Quick Facts
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Antonio Gómez Pérez (born 1 August 1973) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and a current coach.
Playing career
Born in Madrid, Gómez was brought up in La Liga giants Real Madrid's youth ranks, making his first-team debuts in the 1995–96 season, as Jorge Valdano was the team coach: he scored twice in only six matches during the campaign, but his presence with the main squad would be merely testimonial.
After an unassuming loan to Sevilla FC – 14 matches out of 42, top flight relegation – Gómez was released by the Merengues, continuing his career with Albacete Balompié (second division), Hércules CF (two seasons, one in the third), CD Toledo and amateurs La Roda CF, retiring in 2006 at the age of nearly 33.
Coaching career
In the 2006 summer, immediately after retiring, Gómez started coaching, first with former club Albacete's youth team, with which he won the campaign's Spanish Cup of the category. Subsequently, he stayed two years with the B-side in the fourth level.
Gómez re-joined former Real Madrid B coach Rafael Benítez in 2009, being named Liverpool's assistant while also training the club's reserve team. On 23 June 2010 he announced his move to Real Valladolid, signing for 2010–11 in division two after the dismissal of former Spanish national team boss Javier Clemente.
On 29 November 2010, after a 0–1 home loss against FC Cartagena, Gómez was fired by Valladolid, even though the Castile and León side ranked seventh in the league. From June 2011 to March 2013, he managed former club Albacete in the third tier, and subsequently re-joined Benítez's coaching staff at S.S.C. Napoli, Real Madrid and Newcastle United.