Antonio Galdeano Benítez (born 13 February 1984), known as Apoño, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central midfielder. A player with both hard-working and playmaking skills, he was also a penalty kick specialist.[1]
He amassed La Liga totals of 138 matches and 28 goals over five seasons, representing in the competition Málaga and Zaragoza. He also competed professionally in Greece.
In July 2007, Apoño joined Segunda División side Málaga CF – after having emerged through their youth system[2]– also in his native region, being an instrumental figure in their returntoLa Liga after a two-year absence. He was brought in as the club was coached by Juan Ramón López Muñiz, who had briefly managed the player at Marbella.
On 30 July 2010, after a season with many injury problems,[6] with Málaga only ranking in 17th position, Apoño signed a contract extension running until June 2014.[7] He made his 100th official appearance for the club alongside teammate Weligton, in a 1–4 home defeat against Real Madrid on 16 October 2010,[8] and finished 2010–11 with 27 league appearances (26 starts) and one goal.[9]
After the first match in the following campaign, a 1–2 away loss to Sevilla FC[10] in which he was replacedathalf-time – with the score at 2–0 for the hosts – reacting angrily, Apoño was suspended by coach Manuel Pellegrini.[11][12] He returned to action nearly two months after, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–4 home defeat against Real Madrid; on 9 January 2012 the Chilean told the player to start looking for a new club, as their altercation had continued for too long.[13]
On 19 January 2012, Apoño was loaned out to fellow league side Real Zaragoza for the rest of the season.[14] He made his debut for his new team three days later, starting in a 0–0 draw at Levante UD.[15]
Apoño scored his first goal(s) for the Aragonese on 21 March, netting a brace (one penalty) for bottom-placed Zaragoza in a 2–1 away win against Valencia CF.[16] The following round, again from the 11-meter spot, he scored in the 95th minute for the game's only goal in a home success over Atlético Madrid,[17] and featured heavily as the club again retained its division status in the last round.
Subsequently, after an unassuming spell in the Superleague Greece with OFI Crete FC, 31-year-old Apoño returned to Spain and went on to represent CD El Palo and Marbella again.[21][22][23] On 6 May 2015, representing the former against the latter, he was handed a 12-match ban after being sent off during a third tier match held five days earlier, having allegedly insulted the refereeing team as well as making death threats.[24]
Apoño's younger brother, Juan, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He also appeared for Málaga, but only for the B-team. The siblings shared teams at El Palo.[25][26][27]
