Antoni "Toni" Castells i Barragan (born 26 February 1980) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current football coach.
Career
Castells spent the majority of his playing career in the Spanish lower divisions, primarily in Segunda División B and Tercera División.
Playing Career
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Castells came through the youth ranks of FC Barcelona and UE Cornellà. He began his senior career with Cornellà, later moving to RCD Espanyol B, the reserve team of La Liga side RCD Espanyol.
He went on to play for several other Catalan clubs, including UE Sant Andreu, UE Lleida, Terrassa FC, Girona FC, CE Sabadell FC, and UE Llagostera. He had notable stints with Girona FC, where he was part of the squad that achieved promotion to Segunda División, and CE Sabadell FC.
Castells was known for his leadership on the field and his strong defensive qualities as a midfielder. He retired from professional play after a career spanning over 15 years.
Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a player, Castells transitioned into coaching. He has held various coaching roles, often as an assistant or head coach in Spanish lower divisions. His coaching career includes:
- Girona FC: Assistant coach for the first team.
- UE Llagostera: Interim head coach.
- CE Sabadell FC: Assistant coach.
- CE Manresa: Head coach.
Castells continues to work in football, utilizing his extensive experience as a player and his tactical knowledge in his coaching roles.