Toñito
Encyclopedia
Antonio Jesús García González, aka Toñito (born 24 February 1977 in La Orotava, Tenerife
), is a retired Spanish
footballer who played mainly as a central midfielder.
Played most of his professional career in Portugal
, where he represented five different clubs.
. After having made no appearances for the first team, he moved to Portugal
in 1997–98, joining Vitória de Setúbal
, going on to represent in the country Sporting Clube de Portugal, C.D. Santa Clara
(loaned, where he joined compatriot Mauricio Hanuch
, in the same predicament) and Boavista FC. He played an important part in Sporting's conquest of the 1999–2000 league championship, the club's first in 18 years - 27 matches, although 24 of those were as a substitute.
In 2005–06
, Toñito returned to Spain and Tenerife (now in the second division
), where he scored seven goals in 35 matches, including two at Racing de Ferrol
on May 27, 2006 (3–2 win), before he was strechered off.
After a quick spell in Croatia
with NK Rijeka
he returned to Portugal, scoring a late equalizer for União de Leiria against former team Sporting (1–1 in Lisbon
), although Leiria would eventually drop down a level.
In 2008–09, Toñito moved to Greece
's Ionikos FC. However, in January 2009, he switched to Cyprus
and AEK Larnaca FC, reuniting with former Sporting teammate Elpídio Silva. He retired from the game at the end of the season, aged 32.
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
), is a retired Spanish
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...
footballer who played mainly as a central midfielder.
Played most of his professional career in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, where he represented five different clubs.
Football career
A player with skill and teamwork approach alike, Toñito started playing professionally with hometown's CD TenerifeCD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
. After having made no appearances for the first team, he moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1997–98, joining Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
, going on to represent in the country Sporting Clube de Portugal, C.D. Santa Clara
C.D. Santa Clara
Clube Desportivo Santa Clara is a Portuguese football club from Ponta Delgada, Azores. They are the most successful football team from the Azores islands. To date, it is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, although they currently...
(loaned, where he joined compatriot Mauricio Hanuch
Mauricio Hanuch
Mauricio Fabio Hanuch is an Argentine footballer who plays for Club Atlético Platense as a right midfielder.-Football career:...
, in the same predicament) and Boavista FC. He played an important part in Sporting's conquest of the 1999–2000 league championship, the club's first in 18 years - 27 matches, although 24 of those were as a substitute.
In 2005–06
2005–06 Segunda División
-Classification 2005–06:-Relegated to Segunda División B:* UE Lleida -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 3* Ferrol -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 1* Eibar -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 4...
, Toñito returned to Spain and Tenerife (now 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:...
), where he scored seven goals in 35 matches, including two at Racing de Ferrol
Racing de Ferrol
Racing Club de Ferrol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ferrol in the province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia.Founded in 1919, in currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de la Malata...
on May 27, 2006 (3–2 win), before he was strechered off.
After a quick spell in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
with NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
he returned to Portugal, scoring a late equalizer for União de Leiria against former team Sporting (1–1 in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
), although Leiria would eventually drop down a level.
In 2008–09, Toñito moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's Ionikos FC. However, in January 2009, he switched to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and AEK Larnaca FC, reuniting with former Sporting teammate Elpídio Silva. He retired from the game at the end of the season, aged 32.