Toni Doblas

Football player infobox|
playername= Toni Doblas


fullname = Antonio Doblas Santana
nickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1980|8|5|mf=y
cityofbirth = Dos Hermanas
countryofbirth = Spain
height = 1.84 m
nickname =
currentclub = Real Zaragoza
clubnumber = 25
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 1999–2003
youthclubs = Real Betis B
caps(goals) = 99 (0)
years = 1999–2003
2003–2004
2004–2008
2008–
clubs = Real Betis B
Xerez CD (loan)
Real Betis
Real Zaragoza
caps(goals) = 99 (0)
4 (0)
76 (0)
0 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 30 July 2008
ntupdate = 30 July 2008

Antonio Doblas Santana, also known as Toni Doblas (born August 5, 1980 in Dos Hermanas, Seville), is a Spanish footballer, currently playing in Real Zaragoza. He is noted as having good reflexes and being strong in one-on-one situations. Before becoming a professional footballer, Doblas was studying to become a journalist.

Club career

Doblas spent four seasons in the Real Betis B team, where he was the undisputed starter (30, 34 and 35 games in his first three years), before moving on loan to Xerez CD. He made only four appearances and returned to Betis the year after, where his fortunes changed, as Doblas was called into immediate first team action, due to injures to fellow goalkeepers Pedro Contreras and Toni Prats.

Doblas made his first team and first division debuts against Getafe CF, on October 24, 2004, in a 2-0 away win. Doblas would remain first-choice for the remaining season, taking part in the 2005 Spanish Cup final against CA Osasuna, which Betis won 2-1. In the semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao, Doblas saved two penalties in a shootout.

Doblas was also a key element in Betis' first qualification for the UEFA Champions League as he saved a Camel Meriem penalty against AS Monaco in the third qualify round, which Betis won 3-2. During the 2005-2006 season, errors cost Doblas his position, regained by Contreras. His most notable error came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as he gifted Ricardo Carvalho a goal. He still managed 24 league appearances, a situation repeated (also with Contreras as backup) in 2006-2007.

In 2007-2008, Doblas suffered a serious injury in the preseason that kept him out of action for five months. He was supposed to battle for first-choice status with new signing Ricardo. He was reinstated in the squad in late April, doning nº25, as teammate Rafael Sobis switched to 21. In June 2008, he was released by Betis and, on September 1, 2008, joined second level side Real Zaragoza.

External links

* [http://www.tonidoblas.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7458 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/Players/Player=50790/index.html UEFA.com profile]