Antonio Tapia
Encyclopedia
Antonio Tapia Flores is a Spanish
football manager
.
and amateurs UD Fuengirola. Still not in his 30s, he began a coaching career, with another side in Andalusia
, CD Mijas, continuing in the area (and the regional leagues) the following years, with Fuengirola and CD Los Boliches.
In 1994, Tapia joined Málaga CF
's coaching staff, as assistant, staying there for two years before moving, in the same capacity, to neighbouring Cádiz CF
.
He would have his first spell as head manager with Polideportivo Ejido
- still in Andalusia - in 1997, helping the side promote to Segunda División
in 2001, although he would be sacked 11 matches into the following campaign, due to bad results.
Tapia returned to Málaga's reserves in 2002, attaining another second division promotion; after Gregorio Manzano's dismissal midway through 2004–05
, he took the reins of the first team - in La Liga
- being sacked in the same period of the following year, and replaced by director of football
Manolo Hierro
, in an eventual relegation.
For the following two years, Tapia had spells in the second level and Andalusia, with Ejido and soon-to-be defunct Granada 74 CF
, with relegation in the latter. He then returned to the topflight and Málaga - freshly promoted - and led the side to a narrow UEFA Europa League qualification, after finishing eighth.
After refusing a new deal in order to listen to other offers, Tapia would eventually leave his place to Juan Ramón López Muñiz
(who returned from Racing de Santander
after just one year), signing with Real Betis
in division two.
After a series of bad results, the last a 0–1 loss at Levante UD
, Tapia was sacked on 24 January 2010, only being in charge for six months. Exactly one year after his dismissal, he was appointed at CD Tenerife
, becoming the Canary Islands
outfit's third manager in the second division season
; in late March, he too was relieved of his duties.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Football career
Tapia had an unassuming career as a footballer, only representing Atlético MalagueñoAtlético Malagueño
Atlético Malagueño, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1990, it is the reserve team of Málaga CF, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 9....
and amateurs UD Fuengirola. Still not in his 30s, he began a coaching career, with another side in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, CD Mijas, continuing in the area (and the regional leagues) the following years, with Fuengirola and CD Los Boliches.
In 1994, Tapia joined Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
's coaching staff, as assistant, staying there for two years before moving, in the same capacity, to neighbouring Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
.
He would have his first spell as head manager with Polideportivo Ejido
Polideportivo Ejido
Club Polideportivo Ejido, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in El Ejido, Province of Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1969, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 4....
- still in Andalusia - in 1997, helping the side promote to Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
in 2001, although he would be sacked 11 matches into the following campaign, due to bad results.
Tapia returned to Málaga's reserves in 2002, attaining another second division promotion; after Gregorio Manzano's dismissal midway through 2004–05
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
, he took the reins of the first team - in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- being sacked in the same period of the following year, and replaced by director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
Manolo Hierro
Manolo Hierro
Manuel "Manolo" Ruiz Hierro is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.-Playing career:...
, in an eventual relegation.
For the following two years, Tapia had spells in the second level and Andalusia, with Ejido and soon-to-be defunct Granada 74 CF
Granada 74 CF
Granada 74 Club de Fútbol, S.A.D., commonly known as Granada 74, is a Spanish football team based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
, with relegation in the latter. He then returned to the topflight and Málaga - freshly promoted - and led the side to a narrow UEFA Europa League qualification, after finishing eighth.
After refusing a new deal in order to listen to other offers, Tapia would eventually leave his place to Juan Ramón López Muñiz
Juan Ramón López Muñiz
Juan Ramón López Muñiz is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager.-Playing career:Muñiz was born in Gijón, Asturias...
(who returned from Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
after just one year), signing with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
in division two.
After a series of bad results, the last a 0–1 loss at Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, Tapia was sacked on 24 January 2010, only being in charge for six months. Exactly one year after his dismissal, he was appointed at CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
, becoming the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
outfit's third manager in the second division season
2010–11 Segunda División
-Personnel and sponsorship:-Managerial changes:-League table:||style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=11 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-Positions by round:Source: -Results:...
; in late March, he too was relieved of his duties.