Ito (footballer, born 1975)

Antonio Álvarez Pérez (born 21 January 1975), known as Ito, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a manager.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Ito
Personal information
Full name Antonio Álvarez Pérez
Date of birth (1975-01-21) 21 January 1975
Place of birth Almendralejo, Spain
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Extremadura
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1997 Extremadura 145 (9)
1997–1998 Celta 34 (1)
1998–2004 Betis 160 (5)
2004–2007 Espanyol 66 (0)
2007–2009 Córdoba 65 (2)
2009–2010 Cacereño 22 (2)
Total 492 (19)
National team
1993 Spain U18 10 (0)
1997–1998 Spain U21 6 (0)
1998 Spain 1 (0)
Teams managed
2011–2012 Villafranca
2013–2015 Díter Zafra
2017–2018 Azuaga
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed La Liga totals of 282 matches and seven goals over ten seasons, mainly with Betis (five years) and Espanyol (three).

Club career

Born in Almendralejo, Extremadura, Ito started playing professionally with local CF Extremadura, helping it rise from the third division to La Liga and making his top flight debut on 9 September 1996 in a game against Real Betis. Even though the club was finally relegated he was a key midfield element (39 matches, one goal)[1] and attracted interest from RC Celta de Vigo, which he helped qualify for the UEFA Cup in his sole season.[2]

Subsequently, Ito spent six years with Betis, being relegated in his second season but always being an important first-team member, on occasion wearing the captain's armband.[3] Released in 2004, he joined Barcelona's RCD Espanyol.[2]

With Espanyol, Ito won the 2006 edition of the Copa del Rey and, although a reserve in the Catalan team's 2006–07 league campaign – eight appearances – he played in ten UEFA Cup games as they lost the final on penalties, to Sevilla FC.[4][1]

In July 2007, Ito signed with second level side Córdoba CF, being released at the age of 34 after two seasons of regular playing time, after which he dropped down a division and joined CP Cacereño in his native region.[1]

International career

After a fine individual campaign with Celta which led to a transfer to Betis, Ito earned his sole cap for Spain on 23 September 1998, appearing in the last two minutes of a 1–0 friendly win over Russia in Granada.[5][6]

Previously, he helped the under-21s win the 1998 UEFA European Championships, playing in the final against Greece.

Honours

Club

Espanyol

International

Spain U21

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References
  1. Fernández S., J. Julián (31 August 2013). "Yo jugué en el Real Betis: Ito" [I played for Real Betis: Ito] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. Palazón, Miguel (10 February 2016). "Ito: La Extremadura dorada de los 90" [Ito: The golden Extremadura of the 90s] (in Spanish). Cadena COPE. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. "El Español pretende fichar al extremeño Ito" [Español want to sign Extremaduran Ito]. El Periódico de Extremadura (in Spanish). 14 July 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  4. "Antonio Álvarez "Ito"" (in Spanish). Hall of Fame Perico. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  5. Galindo, Jesús (24 September 1998). "Camacho debuta con épica" [Camacho has epic debut]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  6. García, Nicasio (24 September 1998). "El extremeño Ito era el más feliz de todos" [Extremadura's Ito was happiest one of all]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  7. Astruells, Andrés (13 April 2006). "¡Increíble Espanyol!" [Incredible Espanyol!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  8. Atkin, John (17 May 2007). "Palop lauds perfect performance". UEFA. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  9. "1998: Iván Pérez applies finishing touch". UEFA. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  • Ito at BDFutbol
  • Ito at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Ito at Soccerway
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