Bengaluru FC sign another Spanish player for ISL 2017-18

Published at :July 17, 2017 at 5:53 PM

Modified at :July 17, 2017 at 5:53 PM

Twenty-Seven-Year-Old Former La Liga Star Joins On A One-year Deal; Becomes Third Spaniard In The Blues’ Fold...

Bengaluru FC have added more Spanish flavour to the side, signing winger Antonio Rodriguez Dovale for the Indian Super League 2017-18 campaign. Twenty-seven-year-old ‘Toni’, as he is widely known, joins Bengaluru FC from Spanish Segunda Division side Rayo Vallecano with whom he spent the 2016-17 season. He also becomes the third Spanish player in the side alongside Juanan Gonzalez and Dimas Delgado.

Born in A Coruña in Northern Spain, Toni spent his formative years at Obradoiro and FC Barcelona before joining Celta de Vigo in 2005 as a youth player. Two years later he was promoted to the reserve side before making his first team debut in the Segunda Division in 2009.

Also Read: Bengaluru FC announce second foreign signing after Erik Paartalu

A brief loan spell at fellow Segunda Division side SD Huesca in 2010-11 was followed by a return to Celta, where he made 30 appearances helping the side achieve promotion to the La Liga at the end of the 2011-12 season. Over the next two years, Toni played an important role for Celta in the top-flight with the highlight being an impressive 9th place finish in the 2013-14 season.

Toni crossed the Atlantic in the year 2014 as he signed for Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer (USA) where he helped the team reach the post-season play-offs. But he returned back to Spain with CD Lugo in 2014-15 before once again achieving promotion to the La Liga in the following season while playing for CD Leganes.

Also Read: Miguel Angel Portugal set to play possession football at Delhi Dynamos

Having penned a one-year deal, Toni was eager to begin his journey at Bengaluru FC as soon as possible. “I am very excited about this new challenge in my career. I know I am coming to a big club and just can’t wait to start training to achieve our objectives this season. I have a good experience as a professional player, and I think that this is a step forward in my career which will be very important,” he said.

Toni was also excited with the prospect of playing in front of the Blues’ faithful, which he regards as a vital part of the club. “The fans are very important for us and I know that they are always supporting the club. I want to assure them that I will do my best to help the club achieve our goals for the season. I am feeling the good vibes and hope that this season will be a successful one,” he added.

Also Read: I-League-ISL merger: Desired or dreaded?

Albert Roca, Bengaluru FC Head Coach, welcomed Toni into the Blues’ fold. “Antonio is a good young player and a crafty winger. Having played at the highest level in Spain, he brings in vital experience which will help us in the season ahead. He still wants to continue improving and his desire to learn will help him settle in quickly,” said Roca.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

This is the JSW-side's third foreign signing this season. After retaining Indian National team captain Sunil Chhetri and young superstar Udanta Singh and foreign players in John Johnson and Juanan, the two-time I-league winners have brought Erik Paartalu and Dimas Delgado.