Antonio Soldeville is a pupil and long-term player of Hispaniola. He played for this club from the age of 17, from 1996 to 2005. In 2000, Soldeville, whom the press often refers to as the Best (La Bestia) in Spain, won his first and only title - winner of the Spanish Cup. The peak of his career fell on the seasons-2001/02 and 2002/03. Then Antonio was the leader of the team and was recognized as one of the strongest central defenders of the championship of Spain. In his best season, 2002/03, he spent 33 games, scored 4 goals, earned 15 yellow and 1 red card. Note that it was a difficult year for the club, when three coaches worked at Espanyol: Juande Ramos, Ramon Moya and Javier Clemente.
In December 2003, Soldeville was suspended for some time from training. This was a consequence of his depression due to personal problems, the player disappeared, and the club could not find him for a long time. At that time, Soldeville also treated the left knee, because of which he played in only 4 matches for the entire season.
In March 2004, Tim Hanlon, a well-known British journalist writing about Spanish football, compiled a list of “bad guys” in the Spanish championship. Soldeville also got there in company with Sorin, Ronaldo and Kluivert. At that time, he was treated in the clinic for drug addiction. As Hanlon explained, in Spain, unlike England, the press usually does not advertise such situations - "trying to help players and not harm the club's reputation."
After coming to Espanyol, the new coach of Megel ngel Lotina, it seemed that Soldeville would gain a foothold in the main team. In the 2004/2005 season, he spent 20 games. However, due to personal circumstances and continuing health problems, Soldeville left Espanyol in the summer of 2005. As he then claimed, “family is more important than football.” For 8 Barcelona years he spent 116 games (an average of 14.5 per season) and scored 5 goals.
The Spanish press sent Soldeville to Italy, where he was to play for Parma for three seasons. However, after six months of inactivity, in the winter of 2006, he moved to the club of the second Spanish division, Polideportivo Ejido. Fans of the team were perplexed by the defender, who during the official presentation was clearly noticeable overweight. Soldevilla played for Polydeportivo 7 matches, and only twice left in the starting lineup. And then the club decided to terminate the contract. For several months spent without a team, Soldeville visited the shows in England and Germany, made an attempt to gain a foothold in the Cypriot champion Apollo.
Last November, Antonio gave an interview to AS and stated that Cyprus is the place where he will return to big football. Soldeville enthusiastically told how on the first day the team leaders sent him to play.
However, already in January, Soldeville appeared at the training camp of the Perm Amkar near Turkish Belek. Moreover, as in Apollo, he was used in midfield. Moreover, in the control match against the national team of Uzbekistan, on Soldeville’s account was the only winning ball, which he passed his head after Kobenko's flank pass.
Apparently, Soldeville’s unstable and confident game in midfield attracted Rashid Rakhimov so much that the Spaniard, despite all his problems, was offered a contract. Antonio, having seen a lot in his 28 years, decided to return to big football under the “happy” 13th number.
Ivan MAKAROV
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PROFILE
Antonio Soldeville
Amplitude: central defender, central midfielder.
Date of birth: 19/09/1978
Height: 1.85 cm
Weight: 80 kg