Toni Lopes Explained

Toni
Fullname:António Pedro de Brito Lopes
Birth Date:23 July 1979
Birth Place:Setúbal, Portugal
Height:1.75 m
Position:Right-back
Youthyears1:1990–1994
Youthyears2:1994–1998
Youthclubs1:Pelezinhos
Years1:1998–2000
Years2:2000–2001
Years3:2001–2002
Years4:2002–2004
Years5:2002–2004
Years6:2004–2005
Years7:2006–2007
Years8:2008–2009
Years9:2009–2013
Years10:2013–2014
Years11:2014–2015
Clubs2:Farense
Clubs3:Benfica B
Clubs5:Beira Mar (loan)
Clubs9:Apollon Limassol
Clubs10:AEK Larnaca
Clubs11:Ermis
Caps1:33
Caps2:25
Caps3:2
Caps4:1
Caps5:36
Caps6:7
Caps7:34
Caps8:34
Caps9:112
Caps10:24
Caps11:15
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals5:0
Goals6:0
Goals7:0
Goals8:0
Goals9:3
Goals10:0
Goals11:0
Nationalyears1:2001
Nationalyears2:2003
Nationalteam1:Portugal U21
Nationalteam2:Portugal B
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:24 May 2015

António Pedro de Brito Lopes (born 23 July 1979), commonly known as Toni, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a right-back.

After starting out professionally at Farense, he went on to represent Benfica and Beira Mar in the Primeira Liga, signing with the former in 2002. He also competed in Switzerland, Spain and Cyprus, spending eight seasons in the latter nation, mostly with Apollon Limassol.

Club career

Born in Setúbal, Toni grew up in the neighbourhood of Bela Vista and started playing football at local Clube Desportivo Pelezinhos. He signed for neighbouring Vitória F.C. at the age of 15, where he finished his formation.[1] His beginnings as a senior were spent with Lusitano G.C. in the fourth level, which he helped finish fourth in his first season and second in the following, with the subsequent promotion in the latter case.

In July 2000, Toni moved to the Primeira Liga and joined S.C. Farense.[2] He made his debut in the competition on 29 October of that year, coming on as a second-half substitute and assisting for the second goal in a 2–1 away win against C.F. Estrela da Amadora.[3] His performances soon attracted interest from S.C. Braga and Sevilla FC,[4] [5] and he was also linked with Southampton,[6] Paris Saint-Germain F.C.[7] and West Ham United towards the start and during the off-season,[8] but ultimately signed with S.L. Benfica on a reported free deal.[9] [10]

However, it was soon discovered that Toni had signed with an investment firm, Premier Holding owned by Mike Walsh. They retained his international certificate and did not allowed him to play for Benfica until they received 650 thousand dollars.[11] Only in January 2002, after FIFA intervened, was he allowed to play,[12] first in the reserve team and then in the main squad, making his first and only appearance for the latter on the last matchday of the campaign[13] and being sent off in the last minutes of a 2–3 away loss against C.S. Marítimo.

In July 2002, both Toni and Diogo Luís joined fellow league club S.C. Beira-Mar as Cristiano Roland moved in the opposite direction.[14] He was regularly used as a starter in his first season but, in 2003–04, he appeared much more sparingly after losing his place to Pedro Ribeiro.[15] [16] [17]

In the 2004 summer, aged 25, Toni moved abroad where he would remain until his retirement. His first stop was Servette FC in the Swiss Super League,[18] and the second Zamora CF of the Spanish Segunda División B.

From 2007–08 onwards, Toni competed in the Cypriot First Division, where he appeared for Ethnikos Achna FC, Apollon Limassol,[19] AEK Larnaca F.C. and Ermis Aradippou. With the second side, he won the 2012–13 Cypriot Cup.[20]

International career

Toni represented the Portugal national team three times, gaining two caps for the under-21s and one for the B-side. All his appearances were friendlies, against Norway, Belarus and United States.[21]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2000–01[22] Primeira Liga25030280
2001–02Primeira Liga10000010
2002–03Primeira Liga25010260
2003–04Primeira Liga11010120
Total36020380
Servette2004–05Swiss Super League7070
Zamora[23] 2006–07Segunda División B34000340
Ethnikos Achna2007–08Cypriot First Division3030
2008–09Cypriot First Division310310
Total340340
Apollon Limassol2009–10[24] Cypriot First Division241241
2010–11Cypriot First Division2411010261
2011–12Cypriot First Division28120301
2012–13Cypriot First Division28060340
Total104390101143
AEK Larnaca2013–14Cypriot First Division24040280
Ermis2014–15Cypriot First Division15030180
Career total2803210103013

Notes and References

  1. News: Toni: "Tive muita sorte mas fiz por isso". Toni: «I was very lucky, but I worked for it too». Record. Portuguese. 8 October 2000. 28 October 2015.
  2. News: Campomaiorense apoia Lusitano. Campomaiorense supports Lusitano. 1 April 2016. Record. 21 June 2000. Portuguese.
  3. News: E. Amadora-Farense, 1-2: Nem as estrelas do céu pararam Hassan. E. Amadora-Farense, 1-2: Not even the stars in the sky stopped Hassan. 1 April 2016. Record. 30 October 2000. Portuguese.
  4. News: Deus na vez de Fehér mesmo com FC Porto. Deus instead of Fehér even with FC Porto. Record. Portuguese. 24 November 2000. 28 October 2015.
  5. News: Toni desperta cobiça. Toni sparks interest. Record. Portuguese. 15 November 2000. 28 October 2015.
  6. News: Toni mais perto do Southampton. Toni closer to Southampton. Record. Portuguese. 16 May 2001. 28 October 2015.
  7. News: Lateral Toni nas cogitações do Paris SG. Paris SG thinking of full-back Toni. Record. Portuguese. 29 May 2001. 28 October 2015.
  8. News: Toni assina contrato com West Ham United. Toni signs contract with West Ham United. Record. Portuguese. 26 June 2001. 28 October 2015.
  9. News: David Santos: "Somos parte interessada na transferência de Toni". David Santos: «We are a party in interest in Toni's transfer». Record. Portuguese. 28 August 2001. 28 October 2015.
  10. News: Toni apresenta-se e realiza primeiro treino segunda-feira. Toni presents himself and practices for the first time on Monday. Record. Portuguese. 27 August 2001. 28 October 2015.
  11. News: Benfica e Premier Holding separados por 65 mil contos. Benfica and Premier Holding separated by 65 thousand contos. Record. Portuguese. 1 September 2001. 28 October 2015.
  12. News: Toni "libertado" pela FIFA pode defrontar o Varzim. «Released» by FIFA, Toni could face Varzim. Record. Portuguese. 10 January 2002. 28 October 2015.
  13. News: Toni pronto para estreia no último jogo da I Liga. Toni ready for debut on last I Liga game. Record. Portuguese. 2 May 2002. 28 October 2015.
  14. News: Protocolo une clubes amigos. Protocol unites friends. Record. Portuguese. 29 August 2002. 28 October 2015.
  15. News: Toni: "Tive tempo suficiente para encaixar na equipa". Toni: «I had enough time to settle in the team». Record. Portuguese. 13 September 2002. 28 October 2015.
  16. News: Ribeiro: "Evoluímos bastante com a nova táctica". Ribeiro: «We have progressed a lot with the new system». Record. Portuguese. 5 October 2003. 28 October 2015.
  17. News: Abrir o jogo às alas é a solução indicada. Open game to the wings is the right solution. Record. Portuguese. 16 January 2004. 28 October 2015.
  18. News: Toni e Kata, ambos ex-Beira-Mar, prosseguem a carreira no Servette (Suiça). Toni and Kata, both formerly of Beira-Mar, continue their career at Servette (Switzerland). Notícias de Aveiro. Portuguese. 8 July 2004. 28 October 2015.
  19. News: Ex-benfiquista poderá trocar de clube no Chipre. Former Benfica player Toni could change clubs in Cyprus. Mais Futebol. Portuguese. 16 June 2009. 28 October 2015.
  20. News: Bruno Vale e Toni conquistam Taça do Chipre. Bruno Vale and Toni conquer Cypriot Cup. Record. Portuguese. 22 May 2013. 28 October 2015.
  21. News: Toni. Portuguese Football Federation. Portuguese. 28 June 2017.
  22. Web site: Toni. ForaDeJogo. 2 April 2015.
  23. Web site: Toni: Antonio Pedro De Brito Lopes. BDFutbol. 2 April 2015.
  24. Web site: Toni. Soccerway. 2 April 2015.