Toñito Explained

Toñito
Fullname:Antonio Jesús García González
Birth Date:24 February 1977
Birth Place:La Orotava, Spain
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthclubs1:Tenerife
Years1:1995–1997
Caps1:32
Goals1:7
Years2:1997–1999
Caps2:43
Goals2:6
Years3:1999–2004
Caps3:87
Goals3:9
Years4:2001–2002
Clubs4:Santa Clara (loan)
Caps4:30
Goals4:7
Years5:2004–2005
Caps5:24
Goals5:1
Years6:2005–2006
Caps6:35
Goals6:7
Years7:2006–2007
Caps7:20
Goals7:4
Years8:2007–2008
Caps8:23
Goals8:1
Years9:2008
Years10:2009
Caps10:4
Goals10:1
Totalcaps:298
Totalgoals:43

Antonio Jesús García González (born 24 February 1977), known as Toñito, is a Spanish former footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career in Portugal where he represented five clubs (mainly Sporting), amassing Primeira Liga totals of 207 games and 24 goals.

Club career

Toñito was born in La Orotava, Tenerife. A player with skill and teamwork approach alike, he started playing professionally with hometown club CD Tenerife. After having made no appearances for the first team, he moved to Portugal for the 1997–98 season and joined Vitória de Setúbal, going on to represent in the country Sporting CP, C.D. Santa Clara – loaned, where he joined Mauricio Hanuch, also on loan[1] – and Boavista FC; he played an important part in Sporting's conquest of the 2000 Primeira Liga championship, their first in 18 years, playing 28 games although 25 of those were as a substitute.[2]

In the 2005–06 campaign, Toñito returned to Spain and Tenerife, with the club now in the second division, scoring seven league goals including two in a 3–2 away win against Racing de Ferrol on 27 May 2006, before he was stretchered off.[3] After a quick spell in Croatia with HNK Rijeka he returned to Portugal, netting a late equaliser for U.D. Leiria at former side Sporting (1–1 in Lisbon),[4] although his team would eventually drop down a level.

For 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.

Honours

Sporting

1999–2000

2000, 2002

Notes and References

  1. http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/liga_honra/santa_clara/interior.aspx?content_id=101926 Toñito e Hanuch impedidos de actuar (Toñito and Hanuch prevented from playing)
  2. http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Sporting/interior.aspx?content_id=51149 Toñito: «Esperava ser titular» (Toñito: «I expected to be a starter»)
  3. http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/cronica/es/desarrollo/653475.html El Racing de Ferrol certifica su descenso tras caer con el Tenerife (Racing de Ferrol confirm relegation after being downed by Tenerife)
  4. http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Sporting/interior.aspx?content_id=325546 Vukcevic entrou em pânico (Vukcevic panicked)