Fernando Varela (Spanish footballer) Fernando Varela (Spanish footballer) Fernando Varela Ramos (born 1 September 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer. Mainly a right midfielder he could also operate as an attacking right back, being noted for his long-range strikes. He amassed La Liga totals of 257 matches and 13 goals over 11 seasons, in representation of Betis and Mallorca. He won one Copa del Rey with the former club. Born in Dos Hermanas, Province of Seville, Varela was a youth player at local Real Betis, and made his first-team – and La Liga – debut in 1996–97's closing stages, in a 1–1 away draw
Real Betis with the club, leading the side to the eighth position and to the quarter-finals in the Cup Winners' Cup, where they would lose 2–5 on aggregate to eventual winners Chelsea. Aragonés was followed by the controversial reign of Javier Clemente, who spat on a fan and implied Andalusia was "another country!". The team slipped down the table, finishing 11th and being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Bologna in the third round. For the next couple of seasons, Betis went through numerous managers, a relegation and a promotion, after which the team finished sixth in the league with Juande