Antonio de la Cruz facts for kids
De la Cruz (standing, third to left) with Barcelona in 1975
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jesús Antonio de la Cruz Gallego | ||
| Date of birth | 7 May 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | León, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Júpiter Leonés | |||
| Valladolid | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1970 | Valladolid | 87 | (0) |
| 1970–1972 | Granada | 64 | (0) |
| 1972–1979 | Barcelona | 183 | (6) |
| Total | 334 | (6) | |
| International career | |||
| 1971 | Spain U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 1972–1978 | Spain | 6 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1987–1988 | Sabadell | ||
| 1989–1990 | Barcelona C | ||
| 1991–1996 | Barcelona C | ||
| 1998–1999 | Yokohama F. Marinos | ||
| 2003 | Barcelona (interim) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jesús Antonio de la Cruz Gallego (born on May 7, 1947) is a Spanish former football player. He played as a defender. After his playing career, he also became a manager (coach).
Antonio de la Cruz played in 247 games in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league. He scored six goals during his nine seasons there. He played for Granada and Barcelona. With Barcelona, he won three important titles, including the 1979 Cup Winners' Cup.
He also played for the Spanish national team in the 1970s. He even represented his country in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Playing Career: A Football Journey
Antonio de la Cruz was born in León, Spain. He started his professional football journey with Real Valladolid. This team played in the Segunda División, which is Spain's second-highest league.
Starting in Valladolid and Granada
Even though his team, Real Valladolid, was moved down to a lower league in the 1969–70 season, Antonio de la Cruz moved up. He joined Granada CF, a team in La Liga. His first game in the top league was on September 13, 1970. It was an away game against Elche CF, and the score was a 1–1 draw.
Joining FC Barcelona
In March 1972, Antonio de la Cruz signed with another top-division club, FC Barcelona. This was a big move for him. The deal was worth six million pesetas. He officially joined the team in July of that year.
He played in 247 official matches for Barcelona at their home stadium, the Camp Nou. He scored his first goal for Barcelona on January 7, 1973. This was in a 2–0 win against Real Zaragoza.
Winning the Cup Winners' Cup
On May 16, 1979, when he was 32 years old, Antonio de la Cruz played in a very important game. He came on as a substitute in the second half of the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. This big match was held in Basel. Barcelona won the game 4–3 against Fortuna Düsseldorf after extra time. It was a thrilling victory!
International Career: Playing for Spain
Antonio de la Cruz played six games for the Spanish national team over six years. His first game for Spain was on April 12, 1972. It was a friendly match against Greece, and the game ended in a 0–0 draw.
World Cup Experience
The coach, László Kubala, chose Antonio de la Cruz to play in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. This big tournament was held in Argentina. Antonio de la Cruz played in one group stage game, where Spain lost 2–1 to Austria. Spain's journey in the tournament ended after three games.
Coaching Career: After Playing
After he stopped playing football, Antonio de la Cruz became a coach. He had two short periods coaching CE Sabadell FC in Catalonia. During the 1987–88 season, the team was moved down from the top league.
In January 2003, Antonio de la Cruz was named the interim manager for Barcelona. This happened after the previous coach, Louis van Gaal, left. Antonio de la Cruz was in charge for one league match. It was an away game against Atlético Madrid, and Barcelona lost 3–0.
Achievements and Trophies
Antonio de la Cruz won several important titles during his time as a player, especially with Barcelona.
- La Liga: He won the Spanish league title in the 1973–74 season.
- Copa del Rey: He won the Spanish cup, the Copa del Rey, in the 1977–78 season.
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: He also won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the 1978–79 season.
See also
In Spanish: Toño de la Cruz para niños
