Toño García (footballer, born 1989)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Toño

| image =

| fullname = Antonio García Aranda{{cite web|url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=57226|title=Acta del partido celebrado el 12 de mayo de 2019, en Girona|trans-title=Minutes of the match held on 12 May 2019, in Girona|publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation|language=Spanish|date=12 May 2019|accessdate=16 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Alcalá de Henares, Spain

| height = 1.79 m

| position = Left-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2008–2009 | clubs1 = Saguntino | caps1 = 18 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2009–2010 | clubs2 = Castellón B | caps2 = 37 | goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2009–2011 | clubs3 = Castellón | caps3 = 35 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2011–2014 | clubs4 = Villarreal B | caps4 = 41 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2013 | clubs5 = → Sabadell (loan) | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2014 | clubs6 = Recreativo | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014–2021 | clubs7 = Levante | caps7 = 147 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2021–2022 | clubs8 = Eibar | caps8 = 34 | goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| club-update = 29 May 2022

}}

Antonio García Aranda (born 7 November 1989), known as Toño ({{IPA|es|ˈtoɲo}}), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back.

Club career

Born in Alcalá de Henares, Community of Madrid, Toño made his debut as a senior with Atlético Saguntino in the regional leagues. He signed with CD Castellón in summer 2009, being assigned to the reserves also in the fifth division.

Toño played his first match as a professional on 5 September 2009, featuring the last 14 minutes of a 2–0 away loss against Recreativo de Huelva in the Segunda División.[http://www.marca.com/2009/09/05/futbol/2adivision/1252176235.html El Recreativo de Huelva consigue un cómodo triunfo ante el Castellón (Recreativo de Huelva get comfortable win against Castellón)]; Marca, 5 September 2009 {{in lang|es}} He was handed his first start on the 26th, in a 1–3 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano.[http://www.marca.com/2009/09/26/futbol/2adivision/1253990823.html El Rayo golea y hunde más al Castellón (Rayo thrash and sink Castellón more)]; Marca, 26 September 2009 {{in lang|es}}

Toño was definitely promoted to the first team in August 2010, with the Valencians now in the Segunda División B.[https://archive.today/20140903170401/http://www.pampamorellut.com/wordpress/2010/08/01/el-castellon-ya-vende-ilusion/ El Castellón ya vende ilusión (Castellón selling hope already)]; Pam Pam Orellut, 1 August 2010 {{in lang|es}} He appeared in 25 matches during the season, but the club dropped another level due to financial problems.

On 9 June 2011, Toño joined Villarreal CF's reserves for a €25,000 fee.[http://www.lasprovincias.es/v/20110609/deportes/cd-castellon/tono-villarreal-euros-20110609.html Toño se va al Villarreal por 25.000 euros (Toño goes to Villarreal for 25,000 euros)]; Las Provincias, 9 June 2011 {{in lang|es}} He acted mainly as a backup to Pere Martínez, playing 18 times as they were relegated from division two.

On 15 January 2013, Toño was loaned to CE Sabadell FC until June.[https://www.villarrealcf.es/es/noticias/indice-general/item/1551-el-villarreal-cf-cede-al-defensa-tono-al-ce-sabadell El Villarreal CF cede al defensa Toño al CE Sabadell FC (Villarreal CF loan defender Toño to CE Sabadell FC)]; Villarreal CF, 15 January 2013 {{in lang|es}} In February, however, he suffered a severe knee injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign.[http://www.marca.com/2013/02/07/futbol/equipos/sabadell/1360270676.html Toño García se perderá lo que resta de temporada (Toño García will miss the remainder of the season)]; Marca, 7 February 2014 {{in lang|es}}

On 5 January 2014, Toño moved to Recreativo de Huelva after agreeing to an 18-month contract,[http://www.recreativohuelva.com/-/el-lateral-zurdo-tono-nuevo-refuerzo-para-el-decano El lateral zurdo, Toño, nuevo refuerzo para el Decano (Left back, Toño, new addition to the Dean)]; Recreativo Huelva, 5 January 2014 {{in lang|es}} with his former team also having a buy-back option.[https://archive.today/20140903170548/http://www.villarrealcf.es/es/noticias/futbol-base-cantera-amarilla/item/4147-tono-traspasado-al-recreativo Toño, traspasado al Recreativo (Toño, transferred to Recreativo)]; Villarreal CF, 5 January 2014 {{in lang|es}} He appeared regularly for the Andalusians during his short spell, totaling 1,055 minutes of action to help to a final eighth position.

Toño signed a five-year deal with La Liga side Levante UD on 26 August 2014, for an undisclosed fee.[https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/el-levante-ud-llega-a-un-acuerdo-con-el-recreativo-de-huelva-para-el-traspaso-de-tono El Levante UD llega a un acuerdo con el Recreativo de Huelva para el traspaso de Toño (Levante UD reach agreement with Recreativo de Huelva for Toño's transfer)]; Levante UD, 26 August 2014 {{in lang|es}} He made his debut in the competition 13 September, starting in a 0–0 away draw against Málaga CF.[http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/primera/jornada_3/mga_lev/ Al Levante se le aparece Jesús (Jesús appears to Levante)]; Marca, 13 September 2014 {{in lang|es}}

Toño scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight – and as a professional – on 30 September 2018, helping the hosts defeat Deportivo Alavés 2–1.[http://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/cronica/2018/09/30/5bb1088f22601d3f4e8b45c6.html El Levante aprovecha el 'mal de altura' del Alavés (Levante take advantage of 'altitude sickness' from Alavés)]; Marca, 30 September 2018 {{in lang|es}}[http://www.marca.com/futbol/levante/2018/09/30/5bb124d4ca4741855c8b45b9.html Toño marca su primer tanto como profesional (Toño scores his first goal as a professional)]; Marca, 30 September 2018 {{in lang|es}} He left on 30 June 2021, after his contract expired.{{cite web|url=https://huelva24.com/art/150915/julio-rodriguez-ficha-por-el-podbeskidie-polaco-y-tono-deja-de-ser-jugador-del-levante?__cf_chl_managed_tk__=pmd_6653e72eea9b58dedc9797bf8be39aa9573267dc-1628525709-0-gqNtZGzNAyKjcnBszQi6|title=Julio Rodríguez ficha por el Podbeskidzie polaco y Toño deja de ser jugador del Levante|trans-title=Julio Rodríguez signs for Poland's Podbeskidzie and Toño is no longer a Levante player|publisher=Huelva 24|language=es|date=30 June 2021|accessdate=9 August 2021}}

On 2 August 2021, Toño signed a one-year deal with SD Eibar, recently relegated to the second tier.{{cite web|url=https://www.sdeibar.com/noticia/tono-garcia-nuevo-jugador-armero|title=Toño García, nuevo jugador armero|trans-title=Toño García, new armero player|publisher=SD Eibar|language=es|date=2 August 2021|accessdate=9 August 2021}}

Personal life

Toño's father, also named Antonio, was a goalkeeper. He appeared in the Spanish top division with Valencia CF in the 80s.[https://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2015/04/12/equipo-hijo/254158.html "Soy del equipo de mi hijo" ("I support my son's team")]; Super Deporte, 12 April 2015 {{in lang|es}}

In February 2019, Toño was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and extortion.[https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/levante/20190208/46297671219/tono-detenido-levante.html Toño García, detenido por presunta extorsión y amenazas, entre otros delitos (Toño García, arrested for alleged extortion and threats, amongst other charges)]; Mundo Deportivo, 8 February 2019 {{in lang|es}} He was released the following month, without bail.[https://www.marca.com/futbol/levante/2019/03/01/5c7940e6ca4741b9628b4625.html Libertad provisional sin fianza para Toño (Provisional release without bail for Toño)]; Marca, 1 March 2019 {{in lang|es}}