Antonio Álvarez (footballer, born 1955)

Antonio Álvarez Giráldez (born 10 April 1955) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender, and a coach.

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

Antonio Álvarez
Personal information
Full name Antonio Álvarez Giráldez
Date of birth (1955-04-10) 10 April 1955
Place of birth Marchena, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Sevilla
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1975 Sevilla B
1975–1988 Sevilla 297 (6)
1988–1991 Málaga 98 (4)
1991–1995 Granada 130 (6)
1992 → Málaga (loan) 7 (0)
Total 532 (16)
National team
1983 Spain amateur 3 (0)
1981 Spain B 2 (0)
Teams managed
2000–2008 Sevilla (assistant)
2010 Sevilla
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Born in Marchena, Seville, and a product of hometown Sevilla FC's youth system, Álvarez made his La Liga debut during the 1975–76 season, scoring once in eight games as the team finished in 11th position. In the following decade he would be more often than not an undisputed starter for the Andalusians, eventually playing in nearly 350 matches all competitions comprised.[1]

At the end of the 1987–88 campaign, still with Sevilla in the top division, the 33-year-old Álvarez – having made just 17 league appearances – opted to move on, and signed with neighbouring CD Málaga. In summer 1991 he joined another club in the region, third level's Granada CF, eventually retiring at the age of 40.

Coaching career

After retiring, Álvarez eventually worked again with main club Sevilla, serving as assistant under several coaches, the first Joaquín Caparrós in 2000. He was part of Juande Ramos' staff as they won two consecutive UEFA Cups and one Copa del Rey, amongst other accolades.

In March 2010, after roughly two years as Sevilla's director of football, Álvarez replaced former teammate Manolo Jiménez as first-team manager following his dismissal,[1] after Luis Aragonés, recently departed from Beşiktaş JK, declined an offer to coach the side.[2] He led the team throughout the last ten fixtures of the season, winning six, losing four and robbing RCD Mallorca of the fourth place which qualified for the UEFA Champions League in the last minute of the last matchday, a 3–2 win at neighbours UD Almería.[3]

On 19 May 2010, Álvarez was also on the bench as Sevilla won the Spanish Cup, with goals from youth graduates Diego Capel and Jesús Navas (2–0).[4] Four months later, following two losses and one draw in three games (two in the league and one in the UEFA Europa League), he was sacked.[5]

Managerial statistics
As of 26 September 2010
Team Nation From To Record
PlayedWDLWin %
Sevilla 26 March 2010 27 September 2010 21102947.6

Honours

Manager

References
  1. El mariscal del área, ante el gran reto de su carrera, después de décadas de entrega as Sevilla FC (The marshall of the box, before the greatest challenge of his career, after years of giving to Sevilla FC) Archived 30 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Sevilla FC, 27 March 2010 (in Spanish)
  2. "Luis Aragonés dice "no" al Sevilla" [Luis Aragonés says "no" to Sevilla]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 March 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  3. "Rodri fires Seviila [sic] into raptures". ESPN Soccernet. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  4. "Cup glory for Sevilla". ESPN Soccernet. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  5. "Sevilla sack Antonio Alvarez and appoint Gregorio Manzano". Goal. 27 September 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  6. "Ganó el serio, cayó el alegre" [Serious won, playful lost]. El País (in Spanish). 19 May 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
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