In April 1985, Gallardo played both legs of a 3–2 aggregate win over CA Osasuna in the first round of the Copa de la Liga.[2][3] The following month, he did the same in a 2–4 aggregate loss to Athletic Bilbao in the next round.[4][5]
As Fernando dominated in goal, Gallardo played only once in 1985–86, a 1–1 draw at Cartagena FC in the last Segunda División match on 18 May. After the former was sold to Sevilla FC in the summer of 1986, the latter became first-choice and conceded 14 goals in 19 matches during the first part of the campaign.[6]
Accident and death
On 21 December 1986, in a 3–2 loss to RC Celta de Vigo at Balaídos, Gallardo suffered a head injury after a collision with opposing striker Baltazar.[7] He recovered after three hours of critical medical treatment in the Galician city and, despite facial paralysis and memory loss, he was making progress.[8] However, on 7 January, he fell acutely ill after lunch, and his family took him to the local medical centre, where he was transferred to Málaga's Carlos Haya hospital.[9]
As Gallardo had the best goals-against average at that point of the season, newspaper Marca posthumously awarded him the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for best goalkeeping in the division.[6]
^Mancera, José (11 April 1985). "1–0: Málaga y Osasuna... ¡para irse!" [1–0: Málaga and Osasuna... makes you want to leave!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2016.
^Mancera, José (10 May 1985). "0–1: Bastó un zarpazo del Athletic" [0–1: Athletic only needed one blow]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2016.