Alexis García
Encyclopedia
Alexis García is a former Colombia
n football player, a creative midfielder
. Along with seven more siblings, he grew up in barrio la Floresta of Medellín
where he started his career playing for Seleccion Antionquia. In 1980 he joined Once Caldas
of Manizales
, that same year he was picked to play for the youth Colombia national football team
for the Moscow Olympic Games. In 1986 he joined Atlético Nacional
of Medellín
where he remained until his retirement in 1998. Known as "The Great Captain" Alexis Garcia was one Colombia's best midfielders and a crowd's favorite in a time when the Colombian football was starting to shine at the international level. This was the time of Faustino Asprilla
, Andrés Escobar
, Leonel Álvarez, René Higuita
, Víctor Aristizábal, Luis Fernando Herrera
, among others. In 1989 Garcia led Atlético Nacional
to become Copa Libertadores Champions, a cup no other Colombian team had ever won at the time. In 1988 Garcia debuted with the Senior Colombia national football team
against Canada
, a game that the Colombians won 3-0. Because of misunderstandings with national team coach Francisco Maturana
Alexis Garcia missed the 1990 FIFA World Cup
in Italy. His last game for the Colombian national team was on August 1993 against Paraguay. Garcia played a total of 24 games for Colombia, in the which he scored 2 goals. Garcia's greatest frustration was not being chosen to play for Colombia in any world cup, even when most of the country wanted him to play alongside Carlos Valderrama.
from 1988 to 1993, including participating in two qualifying matches for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
and the 1993 Copa América.
He also played for Colombia at the 1980 Olympic Games
in Moscow.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n football player, a creative midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Along with seven more siblings, he grew up in barrio la Floresta of Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
where he started his career playing for Seleccion Antionquia. In 1980 he joined Once Caldas
Once Caldas
Corporación Deportiva Once Caldas is a Colombian association football team, based in Manizales. They were the surprise winners of Copa Libertadores de América in 2004, mainly due to the performances of Juan Carlos Henao and Jhon Viáfara...
of Manizales
Manizales
Manizales is a city and municipality in central Colombia, capital of Department of Caldas and part of the region of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis, near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano....
, that same year he was picked to play for the youth Colombia national football team
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
for the Moscow Olympic Games. In 1986 he joined Atlético Nacional
Atlético Nacional
Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional is a Colombian football team based in Medellín. They play their home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stadium which also serves as home to Deportivo Independiente Medellín...
of Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
where he remained until his retirement in 1998. Known as "The Great Captain" Alexis Garcia was one Colombia's best midfielders and a crowd's favorite in a time when the Colombian football was starting to shine at the international level. This was the time of Faustino Asprilla
Faustino Asprilla
Faustino Hernán "Tino" Asprilla Hinestroza is a former Colombian football player. He was known by his supporters in his home country as The Octopus for his voracious appetite...
, Andrés Escobar
Andrés Escobar
Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga , nicknamed "The Gentleman of Football", was a Colombian footballer who was shot and killed in Medellín. It is widely believed that he was murdered due to his own goal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which supposedly would have caused gambling losses to several powerful drug...
, Leonel Álvarez, René Higuita
René Higuita
José René Higuita Zapata is a former Colombian football goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco...
, Víctor Aristizábal, Luis Fernando Herrera
Luis Fernando Herrera
Luis Fernando Herrera Arango is a retired football defender. He was capped 61 times and scored 1 international goal for Colombia between 1987 and 1996.-Career:...
, among others. In 1989 Garcia led Atlético Nacional
Atlético Nacional
Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional is a Colombian football team based in Medellín. They play their home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stadium which also serves as home to Deportivo Independiente Medellín...
to become Copa Libertadores Champions, a cup no other Colombian team had ever won at the time. In 1988 Garcia debuted with the Senior Colombia national football team
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
, a game that the Colombians won 3-0. Because of misunderstandings with national team coach Francisco Maturana
Francisco Maturana
Francisco Maturana, also known as Pacho is a Colombian ex-football player and later a successful football manager.-Player:...
Alexis Garcia missed the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
in Italy. His last game for the Colombian national team was on August 1993 against Paraguay. Garcia played a total of 24 games for Colombia, in the which he scored 2 goals. Garcia's greatest frustration was not being chosen to play for Colombia in any world cup, even when most of the country wanted him to play alongside Carlos Valderrama.
International career
García made 24 appearances for the senior Colombia national football teamColombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
from 1988 to 1993, including participating in two qualifying matches for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
and the 1993 Copa América.
He also played for Colombia at the 1980 Olympic Games
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow.
Player
- Colombian Championship winner with Atlético Nacional (1991, 1994)
- Copa Libertadores Champion with Atlético Nacional (1989)
Manager
La Equidad- Categoria Primera BCategoría Primera BCategoría Primera B, also known as Torneo Postobón for sponsorship reasons, is the second division football league in Colombia. The league is divided into two six-month seasons and into two regional divisions of nine teams where each team plays the region's other eight teams both home and away...
(2006Primera B 2006The Torneo Primera B of 2006 was full of expectations, since Centauros Villavicencio were relegated from the Colombian Professional Football league.-Final Table, League Stage:- External links :***...
) - Copa ColombiaCopa ColombiaThe Copa Colombia is a football tournament in Colombia. It is contested the 36 professional clubs of DIMAYOR. Although played for the first time in 1950, the tournament has only been held ten times and four times consecutively since its revival in 2008...
(2008Copa Colombia 2008The 2008 Copa Colombia, officially the 2008 Copa Postobón for sponsorship reasons, was the 7th edition of the Copa Colombia, the football tournament for professional clubs in Colombia. This edition marked the return of the tournament after a 19-year absence...
)