In July 2007, Apoño joined Segunda División side Málaga CF – after having emerged through their youth system[2]– also in his native region, being an instrumental figure in their return to La Liga after a two-year absence.

[9] After the first match in the following campaign, a 1–2 away loss to Sevilla FC[10] in which he was replaced at half-time – with the score at 2–0 for the hosts – reacting angrily, Apoño was suspended by coach Manuel Pellegrini.

[11][12] He returned to action nearly two months after, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–4 home defeat against Real Madrid; on 9 January 2012 the Chilean told the player to start looking for a new club, as their altercation had continued for too long.

[20] Subsequently, after an unassuming spell in the Superleague Greece with OFI Crete FC, 31-year-old Apoño returned to Spain and went on to represent CD El Palo and Marbella again.

[21][22][23] On 6 May 2015, representing the former against the latter, he was handed a 12-match ban after being sent off during a third tier match held five days earlier, having allegedly insulted the refereeing team as well as making death threats.