Luis García Fernández

For other people named Luis García, see Luis García (disambiguation).

Luis García

García in action for Espanyol
Personal information
Full name	Luis García Fernández
Date of birth	6 February 1981 (1981-02-06)
Place of birth	Oviedo, Spain
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Striker / Winger
Club information
Current club	Zaragoza
Number	10
Youth career
1988–1991	Alcorcón
1991–1992	Oviedo
1992–1996	Real Unión
1996–2000	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2001	Real Madrid C	24	(14)
2001–2003	Real Madrid B	73	(38)
2003–2004	Murcia	38	(11)
2004–2005	Mallorca	37	(11)
2005–2011	Espanyol	220	(47)
2011–	Zaragoza	22	(3)
National team
2007–2008	Spain	7	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 February 2012. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Fernández.

Luis García Fernández (Spanish pronunciation: [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).

Club career

Real Madrid / Early years

After representing four teams as a youth player, García began his professional career in the Real Madrid 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.

Espanyol

The following season, 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 Catalonians 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.

Zaragoza

On 31 August 2011 - the very last day of the summer transfer window - 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.

International career

After a remarkable 2006–07 with Espanyol, García got his first callup for Spain, under manager Luis Aragonés, appearing in an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Latvia in Riga, on 2 June 2007.

Honours

Espanyol

• Copa del Rey: 2005–06
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2006–07

External links

• Zaragoza official profile (Spanish)
• Espanyol official profile
• Espanyol archives (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Transfermarkt profile