Antonio Ruiz
Encyclopedia
Antonio Ruiz Cervilla is a retired Spanish
football midfielder
and manager
.
, making his La Liga
debut on 21 April 1957 in a 4–1 home win against Celta de Vigo
. He appeared in only 15 games in his first three seasons combined, adding five complete matches in the club's 1958–59 European Cup
campaign, including the 2–0 final win
against Stade Reims
.
In 1962, Ruiz signed for Deportivo de La Coruña
on loan, being an undisputed starter during his only season but suffering relegation. Released by the Merengues, he spent five of the following seven seasons in Segunda División
, one of the two exceptions being 1964–65 with Real Murcia
- top level relegation. He retired in 1970 at the age of 33 with Spanish first division totals of 103 games and five goals.
From 1979–81, Ruiz was in charge of UD Las Palmas
in the top level, being sacked early into his second season, which ended in a narrow escape from relegation. In 1984–85 and 1994–95, in the same category, he amassed 30 games for Elche CF
and CD Logroñés
combined as both teams eventually dropped down a level - the La Rioja
outfit had no fewer than five coaches throughout the season, finishing with an all-time low 13 points.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Playing career
Ruiz played five years for Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, making his 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...
debut on 21 April 1957 in a 4–1 home win against Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
. He appeared in only 15 games in his first three seasons combined, adding five complete matches in the club's 1958–59 European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
campaign, including the 2–0 final win
1959 European Cup Final
The 1959 European Cup Final was the fourth final in the pan-European football competition, the European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League. It was contested by Real Madrid of Spain and Stade de Reims-Champagne from France. It was played at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart on 3 June 1959 in...
against Stade Reims
Stade Reims
Stade de Reims is a French association football club based in Reims. The club was formed in 1911 under the name Société Sportive du Parc Pommery and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2009–10 season...
.
In 1962, Ruiz signed for Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
on loan, being an undisputed starter during his only season but suffering relegation. Released by the Merengues, he spent five of the following seven seasons in Segunda División
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:...
, one of the two exceptions being 1964–65 with Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
- top level relegation. He retired in 1970 at the age of 33 with Spanish first division totals of 103 games and five goals.
Manager career
Immediately after retiring, Ruiz started coaching, his first stop being Murcia's B team. In the following three decades, he managed another eight teams, interspersed with several periods of inactivity.From 1979–81, Ruiz was in charge of UD Las Palmas
UD Las Palmas
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands...
in the top level, being sacked early into his second season, which ended in a narrow escape from relegation. In 1984–85 and 1994–95, in the same category, he amassed 30 games for Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
and CD Logroñés
CD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
combined as both teams eventually dropped down a level - the La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
outfit had no fewer than five coaches throughout the season, finishing with an all-time low 13 points.
Real Madrid
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60; Runner-up 1961–62 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 19601960 Intercontinental CupThe 1960 Intercontinental Cup was the inaugural edition of the matchup between the reigning European football champion and the reigning South American football champion. The two-legged tie was contested between Spanish club Real Madrid and Uruguayan club Peñarol... - La LigaLa LigaThe 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...
: 1956–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62 - Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1961–62; Runner-up 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61 - Latin CupLatin CupThe Latin Cup was an international football tournament for club sides from the Latin European nations of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. In 1949 the football federations came together and launched their own club competition...
: 1956