Toni Doblas Explained

Toni Doblas
Full Name:Antonio Doblas Santana
Birth Date:5 August 1980
Birth Place:Bellavista, Spain
Height:1.840NaN0
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Bellavista
Youthyears2:1997–1999
Youthclubs2:Betis
Years1:1999–2003
Caps1:98
Goals1:0
Years2:2003–2008
Caps2:76
Goals2:0
Years3:2003–2004
Clubs3:Xerez (loan)
Caps3:4
Goals3:0
Years4:2008–2009
Caps4:14
Goals4:0
Years5:2009–2010
Caps5:29
Goals5:0
Years6:2010–2013
Caps6:18
Goals6:0
Years7:2011–2012
Clubs7:Xerez (loan)
Caps7:36
Goals7:0
Years8:2013
Caps8:7
Goals8:0
Years9:2014
Caps9:2
Goals9:0
Years10:2014
Caps10:14
Goals10:0
Years11:2015
Caps11:9
Goals11:0
Years12:2015
Caps12:12
Goals12:0
Years13:2016
Caps13:8
Goals13:0
Years14:2016
Caps14:12
Goals14:0
Years15:2017
Caps15:18
Goals15:0
Years16:2017
Caps16:18
Goals16:0
Years17:2018
Caps17:22
Goals17:0
Club-Update:12 May 2019

Antonio "Toni" Doblas Santana (born 5 August 1980) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent the better part of his professional career with Betis, appearing in 95 competitive matches and winning one Copa del Rey. He also had several spells with Xerez and Zaragoza.

Club career

Spain

Born in Bellavista, Seville, Doblas spent four seasons with local Real Betis's B-team, where he was the undisputed starter before moving on loan to Andalusian neighbours Xerez CD. He made only four appearances in the second division and returned to Betis' first side the year after, being called into immediate main-squad action due to injuries to Pedro Contreras and Toni Prats.

Doblas made his La Liga debut against Getafe CF on 24 October 2004, in a 2–0 away win.[1] He remained a starter for the remainder of the campaign, taking part in the 2005 Copa del Rey final against CA Osasuna which Betis won 2–1;[2] in the competition's semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao he saved two penalties in a shootout[3] and, in August 2005, he signed his first professional contract at already 25.[4]

Doblas was also a key element in Betis' first-ever qualification to the UEFA Champions League, as he saved a Camel Meriem penalty against AS Monaco FC in the third qualify round, a 3–2 win.[5] [6] During the league season errors cost him his position, regained by Contreras: his most notable mistake came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, when he gave Ricardo Carvalho a goal in an eventual 0–4 Champions League loss; he still managed 24 league appearances, a situation repeated (also with Contreras as backup) in the 2006–07 campaign.[7]

Midway through 2007–08, Doblas suffered a serious injury in a friendly that kept him out of action for five months – he was supposed to battle for first-choice status with new signing Ricardo.[8] He was reinstated in the squad in late April, donning nº 25 after teammate Rafael Sobis switched to 21; in June 2008 he was released by Betis and, on 1 September, joined second level side Real Zaragoza, meeting the same fate at the end of the season.

On 8 September 2009, Doblas was supposed to sign for Aris Thessaloniki F.C. in Greece for one year,[9] joining a squad with three other countrymen and with Donato who played in Spain for 15 years as assistant manager; eventually, the deal fell through and he returned to Spain, moving to SD Huesca in early November.[10]

Doblas returned to Zaragoza on 9 July 2010, signing a two-year deal with an option to a third season.[11] In the following off-season, after having shared first-choice duties with Leo Franco as the club narrowly avoided top level relegation, he was loaned to another former club, Xerez.[12]

Abroad / Later years

In January 2013, Doblas signed an 18-month contract with Azerbaijan Premier League side FK Khazar Lankaran.[13] Six months later, following an 0–8 home defeat to Maccabi Haifa F.C. in the UEFA Europa League's second qualifying round, he was one of four players to have their contracts terminated.[14]

On 27 February 2014, Doblas moved to Serie A's S.S.C. Napoli for four months, as the Rafael Benítez-led team had several problems in the goalkeeper position, most notably Rafael Cabral who suffered a season-ending injury.[15] On 12 August he changed clubs and countries again, signing with Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi as a short-term replacement for Michael Tørnes.[16]

In November 2014, Doblas became involved in a match-fixing investigation surrounding the 21 May 2011 fixture between Zaragoza and Levante UD.[17] On 29 August of the following year, following a brief spell back in his country with lowly UE Cornellà, he signed for Indian Super League franchise Delhi Dynamos FC.[18]

Until his retirement, Doblas represented in quick succession CD Toledo, Delhi Dynamos again, Extremadura UD[19] and CD San Fernando.[20] In December 2017, the 37-year-old moved to Ceres–Negros F.C. of the Philippines Football League, with the deal being made effective at the start of the 2018 season.[21]

Personal life

Still during his career, Doblas majored in journalism.[22]

Club statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Betis B1998–98[23] Segunda División B1010
1999–2000Segunda División B300300
2000–01Segunda División B330330
2001–02Segunda División B350350
Total990990
Betis2004–05La Liga29050340
2005–06La Liga2405080370
2006–07La Liga22010230
2007–08La Liga100010
Total76011080950
Xerez (loan)2003–04Segunda División402060
Zaragoza2008–09Segunda División18000180
Huesca2009–10Segunda División29000290
Zaragoza2010–11La Liga18020200
2012–13La Liga000000
Total18020200
Xerez (loan)2011–12Segunda División36010370
Khazar2012–13[24] Azerbaijan Premier League7030100
2013–14Azerbaijan Premier League00004040
Total703040140
Napoli2013–14Serie A200020
HJK2014Veikkausliiga501080140
Cornellà2014–15Segunda División B9090
Delhi Dynamos2015Indian Super League120120
Extremadura2016–17Segunda División B18000180
San Fernando2017–18Segunda División B18000180
Ceres-Negros2018Philippines Football League009090
Career total35101902903990

Honours

Betis

2004–05[25]

Napoli

2013–14

HJK

2014

2014

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: El Betis saca los colores a un conservador Getafe. Betis humble conservative Getafe. El Mundo. Spanish. 24 October 2004. 5 March 2014.
  2. News: El Betis caza la Copa al contragolpe. Betis hunt Cup through counter-attack. El País. Segurola. Santiago. Spanish. 12 June 2005. 7 April 2018.
  3. Web site: Fernández holds his nerve. UEFA. Hall. Andy. 12 May 2005. 24 May 2010.
  4. Web site: Fair reward for Betis Nº1. UEFA. 2 August 2005. 30 April 2010.
  5. Web site: Salvados por la campana. Saved by the bell. UEFA. Sagarminaga. Jorge. Spanish. 9 August 2005. 5 March 2014.
  6. Web site: El Betis jugará la Champions. Betis will play Champions. UEFA. Rodríguez. Tito. Spanish. 24 August 2005. 5 March 2014.
  7. News: El Betis nunca alinéo tantos porteros en 70 años como ahora. Betis never fielded so many goalkeepers in 70 years as now. El Correo. Spanish. 2 October 2012. 20 March 2017.
  8. News: El Betis vence al Alcalá en un partido amistoso. Betis defeat Alcalá in friendly game. Marca. Spanish. 15 November 2007. 5 March 2014.
  9. News: Toni Doblas ficha por el Aris de Salónica. Toni Doblas signs for Aris Salonica. Heraldo de Aragón. Spanish. 8 September 2009. 5 March 2014.
  10. News: Toni Doblas anuncia su fichaje por el Huesca en su blog personal. Toni Doblas announces signing for Huesca in his personal blog. Diario del AltoAragón. Spanish. 2 November 2009. 5 March 2014.
  11. Web site: Segundo fichaje: Toni D.. Second signing: Toni D.. Real Zaragoza. Spanish. 9 July 2010. 10 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100712113854/http://www.realzaragoza.com/noticias/11660. 12 July 2010. dmy-all.
  12. News: Doblas llega al Xerez cedido por el Zaragoza. Doblas arrives at Xerez loaned by Zaragoza. Marca. Spanish. 31 August 2011. 5 March 2014.
  13. Web site: Spanish goalkeeper transfers to Khazar Lankaran. News AZ. 31 January 2013. 27 September 2013.
  14. Web site: Khazar Lankaran players in the management of large amounts cərimələyəcək. Azeri Sport. Azerbaijani. 26 July 2013. 27 September 2013.
  15. Web site: Doblas al Napoli. Doblas to Napoli. S.S.C. Napoli. Italian. 27 February 2014. 27 February 2014.
  16. Web site: Toni Doblas HJK:n maalille. Toni Doblas to HJK. Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. Finnish. 12 August 2014. 12 August 2014.
  17. News: Manchester United star Ander Herrera to face match-fixing probe from Spanish officials. Daily Mirror. Malyon. Ed. 28 November 2014. 29 November 2014.
  18. Web site: Exclusiva TMW – Toni Doblas jugará en el Delhi Dynamos. TMW exclusive – Toni Doblas will play with Delhi Dynamos. Todo Mercado Web. Díaz. José M.. Spanish. 29 August 2015. 1 September 2015.
  19. Web site: Toni Doblas, el portero que ama al fútbol por encima de todas las cosas, ficha por el Extremadura. Toni Doblas, the goalkeeper who loves football above all things, signs for Extremadura. Extra Confidencial. De Luis Manero. Felipe. Spanish. 29 December 2016. 3 January 2017.
  20. Web site: Comunicado oficial: situación actual de la plantilla. Official announcement: current squad status. San Fernando CD. Spanish. 28 June 2017. 24 July 2017.
  21. News: Doblas se va al Ceres de Filipinas. Doblas goes to Philippines' Ceres. Marca. Piñero. Margota. Spanish. 28 December 2017. 31 December 2017.
  22. News: Un periodista con guantes salvadores. A journalist with rescuing gloves. El Mundo. Spanish. 13 May 2005. 7 December 2013.
  23. Web site: Doblas: Antonio Doblas Santana. BDFutbol. 1 September 2015.
  24. Web site: Toni Doblas. Soccerway. 1 September 2015.
  25. Web site: Dani delivers for Betis. UEFA. 12 June 2005. 7 April 2018.