Francisco Javier García
Encyclopedia
Francisco Javier "Javi" García Fernández (born 8 February 1987 in Mula
, Murcia
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in Portugal
. A defensive midfielder by nature, he can also appear as a central defender.
's youth system, García played three La Liga
contests with the first team, making his debut at the age of 17 in a 5–0 home rout of Levante UD
, on 28 November 2004. After that, he would spend the entire 2005–06 with Real Madrid Castilla
, the team's B-side.
The summer of 2006 was a very busy one for García. First, he won the European Championship with the under-19s
, impressing then-first team head coach Fabio Capello
, who recalled him to training sessions.
He played in most of Real Madrid's pre-season games, including a starting lineup spot in both Ramón de Carranza Trophy
games, playing in central midfield alongside new purchase Émerson
. He would not appear for Real's first team in 2006–07, nonetheless.
In August 2007, in the season of his supposed definitive promotion to the first team, coach Bernd Schuster
would eventually prevent that golden opportunity (as fellow cantera
players Rubén de la Red
and Esteban Granero
also left the club) and offers began to appear from clubs in the Premier League including Liverpool
, and domestic teams such as Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña
. García would finally settle for CA Osasuna
on 31 August, signing for four seasons for a fee of €
2.5 million as the Navarre
side was keen to replace injury-struck midfielder Javad Nekounam
(out of action for several months); having first appeared in a 1–1 home draw with Sevilla FC
(one minute played), he scored twice in his first six games, in wins against Levante (4–1) and Villarreal CF
(3–2).
García's contract included a buy-back clause that could see him return to Real Madrid for €4 million. Osasuna officially reported, on 29 April 2008, that Real Madrid had exercised their purchase option, meaning his return to the Bernabéu
for 2008–09. He made his first league appearance for Real since his return during his side's 7–1 thrashing of Sporting de Gijón
on 24 September 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mahamadou Diarra
.
on 21 July 2009, for five years and a fee of €7 million. An undisputed starter throughout his first season, he also found the net on occasion, most notably a header in the last minute
for the game's only goal against Associação Naval 1º de Maio
at home, as the club clung onto the top spot (9 November 2009) and eventually won the championship.
Real Madrid B
Benfica
of another footballer, Luis García. The latter represented, among others, FC Barcelona
, Liverpool
and Atlético Madrid.
Mula, Spain
Mula is a municipality in the center of the autonomous community of Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain, with nearly 17,076 inhabitants . It is best-known for the tamboradas held during the Holy Week...
, Murcia
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
) 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 S.L. Benfica in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. A defensive midfielder by nature, he can also appear as a central defender.
Real Madrid
A product of 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...
's youth system, García played three 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...
contests with the first team, making his debut at the age of 17 in a 5–0 home rout of Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, on 28 November 2004. After that, he would spend the entire 2005–06 with Real Madrid 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....
, the team's B-side.
The summer of 2006 was a very busy one for García. First, he won the European Championship with the under-19s
Spain national under-19 football team
The Spain national under-19 football team represents Spain in international football at this age level and is controlled by Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.-UEFA European Under-19 Championship Record:...
, impressing then-first team head coach Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
, who recalled him to training sessions.
He played in most of Real Madrid's pre-season games, including a starting lineup spot in both Ramón de Carranza Trophy
Ramón de Carranza Trophy
The Ramón de Carranza Trophy is a pre-season football tournament organised by Cádiz CF, in memory of its former president, Ramón de Carranza - after whom their stadium is named as well....
games, playing in central midfield alongside new purchase Émerson
Emerson Ferreira da Rosa
Émerson Ferreira da Rosa , simply known as Emerson, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder. He had 73 caps for Brazil from 1997 to 2006.-Grêmio:...
. He would not appear for Real's first team in 2006–07, nonetheless.
In August 2007, in the season of his supposed definitive promotion to the first team, coach Bernd Schuster
Bernd Schuster
Bernhard Schuster is a German football manager and former player, currently unemployed. His nickname is "der Blonde Engel" .-Club career:...
would eventually prevent that golden opportunity (as fellow cantera
Cantera
Cantera, literally meaning "quarry" in Spanish, is a term used in Spain to refer to youth academies and farm teams organized by sports clubs. It is also used to refer to the geographical area that clubs recruit players from. The term is widely used in football but is also applied to other sports...
players Rubén de la Red
Rubén De la Red
Rubén de la Red Gutiérrez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central midfielder.He made a name for himself at Getafe after emerging through Real Madrid's cantera...
and Esteban Granero
Esteban Granero
Esteban Félix Granero Molina is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Madrid.A versatile element, known as El Pirata , he can play as an attacking midfielder or behind the strikers...
also left the club) and offers began to appear from clubs in the Premier League including Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, and domestic teams such as Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
. García would finally settle for CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
on 31 August, signing for four seasons for a fee of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2.5 million as the Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
side was keen to replace injury-struck midfielder Javad Nekounam
Javad Nekounam
Javad Nekounam is an Iranian footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga.Usually playing as a central midfielder, he is known for his passing ability, defensive acumen, ball distribution and powerful long-range shots. He represented his national team over 120 times.-Early years / UAE:Having...
(out of action for several months); having first appeared in a 1–1 home draw with 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...
(one minute played), he scored twice in his first six games, in wins against Levante (4–1) and Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
(3–2).
García's contract included a buy-back clause that could see him return to Real Madrid for €4 million. Osasuna officially reported, on 29 April 2008, that Real Madrid had exercised their purchase option, meaning his return to the Bernabéu
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is an all-seater football stadium in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. It has a current capacity of 85,454 spectators....
for 2008–09. He made his first league appearance for Real since his return during his side's 7–1 thrashing of Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
on 24 September 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mahamadou Diarra
Mahamadou Diarra
Mahamadou Diarra is a Malian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Mali national team. He is captain of the national team.-Early career:Diarra started his career with Greek side OFI Crete...
.
Benfica
Deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, García signed for S.L. Benfica in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
on 21 July 2009, for five years and a fee of €7 million. An undisputed starter throughout his first season, he also found the net on occasion, most notably a header in the last minute
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
for the game's only goal against Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Associação Naval 1º de Maio, commonly known as Naval, is a Portuguese football club based in Figueira da Foz, Coimbra District. Founded on 1 May 1893, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estádio Municipal José Bento Pessoa, with a capacity for 12,630 spectators.Naval is...
at home, as the club clung onto the top spot (9 November 2009) and eventually won the championship.
Club
Real Madrid- Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 20082008 Supercopa de EspañaThe 2008 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 17 August and 24 August 2008. It was contested by Valencia CF, who were Spanish Cup winners in 2007–08, and Real Madrid, who won the 2007–08 Spanish League. Real Madrid won 6–5 on aggregate for their eighth Supercopa...
Real Madrid B
- Third DivisionSegunda División BSegunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
: 2004–05
Benfica
- Portuguese League: 2009–10
- Portuguese League Cup: 2009–10, 2010–112010–11 Taça da LigaThe 2010–11 Taça da Liga was the fourth edition of the portuguese Taça da Liga. The first matches were played on August 8, 2010. The final was scheduled on April 23, 2011 where Benfica beat Paços de Ferreira 2-1, and won their third title. The final was played at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra,...
Country
Spain U19- UEFA U-19 ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: 20062006 UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-19 Championship 2006 Final Tournament was held in Poland between 18 July and 29 July 2006. The top three teams in each group qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Players born after 1 January 1987 were allowed to participate in this competition.-Qualifications:There were two...
Personal
García is a cousinCousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of another footballer, Luis García. The latter represented, among others, FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Atlético Madrid.