Fernando Marcos

Albacete secured a remarkable 1–1 draw against the giants, who would ultimately secure their 26th La Liga crown that season.

He played 10 more times that year, establishing himself as a reliable back-up to future Spanish international José Francisco Molina, who had joined from Valencia that summer.

The only low point was conceding 5 against Español at Sarrià Stadium on 30 October.

Cartagena's last match of the season, a 2–1 away win over Manacor on 1 May, was Marcos's 32nd appearance in a successful season, and he returned to Albacete that summer.

Orihuela's first season in the Segunda División for over 35 years was very successful, as they placed 5th and only missed out on the promotion playoff by three points.

However, they were found to have failed to pay their players, and were punished with administrative relegation to Segunda División B.

Marcos left at the end of the season.

Following Orihuela's relegation, Marcos joined their erstwhile Segunda División rivals Albacete Balompié.

Fernando Marcos Santiago (born 4 December 1968) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played professionally in all of Spain's top three divisions, which included 47 appearances in La Liga with Albacete Balompié and Racing Santander.

Marcos was born in Felanitx, in the southeast of Majorca in the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.

He began his career with local side Real Mallorca, making his debut on 19 February 1989 in a Segunda División match away at Figueres.

First choice goalkeeper Molondro was injured after half an hour, and Marcos was brought on to finish the game.

Unfortunately, he conceded twice as Figueres won the game 2–1.

With Molondro still out of action, Marcos made his first start in the Copa del Rey round of 16 second leg match at home to Recreativo de Huelva three days later.

With everything to play for following the 0–0 first leg, Marcos kept a clean sheet for the full 120 minutes at Lluís Sitjar Stadium, including 30 minutes extra time, to send the tie to penalties.

After the penalty spot had to be redrawn, Marcos became the hero of the shootout, saving a penalty from Recreativo's Melenas to send Mallorca into the quarterfinals.

His final appearance as Molondro's deputy came in the next league match, at home to Salamanca, which Mallorca won 2–1.

That season was a successful one for Mallorca, as they were promoted to La Liga via a playoff with Español.

However, despite his strong performances, Marcos's three appearances that year proved to be his only first team action with Mallorca, and for 1989–90 he was sent to the farm team Mallorca Atlético in Segunda División B.

He was instantly first choice, making his debut on 3 September in the opening match of the season at home to Manlleu, which the visitors won 2–1.

He started 26 consecutive league matches, but following a 1–0 home win over Gimnàstic de Tarragona on 4 March he was dropped in favour of Molondro, and didn't play for the club again.

He left Mallorca altogether at the end of the season.

While Mallorca Atlético finished the 1989–90 season in 14th, only four points clear of relegation, their rivals Orihuela Deportiva topped the group and were promoted to the Segunda División.

The Valencian club would be Marcos's next destination, as he joined in the summer of 1990.

He wasn't immediately first choice for his new club, with Juan Espín preferred at the start of the season, but made his debut on 7 October in an away match against Elche at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

He kept a clean sheet as Orihuela won 1–0, and kept his place for the next match, at home to Rayo Vallecano a week later.

This match, at Estadio Municipal Los Arcos, was somewhat less successful, with the visitors triumphing 4–2.

He ultimately made 17 appearances that season, with a 3–2 home win over Xerez on 26 May being the last.

Albacete had had a very successful season in 1990–91, topping the table and being promoted to La Liga for the first time in their history.

However, Marcos would face a long wait to make his top flight debut.

Experienced Costa Rican Luis Conejo was first choice in 1991–92, with Juan Carlos Balaguer also ahead of Marcos in the pecking order.

The following season, Balaguer became the number one, with Jesús Unanua brought in on loan from Osasuna to act as his understudy.

The result was that Marcos didn't make a single appearance during his first two years at Albacete.

For the 1993–94 season, Marcos was sent out on loan to Cartagena FC in Segunda División B.

He made his first competitive appearance in over two years as he started both legs of Cartagena's Copa del Rey first round tie against Mar Menor.

They won the first leg, away from home, 1–0, but suffered a humiliating 2–0 defeat in the return fixture at Estadio Cartagonova, and were eliminated by their Tercera División opponents.

Marcos also started the first two league matches of the year, away at Gramenet and at home to Alcoyano, which resulted in a 1–0 loss and a 1–1 draw respectively.

His long-awaited Albacete and La Liga debut arrived on 18 September 1994, after more than three years at the club, as he started in the home fixture against Real Madrid at Estadio Carlos Belmonte.

Albacete finished the season in 17th, behind Compostela only thanks to their head-to-head record, which meant they had to play in the Relegation play-offs.