36 years without Fernando Martín
On 3 December 1989, the Real Madrid legend passed away in a traffic accident.
It has been 36 years since the loss of a legend of Real Madrid basketball. On 3 December 1989, Fernando Martín passed away in a traffic accident. Madrid fans said goodbye to one of their heroes at just 27 years of age. The tragic event occurred while he was on his way to the Palacio de los Deportes to watch the match between Real Madrid and CAI Zaragoza.
Fernando Martín left his mark on the club and on Spanish basketball thanks to his quality, courage and personality. With our team, he won four Leagues, one Intercontinental Cup, two Recopas, one Korac Cup, three Copa del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup. A leader on the court and an idol for the fans, Real Madrid decided to retire his number 10 jersey in his honour.
NBA
In addition to his career with Real Madrid, Fernando Martín holds a prominent place in Spanish sporting history, as he was the first Spanish player to debut in the NBA in 1986. He was also part of the Spanish national team that won the silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. His achievements with the national team are rounded off by a silver medal at the 1983 European Championships.