Antonio Amaya · Biography

The first title of Antonio Amaya Carazo's career came in 2007-08, when Rayo Vallecano won Group I of the Spanish third tier, Segunda División B, and went up to the Spanish second division after beating Zamora in the promotion play-offs. Amaya, a centre-back born in Madrid on 31 May 1983 and standing 1.92 metres, was a regular in that defence. His career was tied to Vallecas, where he had three spells, and also took him to Wigan Athletic in England, Real Betis and UCAM Murcia.

Youth football and arrival at Rayo

Amaya came through the ranks at San Cristóbal de los Ángeles, in the south of Madrid. In 2002 he joined Rayo Vallecano and started with the reserve team, playing 23 league games and scoring twice in 2002-03. To gain minutes he spent six months on loan at UD San Sebastián de los Reyes in Segunda División B, where he made 15 appearances. On his return he established himself in Rayo's first team, then competing in the third tier.

Promotion with Rayo in 2008

In his first spell with the senior side, between 2003 and 2009, Amaya made 124 league appearances and scored five goals, and he went on to captain the team. The breakthrough came in 2008: Rayo won their Segunda División B group with 70 points and overcame Zamora in the promotion tie. In the second division the centre-back remained a starter during 2008-09, his last season before moving abroad.

Wigan Athletic and a loan return (2009-2011)

On 14 August 2009 Wigan Athletic announced his signing. He made his debut on 26 August 2009 in the second round of the League Cup at Blackpool: Wigan lost 4-1 and he scored their only goal, a stoppage-time header. He never played a Premier League match for the English club. For the 2010-11 season he went back to Rayo on loan, made 28 league appearances and was part of the side that won promotion to La Liga at the end of that campaign.

Three seasons at Real Betis (2011-2014)

In July 2011 Wigan confirmed his departure and Amaya joined Real Betis, with whom he played in La Liga. Over three seasons in Seville he made 64 league appearances. His only goal for the club came on 1 December 2013, against Rayo Vallecano of all teams, in a 2-2 draw at the Benito Villamarín. That 2013-14 season ended with Betis relegated to the second division.

Back at Rayo and a second-division title (2014-2018)

In June 2014 he returned to Rayo Vallecano, once again in the top flight. In 2014-15 he played 19 matches and scored once, and in December 2015 he found the net in a 10-2 defeat away to Real Madrid. After the team's relegation in 2016, Amaya stayed in Vallecas, and in 2017-18 he made 17 appearances, with one goal, in the season Rayo were crowned Segunda División champions and won back their place in La Liga. His third spell brought 85 league games and five goals. On 6 July 2018 he said goodbye to the Rayo supporters at a press conference.

UCAM Murcia and the Osasuna case

On 31 July 2018 third-tier side UCAM Murcia announced his arrival. In 2018-19 he played seven league games and scored once, the last stage of his professional career. Across his career he is credited with 346 league appearances and 14 goals. On 23 April 2020 the Provincial Court of Navarre convicted him, along with former teammate Xavi Torres and former Osasuna directors, of sporting corruption in connection with two matches from the 2013-14 season. In January 2023 Spain's Supreme Court upheld the conviction over the Osasuna-Betis match, reduced the sentence to ten months in prison and imposed a ban of one year and ten months.

Profile and honours

Amaya was a tall, right-footed centre-back, strong in the air, a trait reflected in several of his goals, such as the header on his Wigan debut. With Rayo Vallecano he played 254 official matches over three spells. His honours consist of two titles with the Madrid club: Segunda División B in 2007-08 and Segunda División in 2017-18.