José Ramón Fernández | |
|---|---|
| Born | José Ramón Fernández Álvarez (1946-04-06)April 6, 1946 (age 79) |
| Education | Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla |
| Occupations | Sportscaster Journalist Television host |
| Years active | 1970–present[1] |
| Children | 4[2][3][4] |
José Ramón Fernández Álvarez (born 6 April 1946) is a Mexican journalist, sportscaster, sports commentator, and television host currently working forESPN Deportes andESPN Mexico. Fernández started his journalistic career in 1970 and since has covered numerous major sporting events such as theFIFA World Cup and theSummer Olympics.[5]
Considered one of the most respected journalists and an "institution" in Mexican sports journalism, Fernández is also considered one of the most controversial journalists in Mexico.[6][7][8][9] Fernández has covered 10FIFA World Cups and 10Summer Olympic Games.[7]
Fernández is considered one of all-times best journalists in Mexico bySpanish sports newspaperMarca.[10]
Fernández began his broadcasting career in 1970 at a local television station in his hometown of Puebla owned byTIM (nowTelevisa), then worked inCanal 13 (which later becameTV Azteca) and now works forESPN.[7] Fernández is one of the creators of DeporTV, one of the longest-running sports television shows in Mexico, running since 1974.[11] He also hostedLos Protagonistas along with various journalists such as Raul Orvañanos, Francisco Javier González, Carlos Albert,Rafael Puente, Roberto Gómez Junco,Ciro Procuna andDavid Faitelson.[12]
Fernández played a big role in revealing one of the biggest scandals inMexican football history, commonly referred as "Cachirules".[13] Fernandez revealed that the Mexican Football Federation knowingly used at least four overage players in theMexico under-20 team at the1988 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament.[13] Fernández backed up hisImevisión colleague Antonio Moreno, who first revealed the scandal in an article in the Mexican newspaperOvaciones but his allegations were denied by the Mexican Football Federation.[13] AfterCONCACAF andFIFA looked into the situation all Mexico youth teams and eventually the senior team as well, were banned from all international competition for two years, including the1990 FIFA World Cup.[13]
Fernández worked forCanal 13/Imevisión/TV Azteca for 33 years where he hosted DeporTV, Los Protagonistas and covered everyFIFA World Cup from1978 to2006 and everySummer Olympics from1976 to2004.[14]
In 1996 Fernández was named vice-president of sports of TV Azteca.[15]
Fernández temporarily left TV Azteca due to health problems in September 2006,[15] he later returned to host a show namedJoserra presenta but shortly left for good in September 2007 citing various betrayals as the reason for his departure, most notably from colleague André Marín.[16][17][18]
Fernández later followed many of his fellow TV Azteca journalists and joinedESPN in November 2007.[19] At ESPN, Fernández was reunited with many of his TV Azteca colleagues such asDavid Faitelson,Rafael Puente, Carlos Albert, and Ángel García Toraño.[20] At ESPN, Fernández has covered threeSummer Olympic Games (2008,2012 and2016), fourFIFA World Cups (2010,2014,2018,2022), and twoPan American Games (2011,2015).[21][22]
Fernández currently hosts various programs on ESPN, includingCronómetro,Los Capitanes,Fútbol Picante andComex Masters with various journalists and formerfootballers.[7] He also occasionally appears on other ESPN shows such asToque Inicial,SportsCenter, and ESPN Radio Fórmula. He also commentates various football matches from various leagues and tournaments such as theUEFA Champions League and other football leagues and tournaments.[7]
Fernández has four children; José Ramón Jr. (born 1973),[2] Juan Pablo (born 1978),[2] María Asunción (born 1979)[3] and Lorea (born 2006).[4] He also has five grandchildren, all from his eldest daughter María Asunción.[3] Fernández eldest son, José Ramón Jr. works as a journalist inSpain while his other son, Juan Pablo hostsESPN Mexico morning sports showToque Inicial.
During his 70th birthday celebration on ESPN Mexico's programLos Capitanes, he revealed he was not present at any of his children's births due to his job. Fernández was covering the1973 CONCACAF Championship inHaiti when José Ramón Jr. was born, he was inArgentina narrating the1978 FIFA World Cup match betweenWest Germany andMexico when Juan Pablo was born, covering the1979 Summer Universiade when María Asunción was born and covering the2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany when his youngest child, Lorea was born.[23]
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