Antoni Arabí Explained

Antoni Arabí
Fullname:Antoni Arabí i Serra
Birth Date:13 November 1953
Birth Place:Sant Antoni de Portmany, Spain
Height:1.770NaN0
Position:Wingback
Years1:1970–1974
Years2:1974–1978
Years3:1978–1986
Caps3:173
Goals3:7
Years4:1986–1987
Years5:1987

Antoni Arabí i Serra (born 13 November 1953) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right wingback.[1] He is also a politician for the Balearic Islands' People's Party.

Football career

Born in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Eivissa, Balearic Islands, Arabí began his career with local SD Portmany and also represented neighbouring SD Eivissa in his early years, winning promotion to Segunda División B in 1978 with the latter. He moved straight into La Liga after that achievement, signing for RCD Espanyol in June.

Arabí made his official debut for the Catalans on 9 September 1978, playing the last 19 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Sporting de Gijón.[2] He scored his first goal on 29 October, but in a 3–4 away loss against Sevilla FC.[3]

Initially a midfielder, Arabí was converted to a right wingback in 1980 by manager José María Maguregui.[1] At the start of the 1982–83 season he was appointed captain, replacing CE Sabadell FC-bound Marañon.

In August 1986, after suffering a severe knee injury in a Copa del Rey match on 8 May, Arabí returned to Eivissa.[4] He appeared in more than 200 official games with the Pericos during his eight-year tenure, being subsequently honoured by fans and club.

Arabí retired with his first club Portmany in 1987, aged 34.[5] [6]

Political career

After his retirement, Arabí worked as an athletic director and coach, managing the likes of Portmany SD, CF Sant Rafel and SCR Peña Deportiva. He was also active in the conservative People's Party of the Balearic Islands.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arabí: un "chico" para todo. Arabí: a "kid" for everything. Mundo Deportivo. es. 29 March 1981. 24 November 2014.
  2. Web site: Un gran gol de José Manuel y dos postes de Marañon. A great José Manuel goal and two Marañon posts. Mundo Deportivo. es. 10 September 1978. 25 November 2014.
  3. Web site: 4–3: El Español marcó tres goles... para nada. 4–3: Espanyol scored three goals... for nothing. Mundo Deportivo. es. 30 October 1978. 25 November 2014.
  4. Web site: Arabí fichó por el Eivissa. Arabí signed for Ibiza. Mundo Deportivo. es. 21 August 1986. 24 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Antoni Arabí. Hall of Fame Perico. es. 16 April 2009. 24 November 2014.
  6. Web site: Antoni Arabí, el valor de un comodín. Antoni Arabí, the value of a joker. Pericos Online. es. 14 July 2012. 24 November 2014. 17 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817012047/http://pericosonline.com/reportages/detall/994/antoni-arabi-el-valor-de-un-comodin. dead.
  7. Web site: Arabí se pasa a la politica. Arabí goes to politics. Mundo Deportivo. es. 31 May 1987. 24 November 2014.