Luis García (footballer, born 1978)

Luis Javier García Sanz (born 24 June 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left winger.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Sanz.

Luis García
García playing for Liverpool in 2005
Personal information
Full name Luis Javier García Sanz[1]
Date of birth (1978-06-24) 24 June 1978[1]
Place of birth Badalona, Spain[1]
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2][1]
Playing position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Youth career
1984–1988 Badalona
1988–1990 Sant Gabriel
1990–1997 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2002 Barcelona B 73 (25)
1998 Barcelona 0 (0)
1999–2000 → Valladolid (loan) 6 (0)
2000 → Toledo (loan) 17 (4)
2000–2001 → Tenerife (loan) 40 (16)
2001–2002 → Valladolid (loan) 25 (7)
2002–2003 Atlético Madrid 30 (9)
2003–2004 Barcelona 25 (4)
2004–2007 Liverpool 77 (18)
2007–2009 Atlético Madrid 48 (2)
2009–2010 Racing Santander 15 (0)
2010–2011 Panathinaikos 14 (1)
2011–2012 Puebla 32 (12)
2012–2013 UNAM 37 (4)
2014 Atlético Kolkata 13 (2)
2016 Central Coast Mariners 10 (2)
Total 462 (106)
National team
2005–2008 Spain 20 (4)
2001–2008 Catalonia 5 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Although naturally left-footed, he was skilled with both feet and had a good aerial game, despite a small frame. He played professionally for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in his homeland, amongst others – being brought up in the former's youth ranks – appearing abroad for Liverpool, with whom he won the 2005 Champions League and the 2006 FA Cup.

Over the course of eight seasons, García amassed La Liga totals of 150 games and 22 goals. A Spanish international for three years, he earned 20 caps and represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, García began playing football with local CF Badalona at the age of 6, arriving in FC Barcelona's youth ranks six years later from neighbours CE Sant Gabriel.[3] After two successful seasons with their reserves, he left on loan for Real Valladolid, where he made his La Liga debut on 22 August 1999 in a 0–1 away loss against CD Numancia.[4] He finished the campaign at Segunda División's CD Toledo also on loan, his four goals not being enough to prevent relegation for the Castile-La Mancha side; on 18 August 1998, he had made his first competitive appearance for the Blaugrana, coming on as 78th-minute substitute for Boudewijn Zenden in a 1–2 defeat at RCD Mallorca for the Supercopa de España.[5]

Subsequently, García played another year in the second level, being instrumental in CD Tenerife's promotion by scoring 16 league goals under the guidance of manager Rafael Benítez.[6] Loaned for the fourth time by Barcelona, he returned to Valladolid for 2001–02, netting seven top division goals in 25 matches, including two in a 5–1 away success over Tenerife.[7]

Atlético Madrid

In the 2002–03 season, García was sold to Atlético Madrid for €3.6 million but, after a highly successful individual campaign (nine league goals), Barcelona activated a clause which allowed the player's return for an additional €1.4 million.[8] At the Camp Nou he had another good year, helping the team to the second place in the league, five points behind champions Valencia CF.

Liverpool

García was signed by former Tenerife coach Benítez for Liverpool on 20 August 2004, on a five-year contract for a fee of £6 million. He was the fourth Spaniard signed by the club that summer[9] and, nine days after arriving, made his Premier League debut in a 0–1 away loss to Bolton Wanderers, where he had an apparently legitimate goal ruled out for offside;[10] his first goal with his new club came against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on 11 September, concluding a 3–0 win,[11] and he went on to net seven more times in the league that season, including the headed winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton on 20 March 2005.[12]

García was also a key player in Liverpool's successful campaign in the UEFA Champions League, scoring winning goals against Juventus F.C. and Chelsea (a controversial one in the fourth minute, dubbed a "ghost goal" by Chelsea manager José Mourinho),[13] in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively. Having appeared in the final against A.C. Milan, he finished his first season in English football with 13 successful strikes in all competitions.[14]

García during Jamie Carragher's testimonial match (2010)

García did not make so much of an impact in the 2005–06 campaign, although he weighed in with some vital goals, including a lofted finish against Chelsea to put them out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals. He was suspended for the final victory against West Ham United, having been sent off in a league game just days after his semi-final winner, coincidentally also against West Ham.[15] Early into the season, he also scored the third goal in the Reds' 2005 UEFA Super Cup final win against PFC CSKA Moscow.[16]

On 10 January 2007, following the 3–6 loss to Arsenal in the League Cup which was his final game for Liverpool, it was confirmed by the club that García had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the game. He would be out for at least six months.[17]

His positive relationship with club fans was in great measure due to the fact of his decisive goals against Chelsea. It was further underlined by the song frequently sung in his honour, to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine": "Luis García, he drinks Sangria/he came from Barça to bring us joy!/He's five-foot seven, he's football heaven/So please don't take our Luis away!" In the 2013 poll of the 100 Players Who Shook the Kop, García ranked 34th.[18] All in all he scored 30 goals in 121 appearances for Liverpool, with ten coming in the Champions League, five in the knockout stages of the 2005 triumph.

Return to Spain

In early July 2007, García signed with former team Atlético Madrid for around £4 million, with his transfer being negotiated between the two clubs around the same time that they were arranging a deal for Fernando Torres in the opposite direction. Nonetheless, these deals were conducted separately.[19]

After a first season, where he played mainly as backup to Portugal's Simão Sabrosa, though still managing 30 league appearances, with García playing both matches against former side Liverpool in the following campaign's Champions League group stage. On 4 November 2008, he came on as a late substitute at Anfield to appreciative applause.[20] During the league, however, he fell out of favour, appearing mainly from the bench and sometimes not even making the list of 18.[21]

On 11 August 2009, it was confirmed García had reached an agreement with Racing de Santander.[22] His season was quite unassuming, as he appeared in only 15 league matches without scoring and the Cantabrians narrowly avoided relegation.[23]

Later years

On 28 August 2010, García signed a one-year contract with Greek club Panathinaikos FC.[24] On 4 September he flew back to Anfield to take part in Carragher's testimonial match, scoring a goal in the second minute; ten days later, he returned to the Camp Nou, playing the last 20 minutes in a 1–5 loss for the Champions League group stage.[25]

García playing for Puebla in 2011

On 1 July 2011, 33-year-old García signed with Mexican team Puebla FC.[26] He scored his first goal for La Franja on the 24th, through a penalty kick away to Club Atlas (1–0).[27]

In early June 2012, García signed for another club in the Liga MX, Club Universidad Nacional, joining alongside Martín Romagnoli for an undisclosed fee.[28] He made his official debut against Atlas, playing 34 minutes from the bench.[29]

On 14 January 2014, aged 35, García announced his retirement from football. He made the announcement on his official website, saying, "Today I've decided to retire as a professional footballer, thanks for the interest from the teams that spoke with me in recent weeks, but I think the time has come to end this important chapter in my life and move to the next page."[30]

García came out of retirement in July 2014, joining newly formed Indian Super League franchise Atlético de Kolkata as their Marquee player ahead of the league's inaugural season, the first of such players to join the league.[31] He started in the league's opening match, as his new team won 3–0 at home against Mumbai City FC;[32] on 21 November he had a wrongly disallowed goal in an eventual 1–2 loss at Kerala Blasters FC[33] but, despite finishing the regular season in third, Kolkata won the league final against the same opponent, although he was an unused substitute.[34] He also won the league's Manyavar Most Exciting Player award.[35]

Due to concerns over his injury record, García was not retained for the 2015 campaign.[36] On 16 January 2016, he signed for Central Coast Mariners FC initially until the end of the season.[37] He made his debut one week later, coming off the bench and playing a role in his team's goal in a 1–2 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers FC.[38] In the next match, against Wellington Phoenix FC, he was again used as a substitute, scoring one goal and setting up two more in a 3–1 win.[39]

García served as a pundit for beIN Sports during their coverage of the UEFA Euro 2016.[40]

International career

After a productive first season with Liverpool, García made his debut for the Spanish national team on 26 March 2005, appearing in a 3–0 friendly defeat of China in Salamanca.[41] On 12 November of that year, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 home victory over Slovakia for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs.[42]

García was then chosen as part of the nation's squad-of-23 for the finals in Germany. He started in wins against Ukraine and Tunisia, and was used as a substitute in the round-of-16 1–3 loss to France.

Career statistics

Club

[43][44]

Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B 1997–98 Segunda División B 3615——6[lower-alpha 1]34218
1998–99 Segunda División 3710———3710
Total 7325——637928
Barcelona 1998–99 La Liga 0000001[lower-alpha 2]010
Valladolid (loan) 1999–2000 La Liga 6020——80
Toledo (loan) 1999–2000 Segunda División 17400——174
Tenerife (loan) 2000–01 Segunda División 401610——4116
Valladolid (loan) 2001–02 La Liga 25743——2910
Atlético Madrid 2002–03 La Liga 30920——329
Barcelona 2003–04 La Liga 254617[lower-alpha 3]3—388
Liverpool 2004–05 Premier League 2983012[lower-alpha 4]5—4413
2005–06 Premier League 3174113[lower-alpha 4]23[lower-alpha 5]15111
2006–07 Premier League 173207[lower-alpha 4]31[lower-alpha 6]0276
Total 77189132104112230
Atlético Madrid 2007–08 La Liga 302609[lower-alpha 3]4—456
2008–09 La Liga 190307[lower-alpha 4]1—291
Total 49290165—747
Racing Santander 2009–10 La Liga 15030——180
Panathinaikos 2010–11 Superleague Greece 182106[lower-alpha 4]0—252
Puebla 2011–12 Liga MX 331400——3314
UNAM 2012–13 Liga MX 20274——276
2013–14 Liga MX 15250——202
Total 354124——478
Atlético Kolkata 2014 Indian Super League 132———132
Central Coast Mariners 2015–16 A-League 102———102
Career total 4321084996118114553139
  1. Appearances in Promotion play-offs
  2. Appearances in Supercopa de Espana
  3. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Appearances in UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
  6. Appearance in FA Community Shield

International

[45]

Spain
YearAppsGoals
200563
2006121
200710
200810
Total204

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 November 2005Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain Slovakia1–05–12006 World Cup qualification[42]
2.2–0
3.4–1
4.2 September 2006Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz, Spain Liechtenstein4–04–0Euro 2008 qualifying[46]

Honours

Club

Liverpool

Atlético Madrid

Atlético Kolkata

Individual

Awards

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References
  1. "Luis Javier García Sanz 'LUIS GARCIA'". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  2. "Luis García". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. "Luis García Sanz anuncia retirada: "Llegó un momento inevitable para todos"" [Luis García Sanz announces retirement: "A moment that everyone must face has come"]. La Información (in Spanish). 14 January 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. Tomeo, Carlos (23 August 1999). "El Numancia sigue haciendo historia y se estrena con un triunfo" [Numancia continue to make history and have winning debut]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  5. López, José Luis (19 August 1998). "Sólo Xavi aprueba el primer examen" [Only Xavi passes first test]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. "La ambición de Benítez tuvo justa recompensa" [Benítez's ambition had its just reward]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 October 2000. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. Castañeda, Álvaro (29 April 2002). "El Tenerife, patético" [Tenerife, pathetic]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  8. Barça buy back Luis García; UEFA, 1 July 2003
  9. "Liverpool grab Garcia". BBC Sport. 20 August 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  10. "Bolton 1–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 29 August 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  11. "Liverpool 3–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 11 September 2004. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  12. "Liverpool 2–1 Everton". BBC Sport. 20 March 2005. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  13. Harris, Nick (5 May 2005). "Motion expert says Garcia's shot did cross the line". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  14. "Liverpool transfers: When the Reds signed Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia". Talksport. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  15. "Red-card duo face anxious wait". ESPN Soccernet. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  16. "Liverpool 3–1 CSKA Moscow". ESPN Soccernet. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  17. Mole, Giles (10 January 2007). "Liverpool hit by Garcia injury blow". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  18. "100PWSTK: The full 2013 list". Liverpool F.C. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  19. "Luis García returns to Atlético". UEFA. 3 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007.
  20. Glendenning, Barry (5 November 2008). "Champions League: Liverpool v Atlético Madrid – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  21. "Luis García, fuera por decisión técnica" [Luis García, out due to technical decision]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 January 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  22. "Mercado: El Racing de Santander ficha a Luis García" [Market: Racing de Santander sign Luis García] (in Spanish). Goal. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  23. "Luis García rescinde su contracto con el Racing de Santander" [Luis García rescinds his contract with Racing de Santander] (in Spanish). Fichajes. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  24. Luis Garcia set to complete Panathinaikos switch; Yahoo!, 28 August 2010
  25. "Messi makes merry in Barça stroll". UEFA. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  26. El internacional jugador español Luis García llega al Puebla de la Franja (Spanish international player Luis García Saenz arrives at Puebla de la Franja); Medio Tiempo, 1 July 2011 (in Spanish)
  27. "Radiografía de la jornada uno del Apertura 2011 mexicano" [X-ray of the 2011 Mexican Apertura's matchday one] (in Spanish). Info 7. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  28. Pumas entrenó completo (Pumas trained in full) Archived 8 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Central Deportiva, 4 June 2012 (in Spanish)
  29. "Primera jornada de la Liga MX" [Liga MX matchday one] (in Spanish). MVS Radio. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  30. "Former Liverpool star and hero of Istanbul Luis Garcia retires". Irish Independent. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  31. Bera, Kaustav (7 July 2014). "Luis Garcia embarks on an Indian adventure". Goal. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  32. "Ex-Liverpool stars Luis Garcia and Josemi start as Atletico de Kolkata win first Indian Super League clash against Mumbai City". Daily Mail. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  33. Netto, Brendon (21 November 2014). "Atletico de Kolkata denied late equaliser by controversial goal-line decision". Goal. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  34. Bali, Rahul (20 December 2014). "Kerala Blasters FC 0–1 Atletico de Kolkata: Rafique wins the ISL for Ganguly's outfit". Goal. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  35. "#1stchampion". Facebook. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  36. Bhattacharya, Nilesh (30 July 2015). "In big coup, Atletico de Kolkata rope in Portugal World Cupper Helder Postiga". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  37. "Breaking news: Mariners land marquee man – Luis Garcia". Central Coast Mariners. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  38. "Western Sydney Wanderers beat Central Coast Mariners 2–1 in Gosford to go top of A-League ladder". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  39. "Central Coast Mariners beat Wellington Phoenix 3–1 thanks to Luis Garcia's excellent display in A-League". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  40. "Preview: #GraciasGarcia & #F3Derby". Central Coast Mariners. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  41. Segura, Manuel (27 March 2005). "Aperitivo oriental" [Oriental hors d'oeuvre]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  42. "Spain 5–1 Slovakia". BBC Sport. 12 November 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  43. "Luis García: Luis Javier García Sanz". BDFutbol. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  44. "Luis García". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  45. "Luis García". European Football. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  46. Astruells, Andrés (3 September 2006). "A las puertas del mil" [Nearing the 1000th]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  47. Liverpool 3–3 West Ham United; at LFC History
  48. García missed the 2006 FA Cup final due to suspension. However, additional medals are awarded by The Football Association.
  49. Liverpool 2–1 Chelsea; at LFC History
  50. AC Milan 3–3 Liverpool; at LFC History
  51. AC Milan 2–1 Liverpool; at LFC History
  52. Liverpool 3–1 CSKA Moscow; at LFC History
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