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Antoni "Toni" Lima Solà (born 22 September 1970) is a retired professional footballer who played as a central defender.
 Lima in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antoni Lima Solà | ||
| Date of birth | 22 September 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Gavà, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Arsenal (scout) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1989 | Barcelona | ||
| 1989–1990 | Damm | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1989 | Barcelona C | 3 | (0) |
| 1990–1991 | Real Madrid B | 8 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Hospitalet | 34 | (7) |
| 1991 | Español | 2 | (0) |
| 1992–1995 | Palamós | 100 | (9) |
| 1995–1996 | Poli Almería | 30 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | Murcia | 21 | (1) |
| 1997–1998 | Poli Almería | 34 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | União Madeira | 7 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Hospitalet | 30 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | Gavà | 24 | (0) |
| 2001 | Ionikos | 3 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Gavà | 54 | (6) |
| 2003–2004 | Palamós B | 31 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Palamós | 56 | (4) |
| 2006 | Amurrio | ||
| 2006–2008 | Ibiza-Eivissa B | ||
| 2007–2008 | Ibiza-Eivissa | ||
| International career | |||
| 1997–2009 | Andorra | 64 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Gavà, Barcelona, Catalonia to an Andalusian father and a Catalan mother,[1] Lima's family moved to Andorra when he was nine years old.[2]
Lima had a brief spell with Real Madrid Castilla, then signed with RCD Español, for which he played two La Liga games.[3][4] In 1992, he stayed in his native region and spent three seasons with Palamós CF in the Segunda División, being relegated in the last.[5]
After another season in the second division, with CP Almería, Lima spent the remainder of his Spanish career in the Segunda División B or lower. He also had two abroad experiences: in 1998 he joined C.F. União, appearing rarely as the Portuguese second-tier team was also relegated. Three years later, also with no impact whatsoever, he represented Ionikos F.C. in the Super League Greece.[6]
Lima retired at SE Eivissa-Ibiza in 2008 at the age of 37, having acted as the club's director of football still as an active player.[7] He later worked with Premier League sides Manchester United and Arsenal as well as Inter Milan of Serie A as scout,[8][6] and Deportivo Alavés as director of international football.[9]
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Lima won 64 caps for Andorra over a 12-year period.[10] On 10 June 2009, in his last international, a 6–0 loss to England for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Wembley Stadium, he wore the captain's armband.[11]
In September 2005, Lima was subject of some controversy during a World Cup qualification match against the Netherlands. When Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty, the defender celebrated directly in front of the Dutch player. Moments later, the striker scored from open play and ran straight over to Lima with his arms raised, being booked for his action in an eventual 4–0 win.[12][13]
International goal
- Scores and results list Andorra's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lima goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 October 2002 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria |  Bulgaria | 1–2 | 1–2 | Euro 2004 qualifying[14] |
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Lima's younger brother, Ildefons, is also a footballer and a defender. He too spent most of his career in the lower leagues of Spain, and the pair shared teams at Ionikos.[15][16]
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