Rafael "Rafa" Gil Sánchez (born 11 October 1975) is a Spanish football

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administra ...

, currently in charge of Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim II FC.

Manager career

Born in Tolox,

Málaga Málaga (; ) is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 591,637 in 2024, it is the second-most populo ...

Andalusia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...

, Gil began his managerial career at local CD Alhaurino in

Tercera División Tercera División () was the fourth tier of the Spanish football league system. Until 1977, it was the third tier of the Spanish football league system. Founded in 1929, it was below the ''Primera División'' (also known as La Liga), the ''Segund ...

, being appointed in January 2007. On 18 June of the following year he was named manager of fellow league team Atlético Malagueño. On 8 May 2009 Gil renewed his contract for a further year, after being in the promotion places. He missed out promotion in the play-offs, and signed a new two-year deal on 28 May of the following year. On 2 November 2010 Gil was appointed at the helm of the first team in

La Liga The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, commonly known as the Primera División or La Liga, and officially known as LaLiga EA Sports for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Spain and the highest ...

, after Jesualdo Ferreira's dismissal. His first professional game in charge occurred five days later, a 0–1 away loss against

RCD Espanyol Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona (; "Royal Spanish Sports Club of Barcelona"), commonly known as RCD Espanyol, is a Spanish professional sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The club competes in La Liga, the top tier of Spa ...

. Gil subsequently returned to Málaga's B-side, after the appointment of

Manuel Pellegrini Manuel Luis Pellegrini Ripamonti (; ; born 16 September 1953) is a Chilean professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who is the head coach of Real Betis. As a coach, he has managed clubs in S ...

as first team manager. On 4 July 2011 he rescinded his contract at mutual consent, after again falling short in the play-offs. 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. In 2013, Gil was appointed as compatriot

Juan Ramón López Caro Juan Ramón López Caro (; born 23 March 1963) is a Spanish football manager. He managed Real Madrid and Levante in La Liga, as well as Celta and Real Madrid Castilla in the Segunda División. After a spell in charge of Spain under-21 he mov ...

's assistant in the full squad, leaving his role in 2015. In 2016, he took up a coaching programme in China. Gil was appointed at Johor Darul Ta'zim II F.C. of Malaysia in November 2019.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gil, Rafa 1975 births Living people Sportspeople from the Province of Málaga Spanish football managers La Liga managers Atlético Malagueño managers Málaga CF managers Spanish expatriate football managers Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia Expatriate football managers in Saudi Arabia Expatriate football managers in Malaysia