Antonio 'Toni' Prats Cervera (born 9 September 1971) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
In a career spent mainly with Betis, he appeared in 338 La Liga matches over 12 seasons (467 across both major levels), winning one Copa del Rey with the club.Martí se apunta 300 (Martí bags 300); Fútbol Balear, 24 March 2012 (in Spanish)
Club career Prats was born in Capdepera, Mallorca. After emerging through his hometown RCD Mallorca's youth system (appearing in one La Liga match in the 1991–92 season, a 1–2 home loss against Athletic Bilbao)El adiós forzado de Prats (Prats' forced goodbye); Diario de Mallorca, 8 March 2008 (in Spanish) and playing one year with RC Celta de Vigo, he finally settled at Seville's Real Betis, where he remained nine years.Mallorquines de celeste (Mallorca natives in sky-blue); Última Hora, 2 February 2002 (in Spanish)¿Qué fue de Prats? El mítico meta del Betis que le marcó al Madrid (What happened to Prats? The legendary Betis goalie who scored to Madrid); Diario AS, 2 August 2018 (in Spanish) Ironically, in 1999–2000, as the Andalusians were relegated from the top flight, he scored against Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid through free kicks, in respectively a 2–1 win and 2–1 loss.¿Sabías que Toni Prats fue el primer portero de Primera en marcar de tiro libre? (Did you know Toni Prats was the first Primera goalkeeper to score from a free kick?); RCDM, 17 February 2010 (in Spanish)Toni Prats, el portero que marcó más goles que el delantero centro (Toni Prats, the goalkeeper who scored more goals than the centre-forward); Diario de Sevilla, 22 January 2021 (in Spanish)
In 2005–06, alleging personal reasons, Prats returned to Mallorca for a further two campaigns,Prats: «Vuelvo a la isla por motivos personales; lo deportivo no ha influido» (Prats: "I return to the island for personal reasons; the sporting part had nothing to do with this"); ABC, 5 July 2005 (in Spanish) before the emergence of Miguel Ángel MoyáEl Moyà más "optimista" (The most "optimistic" Moyà); Diario de Mallorca, 26 August 2007 (in Spanish) forced a move to Segunda División club Hércules CFJavi González firma por dos temporadas con el Hércules (Javi González signs for two seasons with Hércules); El Correo, 23 July 2007 (in Spanish) where he was scarcely used, retiring in March 2008 following recurrent back problems.Prats espera seguir vinculado al Hércules (Prats hopes to continue linked to Hércules); Marca, 7 March 2008 (in Spanish)
International career Prats was called once by the Spain national team. He remained on the bench in an infamous 3–2 away loss against Cyprus in the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers on 5 September 1998, with manager Javier Clemente being dismissed in the aftermath.España cae ante Chipre, un equipo repleto de aficionados (Spain fall against Cyprus, team filled with amateurs); El Mundo, 5 September 1998 (in Spanish)"Yo fui a la selección, pero no debuté" ("I went to the national team, but I did not make my debut); Marca, 7 September 2011 (in Spanish)
Personal life Prats' nephew Abdón was also a footballer. A forward, he also was a product of Mallorca's youth system.El sobrino supera al tío (The nephew overcomes the uncle); Diario AS, 17 October 2021 (in Spanish)
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMallorca B1990–91Segunda División B120———120Mallorca1991–92Segunda División1000——101992–93Segunda División14040—101901993–94Segunda División32000——3201994–95Segunda División38090——470Total850130—10990Celta1995–96La Liga41020——430Betis1996–97La Liga40000——4001997–98La Liga3603060—4501998–99La Liga3202060—4001999–2000La Liga37200——3722000–01Segunda División38000——3802001–02La Liga36010——3702002–03La Liga3803050—4602003–04La Liga16030——1902004–05La Liga9000——90Total2822120170—3112Mallorca2005–06La Liga30000——3002006–07La Liga22000——220Total52000——520Hércules2007–08Segunda División7000——70Career total4792270170105242
Honours Betis Copa del Rey: 2004–05Dani delivers for Betis; UEFA, 11 June 2005
Spain U21 UEFA European Under-21 Championship third place: 1994España pierde la inocencia (Spain lose innocence); Mundo Deportivo, 16 April 1994 (in Spanish)
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