Luis García Fernández
Encyclopedia
Luis García Fernández (ˈlwis ɣarˈθi.a; born 6 February 1981 in Oviedo
, Asturias
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Real Zaragoza
mainly as a striker (he can also operate as a winger).
youth system, first appearing with its C side
, and progressing in 2001 to Castilla
. He played his first game for the main side in the Copa del Rey
.
Released by Madrid in 2003, García joined Real Murcia
, making his La Liga
debut on 31 August, scoring a penalty
in a 1–1 draw at Celta de Vigo
, and finishing his debut season with 11 goals as he appeared in all the matches, although the side would be relegated. On 16 May 2004, in a fruitless win, he scored both goals in a 2–1 home win against his former employee.
, García produced similar numbers at RCD Mallorca
, which barely avoided relegation (17th) and, in the 2005 off-season, penned a five-year link with RCD Espanyol
, playing 49 matches overall in his first season
, with 14 goals, including a brace in the 2006 Spanish Cup final, a 4–1 win over Real Zaragoza
. At the season's closure, he extended his deal until 2012.
García, forming a formidable offensive partnership at the Catalonia
ns with youth graduate Raúl Tamudo
(the pair combined for 67 league goals from 2005–08), contributed with five goals during the club's 2006–07 runner-up run in the UEFA Cup, including a hat-trick
in a 23 November 2006 group stage 6–2 home win against SV Zulte-Waregem. However, in the May final
, he missed his penalty shootout attempt in a final loss to fellow league side Sevilla FC
.
In the following three seasons, García was an everpresent figure for Espanyol, never playing in less than 36 league matches, and scoring an average of seven goals (13 in the 2007–08 campaign). After the arrival in January 2010 of Argentine
Pablo Osvaldo
, he operated almost exclusively as a winger.
- 30-year old García signed a three-year contract with Zaragoza. On 18 September, he scored twice against his former team and also missed a penalty kick
, in a 2–1 home win.
, appearing in an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Latvia
in Riga
, on 2 June 2007.
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
mainly as a striker (he can also operate as a winger).
Real Madrid / early years
After representing four teams as a youth player, García began his professional career in the Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
youth system, first appearing with its C side
Real Madrid C
Real Madrid C is a Spanish association football team that plays in the Tercera División. It is the second reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at La Ciudad del Real Madrid in Valdebebas outside the city of Madrid...
, and progressing in 2001 to Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
. He played his first game for the main side in the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
.
Released by Madrid in 2003, García joined Real Murcia
Real Murcia
Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the region of Murcia. Founded in 1908, it currently plays in the second division, playing home matches at Estadio Nueva Condomina, which can hold 33,045 spectators....
, making his La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut on 31 August, scoring a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in a 1–1 draw at Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, and finishing his debut season with 11 goals as he appeared in all the matches, although the side would be relegated. On 16 May 2004, in a fruitless win, he scored both goals in a 2–1 home win against his former employee.
Espanyol
The following season2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
, García produced similar numbers at RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, which barely avoided relegation (17th) and, in the 2005 off-season, penned a five-year link with RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, playing 49 matches overall in his first season
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
, with 14 goals, including a brace in the 2006 Spanish Cup final, a 4–1 win over Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
. At the season's closure, he extended his deal until 2012.
García, forming a formidable offensive partnership at the Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
ns with youth graduate Raúl Tamudo
Raúl Tamudo
Raúl Tamudo Montero is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for Rayo Vallecano as a striker....
(the pair combined for 67 league goals from 2005–08), contributed with five goals during the club's 2006–07 runner-up run in the UEFA Cup, including a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 23 November 2006 group stage 6–2 home win against SV Zulte-Waregem. However, in the May final
2007 UEFA Cup Final
-Match statistics:*-See also:*2006–07 UEFA Cup*UEFA Intertoto Cup*2007 UEFA Champions League Final...
, he missed his penalty shootout attempt in a final loss to fellow league side Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
.
In the following three seasons, García was an everpresent figure for Espanyol, never playing in less than 36 league matches, and scoring an average of seven goals (13 in the 2007–08 campaign). After the arrival in January 2010 of Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Pablo Osvaldo
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo
Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is an Argentine-born Italian footballer, who plays as a striker for Serie A club for Roma.-Club career:...
, he operated almost exclusively as a winger.
Zaragoza
On 31 August 2011 - the very last day of the summer transfer windowTransfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
- 30-year old García signed a three-year contract with Zaragoza. On 18 September, he scored twice against his former team and also missed a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, in a 2–1 home win.
International career
After a remarkable 2006–07 with Espanyol, García got his first callup for Spain, under manager Luis AragonésLuis Aragonés
José Luis Aragonés Suárez , usually referred to as Luis Aragonés and sometimes simply as Luis, is a former Spanish footballer and national coach....
, appearing in an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, on 2 June 2007.
Honours
Espanyol- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2005–06 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2006–07