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.

Rafa Gil
Personal information
Full name Rafael Gil Sánchez
Date of birth (1975-10-11) 11 October 1975 (age 49)
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

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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 On 4 July 2011 he rescinded his contract at mutual consent, after again falling short in the play-offs.[7]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]

References

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  1. ^ "Rafael Gil debuta como entrenador del Alhaurino" [Rafael Gil debuts as Alhaurino manager] (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Rafael Gil suple a Paco González como técnico del Málaga B la próxima campaña" [Rafael Gil replaces Paco González as Málaga B manager the following campaign] (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. ^ "El técnico del Málaga B Rafa Gil renueva por una temporada más" [Málaga B manager Rafa Gil renews for a further season] (in Spanish). Málaga's official website. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Rafa Gil y Luis Martínez renuevan por dos temporadas" [Rafa Gil and Luis Martínez renew for two seasons] (in Spanish). Málaga's official website. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Rafa Gil se hace cargo de la primera plantilla" [Rafa Gil takes charge of the first team] (in Spanish). Málaga's official website. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Cornellá es de Champions" [Cornellá is from Champions] (in Spanish). Marca. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Dissociation of Rafa Gil and Málaga Club de Fútbol". Málaga's official website. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Rafa Gil deja el Estepona para dirigir a Arabia Saudi sub-17" [Rafa Gil leaves Estepona to manage Saudi Arabia under-17] (in Spanish). Diario Sur. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  9. ^ "El malagueño Rafa Gil, subcampeón de la Copa del Golfo" [Malagueño Rafa Gil, runner-up of the Gulf Cup] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  10. ^ "El malagueño Rafa Gil exporta su magisterio a China" [Malagueño Rafa Gil extends his mastership to China] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Rafa Gil encuentra destino: el Johor de Malasia" [Rafa Gil finds his destination: Johor of Malaysia] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
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