Antoni Lima Solá
Encyclopedia
Antoni "Toni" Lima Solá (born 22 September 1970 in Gavà
, Barcelona, Catalonia
) is a retired Andorra
n footballer who played as a central defender.
, Lima moved to RCD Español
, for which he played in two La Liga
games. In 1992, he stayed in his native Catalonia
and spent three seasons with Palamós CF
, in the second division
, being relegated in the last.
After another season in level two, with CP Almería
, Lima played the remainder of his Spanish career in the third division
or lower. He also had two abroad experiences: in 1998, he played with C.F. União, appearing rarely as the Portuguese second division
was also relegated. Three years later, also with no impact whatsoever, he represented Ionikos F.C. in the Greek top flight.
In 2008, after retiring at Societat Esportiva Eivissa-Ibiza at the age of 38, Lima became the club's director of football
. He gained 64 caps
for Andorra
, over a 12-year period. On 10 June 2009, in his last international, a 0–6 loss against England
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
, at Wembley Stadium
, he wore the captain's armband.
Gavà
Gavà is a municipality in Barcelona Province , bordering the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Viladecans and Castelldefels; not to get confused with the village of Gava in the Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.Gavà has a beach and two...
, Barcelona, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a retired Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
n footballer who played as a central defender.
Football career
After a brief spell with Real Madrid CastillaReal Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
, Lima moved to RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, for which he played in two La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
games. In 1992, he stayed in his native Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and spent three seasons with Palamós CF
Palamós CF
Palamós Club de Futbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Palamós, a town and commercial port in the Costa Brava, in the autonomous community of Catalonia...
, in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, being relegated in the last.
After another season in level two, with CP Almería
CP Almería
Club Polideportivo Almería is a football team based in the city of Almería, Andalusia, in Spain. Currently, not registered in any level.From 2008–09 season, the club is alive but not competing in any category of Spanish football.-Season to season:----...
, Lima played the remainder of his Spanish career in the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
or lower. He also had two abroad experiences: in 1998, he played with C.F. União, appearing rarely as the Portuguese second division
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
was also relegated. Three years later, also with no impact whatsoever, he represented Ionikos F.C. in the Greek top flight.
In 2008, after retiring at Societat Esportiva Eivissa-Ibiza at the age of 38, Lima became the club's director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
. He gained 64 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Andorra
Andorra national football team
The Andorra national football team represents Andorra in association football and is controlled by the Andorran Football Federation, the governing body for football in Andorra. The team has enjoyed very little success due to the Principality's tiny population, the fourth smallest of any UEFA...
, over a 12-year period. On 10 June 2009, in his last international, a 0–6 loss against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
, at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, he wore the captain's armband.