Abraham Paz
Spanish footballer (born 1979)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abraham Paz Cruz (born 29 June 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He is the current manager of Primera Federación club Antequera.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Abraham Paz Cruz[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 June 1979[1] | ||
| Place of birth | El Puerto de Santa María, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2][1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Antequera (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1991–1996 | Safa San Luis | ||
| 1996–1997 | Cádiz | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1999 | Cádiz B | ||
| 1999–2008 | Cádiz | 218 | (31) |
| 1999–2000 | → Portuense (loan) | ||
| 2008–2011 | Hércules | 91 | (8) |
| 2011–2012 | Cartagena | 34 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | Sabadell | 31 | (3) |
| 2013–2018 | Bnei Sakhnin | 139 | (8) |
| 2015 | → Maccabi Haifa (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2019 | St Joseph's | 11 | (2) |
| Total | 537 | (55) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2020–2022 | Sanluqueño (assistant) | ||
| 2022–2025 | St Joseph's | ||
| 2025– | Antequera | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Born in El Puerto de Santa María, Province of Cádiz, Paz began his career his professional with the reserves of local club Cádiz CF, his stint then also being punctuated by a loan to hometown's Racing Club Portuense. He was definitely reinstated in the first team in 2000, going on to represent them in all three major divisions (including 22 games and one goal in 2005–06's La Liga).[3][4]
Paz joined Hércules CF of the Segunda División in the summer of 2008.[5] He contributed 31 matches and two goals[6][7] in his second season, as the Alicante side returned to the top division after a 13-year absence.[8]
On 12 December 2010, during a 4–1 home win against Málaga CF, Paz became the first Spanish scorer for Hércules in 2010–11,[9] as the campaign ended in immediate relegation. From 2011 to 2013 he competed in the second tier, representing FC Cartagena[10] and CE Sabadell FC and suffering relegation with the former.[11]
On 16 July 2013, aged 34, Paz moved abroad for the very first time, signing a two-year contract with Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin FC[12]– he had just been banned from playing in his country while investigations were carried out to determine whether or not he was involved in match fixing when he represented Hércules.[13] During his spell in the Holy Land, he was also loaned to fellow Premier League team Maccabi Haifa FC; ultimately, he was acquitted of any wrongdoing.[14]
In January 2019, Paz joined St Joseph's F.C. of the Gibraltar Premier Division on a short-team deal.[15]
Coaching career
Shortly after retiring, Paz became assistant manager at Atlético Sanluqueño CF.[16] He had his first head coach job on 8 June 2022, being appointed at former side St Joseph's.[17]
Paz returned to Spain three years later, taking over Primera Federación club Antequera CF following Abel Gómez's dismissal.[18]
Career statistics
- As of 15 May 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cádiz | 1998–99[19] | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000[19] | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01[19] | Segunda División B | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2001–02[19] | Segunda División B | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2002–03[19] | Segunda División B | 36 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6[a] | 3 | 42 | 8 | |
| 2003–04[19] | Segunda División | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05[19] | Segunda División | 39 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 5 | ||
| 2005–06[19] | La Liga | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07[19] | Segunda División | 14 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | 15 | 8 | ||
| 2007–08[19] | Segunda División | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| Total | 211 | 26 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 230 | 33 | ||
| Hércules | 2008–09[19] | Segunda División | 31 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 35 | 4 | |
| 2009–10[19] | Segunda División | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11[19] | La Liga | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| Total | 91 | 8 | 5 | 0 | — | 96 | 8 | |||
| Cartagena | 2011–12[19] | Segunda División | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 3 | |
| Sabadell | 2012–13[19] | Segunda División | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | |
| Bnei Sakhnin | 2013–14[20] | Israeli Premier League | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |
| 2014–15[20] | Israeli Premier League | 20 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16[20] | Israeli Premier League | 31 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| Total | 60 | 2 | 11 | 1 | — | 71 | 3 | |||
| Maccabi Haifa (loan) | 2014–15[20] | Israeli Premier League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| Career total | 440 | 42 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 475 | 50 | ||
- Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
Managerial statistics
- As of 15 March 2026
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| St Joseph's |  |
8 June 2022 | 30 November 2025 | 100 | 67 | 15 | 18 | 233 | 90 | +143 | 67.00 | [21] |
| Antequera |  |
30 November 2025 | Present | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 17 | +1 | 57.14 | [22] |
| Total | 114 | 75 | 16 | 23 | 251 | 107 | +144 | 65.79 | — | |||
Honours
Cádiz
