Toni Jiménez

Antonio "Toni" Jiménez Sistachs (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈtonjo xiˈmeneθ]; born 12 October 1970) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently a goalkeeping coach for Chelsea.[1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Jiménez and the second or maternal family name is Sistachs.

Toni Jiménez
Toni in 2006
Personal information
Full name Antonio Jiménez Sistachs
Date of birth (1970-10-12) 12 October 1970
Place of birth La Garriga, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea (goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
Olímpic Garriga
Granollers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1989 Granollers
1989–1991 Barcelona C
1991–1992 Barcelona 0 (0)
1991–1992 → Figueres (loan) 39 (0)
1992–1993 Rayo Vallecano 13 (0)
1993–1999 Espanyol 221 (0)
1999–2002 Atlético Madrid 43 (0)
2002–2003 Elche 18 (0)
2003–2004 Espanyol 29 (0)
Total 363 (0)
International career
1992 Spain U21 1 (0)
1992 Spain U23 8 (0)
1998–1999 Spain 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Olympic medal record
Representing  Spain
Men's Football
Gold medal – first place1992 BarcelonaTeam Competition

He appeared in 236 La Liga matches over nine seasons, seven of those spent with Espanyol.[2] He also represented in the competition Rayo Vallecano and Atlético Madrid.

Jiménez helped Spain win the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He played three times with the full side later that decade.

Club career

Born in La Garriga, Barcelona, Catalonia, Jiménez had a stint with local giants FC Barcelona's third team to kickstart his senior career. He made his professional debut with neighbours UE Figueres on loan,[3] being backup then first choice for two Segunda División seasons.

In 1992, Jiménez moved to Rayo Vallecano after terminating his previous contract with Real Zaragoza.[4] Initially a backup to Wilfred Agbonavbare, he benefitted from an injury to the Nigerian in the second round to make his La Liga debut against CD Logroñés, although he finished the campaign on the bench again.

The following year, Jiménez accompanied coach José Antonio Camacho to RCD Espanyol, then in the second tier. He was an undisputed starter during his six-year spell, winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in his first season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup immediately afterwards and making nearly 300 competitive appearances.[2]

Jiménez signed for Atlético Madrid in summer 1999, being highly unsuccessful there. Barred by José Francisco Molina in his first year, the team from the capital were also relegated. Furthermore, in the final of the Copa del Rey against former side Espanyol, he was stripped off the ball by former teammate Raúl Tamudo's head for the final 2–1.[5][6]

Jiménez regained first-choice status at Elche CF,[7] but returned to the top flight and Espanyol in January 2003 when new boss Javier Clemente requested his signing.[8] At the end of the following campaign, he retired from the game at almost 34; he stayed connected with the latter in directorial capacities, leaving in March 2006 when director of football Cristóbal Parralo also resigned.[9]

Jiménez served his first coaching spell also in Catalonia, as assistant in Girona FC. In May 2009 he returned to the club as goalkeeper coach and, two years later, signed with Espanyol as assistant to Mauricio Pochettino;[10] the pair linked up again in January 2013, after the latter was appointed at Southampton.[11]

In late May 2014, both Pochettino and Jiménez signed for another team in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur.[12]

On 29 May 2023, Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as the head coach of Chelsea, Jiménez joined him as goalkeeper coach.[1]

International career

Jiménez had not yet played top-division football when he was selected by coach Vicente Miera to the 1992 Summer Olympics, in local Barcelona. He beat competition from Santiago Cañizares, until then the starter, and played all the matches and minutes en route to the gold medal.[13]

Additionally, Jiménez won three caps for the full side over one year, his first one being offered by Camacho, a friendly with Italy on 18 November 1998 (2–2, in Salerno).[14] He seemed poised to be called as third choice for UEFA Euro 2000, but 19-year-old Iker Casillas was chosen instead.[15]

Honours

Espanyol

Atlético Madrid

Spain U23

Individual

References
  1. "Mauricio Pochettino to become Chelsea head coach". Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. "TONI Jiménez" (in Spanish). Hall of Fame Perico. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  3. Zárate, Óscar (15 May 1992). "El Barcelona no descuida al meta Toni" [Barcelona keep an eye on keeper Toni]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  4. Andrés, Mariano (20 August 1992). "Toni: "Tengo un año de contracto con el Figueres"" [Toni: "I have a one-year contract with Figueres"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  5. ""¡Hoy era el día, por mi padre!"" ["Today was the day, for my father!"]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 28 May 2000. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  6. Roman, Noelia (19 January 2003). "Toni se reencuentra con Tamudo" [Toni meets Tamudo again]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  7. Romero, J. C. (28 June 2002). "Toni emprende la aventura del Elche" [Toni takes on Elche adventure]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  8. Sans, Gabriel; Juárez, María Carmen (18 January 2003). "Toni, uno más" [Toni, just another guy]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  9. "Toni Jiménez dimite como miembro del área deportiva del Espanyol" [Toni Jiménez resigns as member of Espanyol management section]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 March 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  10. Torres, Mari Carmen (8 June 2011). "Toni Jiménez, segundo de Pochettino" [Toni Jiménez, Pochettino's sidekick]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  11. "First team coaching staff confirmed". Southampton F.C. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  12. "Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham appoint Southampton boss". BBC Sport. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  13. Morenilla, Juan (25 February 2007). "Supervivientes de oro" [Golden survivors]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  14. Gascón, Javier (19 November 1998). "Notable alto" [B Plus]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  15. Gascón, Javier (26 May 2000). "Iker y Gerard, las sorpresas" [Iker and Gerard, surprise callups]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  16. "La Roja de 1992, nuestra medalla de oro Olímpica" [1992's La Roja, our Olympic gold medal] (in Spanish). Antena 3. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
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