Antonio Tapia

Antonio Tapia Flores (born 13 November 1959) is a Spanish football manager.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Tapia and the second or maternal family name is Flores.
Antonio Tapia
Personal information
Full name Antonio Tapia Flores
Date of birth (1959-11-13) 13 November 1959
Place of birth Baena, Spain
Youth career
Fuengirola
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Málaga B
Fuengirola
Managerial career
1986–1989 CD Mijas
1989–1992 Fuengirola
1992–1994 Los Boliches
1997–2001 Poli Ejido
2002–2005 Málaga B
2005–2006 Málaga
2006–2007 Poli Ejido
2007–2008 Granada 74
2008–2009 Málaga
2009–2010 Betis
2011 Tenerife
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Baena, Córdoba, Tapia had an unassuming career as a footballer, only representing Atlético Malagueño and amateurs UD Fuengirola. Still not in his 30s, he began a coaching career with another club 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 had 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.[1]

Tapia returned to Málaga's reserves in 2002, attaining another second division promotion.[2] After Gregorio Manzano's dismissal midway through the 2004–05 season, he took the reins of the first team – in La Liga[3]– being sacked in the same period of the following year and replaced by director of football Manolo Hierro,[4] in an eventual relegation.

For the following two years, Tapia had spells in the second level and his native region, with Ejido[5] and soon-to-be defunct Granada 74 CF,[6] with relegation in the latter. He then returned to the top flight and Málaga – freshly promoted[7]– and almost led the team to qualification to the UEFA Europa League, after finishing eighth.[8]

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 of division two.[9] After a series of bad results, the last a 1–0 loss at Levante UD, he was sacked on 24 January 2010, only being in charge for six months.[10]

Exactly one year after his dismissal, Tapia was appointed at CD Tenerife, becoming the Canary Islands side's third manager in the second division season.[11] In late March, he too was relieved of his duties.[12]

Tapia returned to Málaga on 21 August 2012, joining the club's football directory as a sporting adviser.[13]

References
  1. Castro Santos sustituye a Tapia (Castro Santos replaces Tapia); Mundo Deportivo, 31 October 2001 (in Spanish)
  2. "No seremos comparsas en Segunda A" ("We will not be watching the band play in Segunda A"); Diario AS, 18 July 2003 (in Spanish)
  3. Manzano no se esperaba este final (Manzano did not expect this ending); Mundo Deportivo, 13 January 2005 (in Spanish)
  4. Manolo Hierro sustituye a Tapia como entrenador del Málaga (Manolo Hierro replaces Tapia as Málaga manager); Diario Sur, 30 January 2006 (in Spanish)
  5. Se abre el 'baile' de técnicos ('Curtain call' for managers); Mundo Deportivo, 20 June 2006 (in Spanish)
  6. Tapia ficha por el Granada 74 (Tapia signs for Granada 74); Mundo Deportivo, 29 June 2007 (in Spanish)
  7. Antonio Tapia entrenará al Málaga en Primera División (Antonio Tapia to coach Málaga in First Division); 20 minutos, 18 June 2008 (in Spanish)
  8. Antonio Tapia anuncia que deja el Málaga (Antonio Tapia announces he is leaving Málaga); Diario AS, 31 May 2009 (in Spanish)
  9. López Muñiz makes Málaga return; UEFA, 25 June 2009
  10. La derrota contra el Levante sentencia a Tapia (Defeat against Levante sentences Tapia); Marca, 24 January 2010 (in Spanish)
  11. Antonio Tapia, nuevo entrenador del CD Tenerife (Antonio Tapia, new manager of CD Tenerife); CD Tenerife, 23 January 2011 (in Spanish)
  12. Ya es oficial, Amaral sustituye a Tapia en el Tenerife (It's official, Amaral replaces Tapia at Tenerife); Marca, 5 April 2011 (in Spanish)
  13. Tapia, nuevo asesor deportivo del Málaga (Tapia, new Málaga sporting adviser); Marca, 20 August 2012 (in Spanish)
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