Vitolo

Víctor José Añino Bermúdez (born 9 September 1983), known as Vitolo, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Tercera Federación club Real Unión de Tenerife.

He began his career at Tenerife, going on to appear in 67 a total of La Liga matches for that club and Racing de Santander and returning to the former in 2014. He also competed extensively in Greece, mainly with PAOK and Panathinaikos.

Vitolo won 18 caps for Spain at youth level, being runner-up with the under-20 team at the 2003 World Cup.

Club career Vitolo was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. A product of CD Tenerife's youth system, he played one match for the first team during the 2001–02 season as the club returned to the Segunda División one year after being promoted. He made his debut in La Liga on 16 September 2001, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in a 2–0 home win against Villarreal CF.

From 2005 to 2007, Vitolo was a key midfield element for Racing de Santander, which finished tenth in the top division in the latter campaign. After some problems with newly appointed coach Marcelino García Toral, however, he would spend 2007–08 on loan to another side in the second tier, RC Celta de Vigo.

With the Galicians, Vitolo did not manage to return to the Spanish top flight, and his buyout clause of approximately €3 million was not activated, so the player returned to Cantabria. In August 2008, however, he terminated his contract and joined Aris Thessaloniki FC. Under compatriot Quique Hernández, he eventually developed into a key midfield element in his only season.

Vitolo signed a four-year deal with PAOK FC on 27 July 2009. He scored his first goal in Greece against his former club, in a 4–1 derby win.

On 13 July 2011, Vitolo was released by PAOK. Later in the same day he signed with another team in the country's Super League, Panathinaikos FC, agreeing to a three-year contract.

In the summer of 2013, Vitolo was released by Panathinaikos and joined Super Lig's Elazığspor for three years. However, in February of the following year he cut ties with the club, playing his last game in December 2013 in a 1–0 home victory over Rizespor; the side were eventually relegated in May, after ranking third-bottom.

Vitolo returned to Tenerife on 18 June 2014, after signing a two-year deal.

International career Vitolo represented Spain at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship held at the United Arab Emirates, alongside the likes of Sergio García and Andrés Iniesta. During the competition he played holding midfielder with notable performances, as the team went on to lose 1–0 to Brazil in the final.

Eventually, Vitolo progressed to the under-21s.

Career statistics

Honours Spain U20 FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2003