Ildefons Lima Explained

Ildefons Lima
Fullname:Ildefons Lima Solà
Birth Date:10 December 1979
Birth Place:Barcelona, Spain
Height:1.92 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Damm
Youthclubs2:FC Andorra
Years1:1996–1999
Caps1:58
Goals1:2
Years2:1999–2000
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2000–2001
Caps3:25
Goals3:2
Years4:2001–2002
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2002
Caps5:3
Goals5:1
Years6:2002–2003
Caps6:25
Goals6:2
Years7:2004
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2004–2005
Caps8:34
Goals8:1
Years9:2005–2009
Caps9:80
Goals9:1
Years10:2009–2011
Caps10:43
Goals10:4
Years11:2011–2012
Caps11:17
Goals11:2
Years12:2012–2014
Caps12:45
Goals12:15
Years13:2014–2018
Caps13:64
Goals13:10
Years14:2018–2022
Caps14:53
Goals14:5
Years15:2022–2023
Caps15:13
Goals15:0
Totalcaps:463
Totalgoals:45
Nationalyears1:1997–2023
Nationalcaps1:137
Nationalgoals1:11

Ildefons Lima Solà (born 10 December 1979) is an Andorran former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

He played club football in Spain, Greece, Mexico, Italy, Switzerland and Andorra. In a 26-year international career, the longest in men's football history, Lima set the records for most appearances and most goals for Andorra (137 and 11).[1]

Early life

Lima was born in Barcelona, Catalonia[2] to an Andalusian father and a Catalan mother.[3] His family moved to Andorra when he was two months old.[4]

Club career

Lima's first years as a senior were spent with FC Andorra, playing one season each in the Spanish third and fourth divisions. Subsequently, he played at both levels with RCD Espanyol B and UE Sant Andreu, splitting the following campaign abroad between Ionikos F.C. of Greece and C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.[5]

In the summer of 2002, Lima returned to Spain, remaining one and a half seasons at newly relegated UD Las Palmas in the Segunda División. He scored his only two goals as a professional in the country on 22 December 2002 and 14 June 2003, respectively against Levante UD (1–1) and CD Numancia (1–0 away win);[6] [7] he appeared just three times in 2003–04, ended with relegation.[8] He moved in January 2004 to another team in that league, Polideportivo Ejido, and spent the following campaign with Rayo Vallecano in division three.[9]

Lima then played four years with US Triestina Calcio 1918 in Italy.[10] With the Trieste side, he was occasionally used as a forward at the request of elusive chairman Flaviano Tonellotto.[11] In 2009, aged nearly 30, he switched countries again, signing for AC Bellinzona of the Swiss Super League.[12]

After two seasons in Switzerland and one back at Triestina,[13] Lima signed again for FC Andorra, now of the Primera Catalana, instead of several offers to play in the principality's Primera Divisió.[14] On 12 June 2014, he joined the latter league's champion FC Santa Coloma.[15] He scored for them on 8 July in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League away to FC Banants, as they advanced on away goals;[16] he also claimed four national championships in a row.[17]

Having spent four years with Santa Coloma, Lima signed with Inter Club d'Escaldes in August 2018,[18] winning their first league in history in 2019–20 and repeating the feat the next two campaigns.[17] Following another spell of the same length, he returned to FC Andorra to play for the reserve team, with the club now owned by Gerard Piqué.[19]

International career

Lima made his debut for Andorra aged 17, in the country's second ever game on 22 June 1997, scoring in a 4–1 friendly defeat in Estonia. He went on to lead the national team's scoring charts, and also earned more than 130 caps.[20] [21]

In June 2009, near the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Lima scored his first competitive goal for over eight years and six years overall, netting the last goal of a 5–1 away loss against Belarus. On 9 September 2014, in Andorra's first match of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualification phase, he netted a sixth-minute penalty to give the side a 1–0 lead over Wales, but in an eventual 1–2 home defeat.[22]

After Óscar Sonejee, Lima was the second Andorran to reach a century of caps, playing his 100th game on 1 June 2016, a 2–0 friendly loss to Estonia in Tallinn.[23] On 22 February 2017 he opened a 2–0 away win over San Marino in another exhibition game, ending an 86-game winless run.[24]

Lima surpassed Sonejee's national record of 106 internationals on 16 August 2017, when he played a friendly against Qatar in Burton-on-Trent.[25] In 2020, the Andorran Football Federation removed him from the team – against the wishes of coach Koldo Álvarez – when the player spoke out against football resuming in the principality without COVID-19 testing. FIFPro, the world's trade union for footballers, called for FIFA to intervene in his favour.[26]

On 3 June 2021, Lima became just the third European footballer (after Billy Meredith and Jari Litmanen) to be capped in four different decades when playing in a friendly defeat to Republic of Ireland.[27] On 16 June 2023, the 43-year-old became the oldest ever player to appear at a UEFA European Championship qualifying match.[28]

Lima retired from the national team after a Euro 2024 qualifier against Switzerland on 12 September 2023; he was substituted after 23 minutes to a standing ovation by both sets of supporters and replaced by Ricard Fernández, a player born two years into his international career. His 26-year spell for his country was the longest in men's football history.[29] [19]

Personal life

Despite debuting for the Andorra national team when he was 17, Lima became a citizen of the country when he lived there for 20 years.[4] His older brother, Antoni, was 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.[30] [31]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Andorra1996–97Segunda División B00000000
1997–98Segunda División B3200000320
1998–99Tercera División2620000262
Total582000000582
Espanyol B1999–2000Tercera División10000010
Sant Andreu2000–01Tercera División2520000252
Ionikos2001–02Super League Greece00000000
Pachuca2002Liga MX31000031
Las Palmas2002–03Segunda División2221000232
2003–04Segunda División30000030
Total252100000262
Poli Ejido2003–04Segunda División20000020
Rayo Vallecano2004–05Segunda División B3410000341
Triestina2005–06Serie B2100000210
2006–07Serie B3412000361
2007–08Serie B2103000240
2008–09Serie B40200060
Total801700000871
Bellinzona2009–10Swiss Super League2440000244
2010–11Swiss Super League1901000200
Total434100000444
Triestina2011–12Lega Pro Prima Divisione1720000172
FC Andorra2012–13Primera Catalana1750000175
2013–14Primera Catalana281000002810
Total45150000004515
Santa Coloma2014–15Primera Divisió123442110198
2015–16Primera Divisió1742121216
2016–17Primera Divisió180202000220
2017–18Primera Divisió173112110205
2018–19Primera Divisió0000300030
Total64109693208419
Inter d'Escaldes2018–19Primera Divisió15010160
2019–20Primera Divisió20210212
2020–21Primera Divisió101101011132
2021–22Primera Divisió82003010122
2022–23Primera Divisió0000300030
Total535307021656
FC Andorra B2022–23Tercera Catalana130130
Career total463452161634150455

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Andorra[32] 199721
199870
199980
200081
200131
200241
200320
200450
200550
200600
200760
200861
200952
201040
201160
201270
201360
201462
201571
201660
201781
201880
201990
202000
202150
202210
202330
Total13711

Scores and results list Andorra's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lima goal.[32] [20]

List of international goals scored by Ildefons Lima
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 22 June 1997 Linnastaadion, Kuressaare, Estonia 1–3 1–4 Friendly
2 2 September 2000 Communal d'Aixovall, Andorra La Vella, Andorra 2–1 2–3 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 25 April 2001 Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland 1–0 1–3
4 27 March 2002 Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 1–0 1–1 Friendly
5 4 June 2008 Comunal d'Aixovall, Andorra la Vella, Andorra 1–1 1–2
6 11 February 2009 S. Darius and S. Girėnas, Kaunas, Lithuania 1–2 1–3
7 6 June 2009 Neman Stadium, Grodno, Belarus 1–5 1–5 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 9 September 2014 Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra 1–0 1–2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
9 13 October 2014 1–1 1–4
10 11 October 2015 1–2 1–4
11 22 February 2017 Olimpico di Serravalle, Serravalle, San Marino 1–0 2–0 Friendly

Honours

Santa Coloma

2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18[33]

2018

Inter d'Escaldes

2020, 2021

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andorra – Record International Players. RSSSF. Sébastien. Duret. Roberto. Mamrud. 17 November 2019.
  2. News: Aventuras de un andorrano en la Serie B. Adventures of an Andorran in Serie B. Mundo Deportivo. Inmaculada. Mentruit. es. 8 October 2008. 14 October 2014.
  3. News: Ildefons Lima i el mapamundi. Ildefons Lima and the world map. Diari d'Andorra. Alba. Doral. ca. 7 April 2019. 29 December 2019.
  4. Web site: Fiebre Maldini: Ildefons Lima, orgullo de Andorra Movistar+. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/aKrA78HA_5Q . 2021-12-19 . live. Fiebre Maldini: Ildefons Lima, pride of Andorra Movistar+. YouTube. es. 29 December 2019.
  5. Web site: Ιλντεφόνς Λίμα: Από το πέρασμα από τον Ιωνικό στο… Ανδόρρα – Αγγλία!. Ildefons Lima: From Ionikos spell to… Andorra – England!. News 12. Kostas. Moschovos. el. 10 October 2021. 21 August 2022.
  6. News: Descarga evita otra derrota del Levante. Descarga prevents another Levante loss. Diario Córdoba. es. 23 December 2002. 10 May 2024.
  7. News: Las Palmas visitará el sábado al Numancia diez años después de ganar en Soria. Las Palmas will visit Numancia Saturday ten years after winning in Soria. Mundo Deportivo. es. 4 September 2013. 10 May 2024.
  8. News: ¿Qué fue del mítico exjugador de la UD Las Palmas y andorrano Ildefons Lima?. What became of the legendary Andorran ex-UD Las Palmas player Ildefons Lima?. La Provincia. Pablo. Fuentes. es. 2 March 2023. 13 September 2023.
  9. News: Ildefons Lima: "Ser el representant de l’equip al camp és un motiu de molt orgull". Ildefons Lima: "To represent the team on the pitch is something to be very proud of". Ara. Marc. Pérez. ca. 15 December 2018. 14 September 2023.
  10. News: Arriva Lima, stopper della nazionale di Andorra. Lima, Andorran national team stopper, arrives. Il Piccolo. Antonello. Rodio. it. 3 August 2005. 3 June 2016.
  11. Web site: Il calcio andorrano oltre la playstation. Andorran football as well as playstation. Rovesciate. it. 16 September 2014. 3 June 2016.
  12. News: El defensa Ildefons Lima triomfa a l'equip suís de Bellinzona. Defender Ildefons Lima triumphs in Switzerland's Bellinzona. Diari d'Andorra. ca. 9 December 2009. 13 September 2023.
  13. Web site: Triestina, "Nanu" Galderisi è il nuovo allenatore. Ufficiali il ritorno di Lima e l'acquisto di Galasso. Triestina, "Nanu" Galderisi is the new manager. Return of Lima and acquisition of Galasso official. Sportest. it. 25 October 2011. 3 June 2016.
  14. News: Lima accepta l'oferta esportiva de l'Andorra abans que la de la Lliga. Lima accepts FC Andorra's sporting offer rather than that of the League. El Periòdic d'Andorra. ca. 29 August 2012. 2 June 2016.
  15. Web site: L'FC Santa Coloma fitxa Ildefons Lima i Iban Parra. FC Santa Coloma sign Ildefons Lima and Iban Parra. Andorra Difusió. ca. 12 June 2014. 2 June 2016.
  16. Web site: Keeper Casals edges Santa Coloma past Banants. UEFA. 8 July 2014. 2 June 2016.
  17. Web site: Ildefons Lima encerra uma carreira de recorde: 26 anos com a seleção de Andorra. Ildefons Lima wraps up record career: 26 years with the Andorra national team. Trivela. Leandro. Stein. pt. 13 September 2023. 10 May 2024.
  18. News: Lima fitxa per l’Inter d’Escaldes buscant "nous objectius". Lima signs for Inter d'Escaldes searching for "new objectives". El Periòdic d'Andorra. Miquel. López-Egea. ca. 24 August 2018. 13 September 2023.
  19. Web site: Ildefons Lima: Andorra captain ends international career after 26 years. BBC Sport. Joe. Rindl. 13 September 2023. 13 September 2023.
  20. Web site: Ildefons Lima Solá – Goals in International Matches. RSSSF. Roberto. Mamrud. 28 September 2014.
  21. News: Ildefons Lima, el 'Panenka' pirenaico, es el defensa más goleador de la Eurocopa. Ildefons Lima, the 'Panenka' of the Pyrenees, is the top-scoring defender in the European Championship. El Confidencial. David. Ruiz. es. 15 October 2015. 3 June 2016.
  22. News: Gareth Bale double rescues feeble Wales from embarrassment in Andorra. The Guardian. 9 September 2014. 10 September 2014.
  23. Web site: Derrota ajustada de la Selecció a Tallinn en el centenari d'Ilde Lima. National team's close defeat in Tallinn on Ilde Lima's centenary. Andorran Football Federation. ca. 1 June 2016. 2 June 2016.
  24. Web site: Andorra has finally ended the longest-running losing streak in international football. Esquire. 23 February 2017. 23 February 2017.
  25. News: Ildefons Lima: l'home rècord. Ildefons Lima: the record man. El Periòdic d'Andorra. Joan Josep. Blasco. ca. 17 August 2017. 31 August 2018.
  26. Web site: Ildefons Lima: The national icon shunned by his country over coronavirus comments. BBC Sport. Sean. Cole. 17 November 2020. 17 November 2020.
  27. Web site: Ildefons Lima: Andorra's four-decade international icon. Football Pink. Liam. Togher. 17 February 2022. 15 June 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220615154728/https://footballpink.net/ildefons-lima-andorra-most-capped-footballers-uefa/. 15 June 2022.
  28. Web site: Ildefons Lima becomes oldest player in EURO qualifying history. UEFA. 15 June 2023. 17 June 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230617233757/https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d7f1c7bd158-989b0007e2aa-1000--ildefons-lima-becomes-oldest-player-in-euro-qualifying-hi/. 17 June 2023.
  29. Web site: After 26 years – making his debut in 1997, Andorra captain RETIRES. Football Post. 13 September 2023. 13 September 2023.
  30. Web site: Andorra – El milagro contra Macedonia. Andorra – The miracle against Macedonia. Pablo Aro Geraldes. es. 3 February 2007. 3 June 2016.
  31. 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.
  32. Web site: Ildefons Lima. EU-Football.info. 26 May 2016.
  33. Web site: Andorra agora tem um recorde no futebol: com mais de 22 anos na seleção, Ildefons Lima estabeleceu a maior marca da história. Andorra now has a record in football: with over 22 years in the national team, Ildefons Lima set greatest mark in history. Trivela. Leandro. Stein. pt. 18 November 2019. 10 May 2024.