Apoño

Apoño

Apoño in training with Málaga
Personal information
Full nameAntonio Galdeano Benítez
Date of birth13 February 1984
Place of birthMálaga, Spain
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
El Palo
Youth career
26 de Febrero
2000–2003Málaga
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2004San Pedro
2004–2007Marbella84(13)
2007–2012Málaga120(15)
2012→ Zaragoza (loan)17(5)
2012–2013Zaragoza32(9)
2013–2014Las Palmas29(1)
2014OFI Crete3(0)
2015–El Palo2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Galdeano and the second or maternal family name is Benítez.

Antonio Galdeano Benítez (born 13 February 1984), commonly known as Apoño, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for CD El Palo as a central midfielder. A player with both hard-working and playmaking skills, he is also a penalty kick specialist.

Club career

Early career

Born in Málaga, Apoño began his career with local Unión Deportiva San Pedro and, for the 2004–05 season, moved to Andalusia neighbours UD Marbella in Segunda División B, where he would remain three years.

Málaga

In July 2007, Apoño joined Segunda División side Málaga CF – after having emerged through its youth system – also in his native region, being an instrumental figure in its return to La Liga after a two-year absence. He was brought in as the club was coached by Juan Ramón López Muñiz, who had briefly managed the player at Marbella.

In the following campaign, Apoño remained a starter: he made his top division debut on 31 August 2008, in a 0–4 loss at Atlético Madrid,[1] and finished the campaign with nine league goals – best in the squad with striker Nabil Baha – seven from penalty kicks, notably in a 3–4 loss at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium against Real Madrid.[2]

On 30 July 2010, after a season with many injury problems, with Málaga only ranking in 17th position, Apoño signed a contract extension with Málaga, running until June 2014.[3] He made his 100th official appearance for the club alongside teammate Weligton, in a 1–4 home defeat against Real Madrid on 16 October 2010,[4] and finished 2010–11 with 27 league appearances (26 starts) and one goal.

After the first match in the following campaign, a 1–2 away loss against Sevilla FC[5] in which he was replaced at half-time – with the score at 2–0 for the hosts – reacting angrily, Apoño was suspended by coach Manuel Pellegrini.[6] He returned to action nearly two months after, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–4 home defeat against Real Madrid; on 9 January 2012 the Chilean told the player to start looking for a new club, as their altercation had continued for too long.[7]

Zaragoza

On 19 January 2012, Apoño was loaned out to fellow top-divisioner Real Zaragoza for the rest of the season.[8] He made his debut for his new team three days later, starting in a 0–0 draw at Levante UD.[9]

Apoño scored his first goal(s) for the Aragonese on 21 March, netting a brace (one penalty) for bottom-placed Zaragoza in a 2–1 away win against Valencia CF.[10] The following round, again from the 11-meter spot, he scored in the 95th minute for the game's only goal in a home success over Atlético Madrid,[11] and featured heavily as the club again retained its division status in the last round.

Personal life

Apoño's younger brother, Juanillo, is also a footballer and a midfielder. He also appeared for Málaga, but only for the B-team.

References

External links