Antoni Lima Explained

Toni Lima
Fullname:Antoni Lima Solà
Birth Date:22 September 1970
Birth Place:Gavà, Spain
Height:1.91 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Arsenal (scout)
Youthyears1:1986–1989
Youthyears2:1989–1990
Youthclubs1:Barcelona
Youthclubs2:Damm
Years1:1988–1989
Years2:1990–1991
Years3:1991–1992
Years4:1991
Years5:1992–1995
Years6:1995–1996
Years7:1996–1997
Years8:1997–1998
Years9:1998–1999
Years10:1999–2000
Years11:2000–2001
Years12:2001
Years13:2002–2003
Years14:2003–2004
Years15:2004–2006
Years16:2006
Years17:2006–2008
Years18:2007–2008
Clubs1:Barcelona C
Clubs2:Real Madrid B
Clubs3:Hospitalet
Clubs4:Español
Clubs5:Palamós
Clubs6:Poli Almería
Clubs7:Murcia
Clubs8:Poli Almería
Clubs9:União Madeira
Clubs10:Hospitalet
Clubs11:Gavà
Clubs12:Ionikos
Clubs13:Gavà
Clubs14:Palamós B
Clubs15:Palamós
Clubs16:Amurrio
Clubs17:Ibiza-Eivissa B
Clubs18:Ibiza-Eivissa
Caps1:3
Caps2:8
Caps3:34
Caps4:2
Caps5:100
Caps6:30
Caps7:21
Caps8:34
Caps9:7
Caps10:30
Caps11:24
Caps12:3
Caps13:54
Caps14:31
Caps15:56
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Goals3:7
Goals4:0
Goals5:9
Goals6:1
Goals7:1
Goals8:0
Goals9:0
Goals10:1
Goals11:0
Goals12:0
Goals13:6
Goals14:0
Goals15:4
Nationalyears1:1997–2009
Nationalteam1:Andorra
Nationalcaps1:64
Nationalgoals1:1

Antoni "Toni" Lima Solà (born 22 September 1970) is a retired professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Early life

Born in Gavà, Barcelona, Catalonia to an Andalusian father and a Catalan mother,[1] Lima's family moved to Andorra when he was nine years old.[2]

Club career

Lima had a brief spell with Real Madrid Castilla, then signed with RCD Español, for which he played two La Liga games.[3] [4] In 1992, he stayed in his native region and spent three seasons with Palamós CF in the Segunda División, being relegated in the last.[5]

After another season in the second division, with CP Almería, Lima spent the remainder of his Spanish career in the Segunda División B or lower. He also had two abroad experiences: in 1998 he joined C.F. União, appearing rarely as the Portuguese second-tier team was also relegated. Three years later, also with no impact whatsoever, he represented Ionikos F.C. in the Super League Greece.[6]

Lima retired at SE Eivissa-Ibiza in 2008 at the age of 37, having acted as the club's director of football still as an active player.[7] He later worked with Premier League sides Manchester United and Arsenal as well as Inter Milan of Serie A as scout,[8] [6] and Deportivo Alavés as director of international football.[9]

International career

Lima won 64 caps for Andorra over a 12-year period.[10] On 10 June 2009, in his last international, a 6–0 loss to England for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Wembley Stadium, he wore the captain's armband.[11]

In September 2005, Lima was subject of some controversy during a World Cup qualification match against the Netherlands. When Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty, the defender celebrated directly in front of the Dutch player. Moments later, the striker scored from open play and ran straight over to Lima with his arms raised, being booked for his action in an eventual 4–0 win.[12] [13]

International goal

Scores and results list Andorra's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lima goal.

Personal life

Lima's younger brother, Ildefons, is also a footballer and a defender. He too spent most of his career in the lower leagues of Spain, and the pair shared teams at Ionikos.[15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ildefons Lima i el mapamundi. Ildefons Lima and the world map. Diari d'Andorra. Alba. Doral. ca. 7 April 2019. 29 December 2019.
  2. Web site: Fiebre Maldini: Ildefons Lima, orgullo de Andorra Movistar+. Fiebre Maldini: Ildefons Lima, pride of Andorra Movistar+. YouTube. es. 29 December 2019. live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/aKrA78HA_5Q. 21 December 2021.
  3. News: Otro aire, pero los mismos fallos. Another allure, but the same mistakes. Mundo Deportivo. M.C.. Canovas. es. 28 October 1991. 3 June 2016.
  4. News: Sarrià se levanta en armas. Sarrià is up in arms. Mundo Deportivo. Andrés. Astruells. es. 4 November 1991. 3 June 2016.
  5. News: Adiós con derrota. Goodbye with loss. El País. Pere. Subirana. es. 12 June 1995. 4 January 2023.
  6. News: Dels The Red Devils a 'El Glorioso'. From the Red Devils to 'The Glorious One'. Bondia. Víctor. Duaso. ca. 28 June 2019. 4 January 2023.
  7. Web site: El Murcia cede al Eivissa al ariete Pico. Murcia loan forward Pico to Eivissa. Info Balear. C.. Vidal. R. J.. Palomo. es. 29 January 2008. 3 June 2016.
  8. News: El Arsenal ficha a Toni Lima, descubridor de Neymar y Coutinho en Europa. Arsenal sign Toni Lima, finder of Neymar and Coutinho in Europe. Sport. es. 17 August 2021. 4 January 2023.
  9. News: Lima, nuevo responsable del Área Internacional. Lima, new man in charge of International Department. Noticias de Álava. es. 28 June 2019. 4 January 2023.
  10. Web site: Antonio Lima Solá – International Appearances. RSSSF. Roberto. Mamrud. 3 June 2016.
  11. News: Andorra loses 6–0 to England but prevents ridicule. USA Today. Frank. Griffiths. 10 June 2009. 6 May 2015.
  12. Web site: The seven levels of soccer vengeance. Paste. Taylor. Rockwell. 5 June 2014. 8 February 2021.
  13. Web site: Haaland's sh*t-talking is not a patch on Van Nistelrooy's revenge celebration. Planet Football. Nathan. Egerton. 10 March 2021. 26 March 2021.
  14. News: Italia e Inglaterra en apuros; Alemania rozó el ridículo. Italy and England in trouble; Germany nearly ridiculed. ABC Color. es. 17 October 2002. 7 October 2020.
  15. Web site: Andorra – El milagro contra Macedonia. Andorra – The miracle against Macedonia. Pablo Aro Geraldes. es. 3 February 2007. 3 June 2016.
  16. Web site: Ildefons Lima, un andorrano en Wembley. Ildefons Lima, an Andorran in Wembley. AM 14. Jordi. Blanco. es. 13 November 2014. 3 June 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160625181436/http://www.am14.net/ildefons-lima-de-andorra-wembley/. 25 June 2016.