could only rank in 11th place, Ferrando was relieved of his duties in late May 2005. He subsequently returned to his previous club, for a further two second division campaigns.

For the better part of the next years, Ferrando continued to work in the second tier of Spanish football, with Gimnàstic de Tarragona and Elche CF. He moved abroad for the first time in 2013, being appointed coach at Malaysian club Johor Darul Takzim F.C. and switching to director of football afterwards.

Ferrando returned to Albacete on 13 March 2016, with the team seriously threatened with relegation from division two. On 21 July 2018, he was appointed head coach of Indian Super League franchise Jamshedpur FC.

Personal life

Ferrando's younger brothers, Francisco (1962) and Juan Carlos (1965), were also footballers and midfielders. The former also played for Valencia.

Managerial statistics

As of 25 January 2023

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNat.FromToRecordRef.
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
GandíaSpain1 July 199730 June 2000120483438135113+22040.00
Valencia BSpain30 June 20001 July 20028851201717165+106057.95
AlbaceteSpain1 July 200230 June 2004823028249281+11036.59
Atlético MadridSpain30 June 200431 May 2005522213176143+18042.31
AlbaceteSpain15 June 200530 June 20078832243299114−15036.36
GimnàsticSpain9 January 20086 March 201094313231117111+6032.98
ElcheSpain10 April 201212 June 2012103161221−9030.00
Johor Darul Ta'zimMalaysia21 August 201324 February 2014147432513+12050.00
AlbaceteSpain13 March 20166 June 2016134181219−7030.77
La NucíaSpain7 March 201828 May 2018138142713+14061.54
JamshedpurIndia21 July 20187 April 2019196943225+7031.58
La NucíaSpain18 July 201925 January 2023116453833122107+15038.79
Career Total709287205217905725+180040.48

External links

  • at BDFutbol
  • at BDFutbol
  • (in Spanish)