Antonio Fernández (footballer, born 1978)

Antonio Fernández Rivadulla (born 29 January 1978), known as Antonio Fernández, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager.

Playing career
Known as just Antonio during his playing days, he was born in Ourense, Galicia, and made his senior debut with Tercera División side Villalonga FC at the age of 17. In 1996, he was transferred to Deportivo de La Coruña for an undisclosed sum plus a friendly match, and returned to youth football.

Antonio featured mainly in the fourth tier during his entire career; aside from a one-year spell in Segunda División B with CD Lalín in the 1998–99 season, he played for USD O Grove, UD Xove Lago, CP Villarrobledo, Granada CF, Torredonjimeno CF, Granada Atlético CF, CD Guadalajara, Portonovo SD, Motril CF, CD Ourense, Pontevedra CF, Céltiga FC and CD Boiro.

On 29 August 2013, Antonio returned to his first club Villalonga, now in the Preferente Autonómica. He officially retired on 11 December 2014, aged 36, after being appointed manager of the club.

Coaching career
On 3 December 2014, whilst playing for Villalonga, Fernández was named as interim manager following the sacking of Óscar García; eight days later, he was permanently appointed manager, and subsequently retired from playing. He achieved promotion to the fourth division in 2016, and on 30 May 2017, after leading Villalonga to an 8th-place finish, he left to become manager of fellow league team Alondras CF.

On 20 June 2019, after leading Alondras to two consecutive play-off qualifications, albeit without promotion to the Segunda División B on both occasions, Fernández left the club. On 27 October, he was named in charge of CD San Roque de Lepe also in the fourth tier.

Ferández led San Roque to promotion during the 2020–21 campaign, and left the club on 6 July 2022, after a sixth-place finish in the season, to take over Primera Federación side Pontevedra. On 18 January 2023, however, he was sacked by Ponte after three losses in a row.

On 6 March 2024, after more than a year of inactivity, Fernández was appointed at the helm of Segunda Federación side Real Balompédica Linense on a contract until the end of the campaign; he replaced sacked Mere. On 16 May 2024, Fernández left Balona as his contract was not renewed for next season.

Personal life
Fernández's father, also named Antonio, was also a footballer. A forward, he featured in one Segunda División match for Ourense, and also played for Pontevedra and Lalín.

Manager
Villalonga
 * Preferente de Galicia: 2015–16