Born in Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia, Hierro started playing professionally with local Málaga, but only totalled 26 games for the first team in his first five seasons, also suffering La Liga relegation in the last one.
After helping the Castile and León side finish eighth in his second season, with one of the best defensive records in the competition (38 matches, 34 goals), Hierro signed for Barcelona,[1] but only lasted a few months in Catalonia, moving to Real Betis on loan.
Suffering top-flight relegation with the Verdiblancos, he subsequently joined Tenerife[2]– also in the top tier and on loan – and retired from football at 32, having amassed professional totals of 206 games and 11 goals.
In early 2006, following the dismissal of Antonio Tapia,[3] he was named head coach, as the club was eventually relegated from the first division and he was relieved of his duties as both director and manager.
His older brother, Antonio, played almost exclusively for Málaga, while the youngest, Fernando, represented mainly Real Madrid and scored more than 20 goals for the Spain national team.