Rafa Gil
Spanish football manager
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rafael "Rafa" Gil Sánchez (born 11 October 1975) is a Spanish football manager, currently in charge of Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim II FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Gil Sánchez | ||
| Date of birth | 11 October 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Tolox, Spain | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Johor Darul Ta'zim II (manager) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2007–2008 | Alhaurino | ||
| 2008–2011 | Málaga B | ||
| 2010 | Málaga (interim) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Unión Estepona | ||
| 2012–2013 | Saudi Arabia U17 | ||
| 2013–2015 | Saudi Arabia (assistant) | ||
| 2020–2022 | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | ||
| 2022- | Persis Solo | ||
Manager career
Born in Tolox, Málaga, Andalusia, Gil began his managerial career at local CD Alhaurino in Tercera División, being appointed in January 2007.[1] On 18 June of the following year he was named manager of fellow league team Atlético Malagueño.[2]
On 8 May 2009 Gil renewed his contract for a further year, after being in the promotion places.[3] He missed out promotion in the play-offs, and signed a new two-year deal on 28 May of the following year.[4]
On 2 November 2010 Gil was appointed at the helm of the first team in La Liga, after Jesualdo Ferreira's dismissal.[5] His first professional game in charge occurred five days later, a 0–1 away loss against RCD Espanyol.[6]
Gil subsequently returned to Málaga's B-side, after the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as first team manager. On 4 July 2011 he rescinded his contract at mutual consent, after again falling short in the play-offs.[7]
In July 2011 Gil was named manager of Unión Estepona CF in the fourth tier. He left the club in April of the following year, taking charge of Saudi Arabia under-17s.[8]
In 2013, Gil was appointed as compatriot Juan Ramón López Caro's assistant in the full squad,[9] leaving his role in 2015. In 2016, he took up a coaching programme in China.[10]
Gil was appointed at Johor Darul Ta'zim II F.C. of Malaysia in November 2019.[11]