Pablo García (footballer, born 1977)

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Pablo García
Pablo Garcia als Co-Trainer von PAOK 2014.jpg
García as PAOK coach in 2014
Personal information
Full name Pablo Gabriel García Pérez[1]
Date of birth (1977-05-11) 11 May 1977 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Pando, Uruguay
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
PAOK B (manager)
Youth career
1990–1996 Montevideo Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Montevideo Wanderers 35 (1)
1997–2000 Atlético Madrid B 38 (3)
1997Real Valladolid (loan) 0 (0)
1998Peñarol (loan) 9 (0)
2000–2002 Milan 5 (0)
2002Venezia (loan) 14 (0)
2002–2005 Osasuna 78 (6)
2005–2008 Real Madrid 22 (0)
2006–2007Celta (loan) 14 (0)
2007–2008Murcia (loan) 21 (0)
2008–2013 PAOK 109 (5)
2014 Skoda Xanthi 3 (0)
Total 348 (15)
National team
1997–2007 Uruguay 66 (2)
Teams managed
2015–2016 PAOK U19 (Assistant Coach)
2016–2020 PAOK U19
2020–2021 PAOK
2021– PAOK B
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Pablo Gabriel García Pérez (American Spanish: [ˈpaβlo ɣaˈβɾjel ɣaɾˈsi.a ˈpeɾes];[a] born 11 May 1977) is a Uruguayan professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Greek Super League 2 club PAOK B.

A player of physical approach to the game (which earned him a reputation for being a dirty player), his nickname is Canario (canary), referring to his birthplace.[2][3] He spent most of his professional career in La Liga, amassing 135 appearances in six years in representation of four teams, but also played several seasons in Greece with PAOK.[4]

A Uruguayan international over one decade, García appeared for the nation at the 2002 World Cup and two Copa América tournaments.

Club career[]

Early career[]

Born in Pando, Canelones Department, García started his career in Montevideo Wanderers FC. After a six-month spell at Peñarol he was transferred to Atlético Madrid but, however, would never make it past their reserves, being subsequently transferred to Italian giants A.C. Milan after two years.[5]

After just five Serie A appearances during the 2000–01 season, García was loaned to fellow league club Venezia A.C. in January 2002. In spite of their relegation, he had overall good performances.[5]

Spain[]

Moving to CA Osasuna for the 2002–03 campaign,[6] García played intense football throughout three seasons in Navarre. In his first match, a 2–2 La Liga draw at Villarreal CF on 1 September 2002, he collected a booking and scored the match's final goal.[7]

In the final of the 2005 Copa del Rey García, already an essential midfield element for Osasuna, received a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Real Betis' Joaquín, in an eventual 2–1 extra time loss.[8] However, he had already caught the eye of Real Madrid which signed the player to a three-year contract, with compatriot Carlos Diogo also being purchased.[9]

After having received 17 yellow (season-most) and one red cards during 2004–05 (the Cup final notwithstanding),[10] García made his Real Madrid official debut on 10 September 2005, playing 11 minutes in a 2–3 home defeat to RC Celta de Vigo.[11] Eventually, he won the battle for the team's first-choice holding midfielder over Thomas Gravesen, although none were an undisputed starter.[12][13]

After helping Madrid to a runner-up place in the 2005–06 season, García was deemed surplus to requirements by new boss Fabio Capello and, on 29 August 2006, he signed a one-year loan contract with Celta.[14] After an uneventful personal campaign where he was injured for most of the year[15][16] and his club was also relegated, he returned to Real Madrid in July 2007 to be loaned immediately again, this time to newly promoted Real Murcia.[17]

PAOK[]

García in action for PAOK in 2010

“Caer estα permitido, levantarse es obligatorio”

Pablo García has a tattoo of this phrase on his left chest. It is a way of life for him.

After another relegation, García was released by Real Madrid on 10 July 2008[18] and, on the 23rd, agreed to join PAOK FC in Greece. He quickly became a fan favorite, not as much for his defensive abilities rather than his hot temper; managing to receive three red cards in his first six games, and also starring in an infamous incident with Olympiacos F.C. player Diogo Luís Santo during a derby. After being hit in the face by Diogo's elbow in a confrontation during a set piece, García retaliated with a punch to the Brazilian's belly; both actions surprisingly eluded the referee's attention, but the Uruguayan eventually received a three-match ban.[4]

García's second season was much better overall, as PAOK only conceded 16 goals in 30 matches, finishing second in the table, with him forming a stable midfield partnership with Spaniard Vitolo. On 21 February 2010 he scored a spectacular goal during a home league match against Panathinaikos,[19] helping PAOK to win that match 2-1 and reduce the difference to Panathinaikos to two points. Additionally, he renewed his link to the club until 2012, even agreeing to a reduction in his salary in line with the club's stagnant finances.[2]

On 23 May 2012, it was announced that the 35-year-old García renewed his contract for one more year.[20] On 20 March of the following year, he was mutually released from contract after several incidents with coach Giorgos Donis.[21]

García returned to PAOK on 4 June 2013 at the request of major shareholder Ivan Savvidis, agreeing to a one-year deal.[22] In the following winter transfer window, however, he left for fellow league side Skoda Xanthi FC,[23] retiring after a couple of months at the age of 37 and settling in Thessaloniki.[24]

On 24 May 2015, García returned to PAOK in an unspecified position.[25] The following month, the club's sporting director Frank Arnesen announced that the former would start his managerial career as an assistant in the under-17 team.[26]

García was undefeated for 78 matches during his spell at the helm of the under-19 side, winning two national championships in the process.[27] On 30 October 2020, he was appointed coach of the main squad following the dismissal of Abel Ferreira.[28] The following 22 May, he won the domestic cup with a 2–1 victory over league winners Olympiacos in the final.[29] Despite winning the cup, his contract wasn't renewed, since the president decided to hire Razvan Lucescu, the coach that led PAOK in winning the double in the 2018-19 season. Instead, Garcia was offered again a position at the reserve team.[30]

International career[]

A full Uruguayan international since 13 December 1997, in a King Fahd Cup match against United Arab Emirates, García quickly developed into a mainstay for the national team, going on to earn a total of 66 caps.[31][32] He played all 270 minutes in the country's participation in the 2002 FIFA World Cup,[33][34][35] but was not able to help qualify for the 2006 edition after losing a penalty shootout to Australia on 16 November 2005.[36]

García scored a powerful finesse shot from outside the box against Venezuela in the 2007 Copa América quarter-finals,[37] but also missed a decisive penalty against Brazil in the next round.[38]

Career statistics[]

Club[]

As of 21 July 2021
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Montevideo Wanderers 1996 Primera División 10 0 0 0 10 0
1997 25 1 0 0 25 1
Total 35 1 0 0 0 0 35 1
Atlético Madrid B 1997–98 Segunda División 2 0 0 0 2 0
1998–99 3 0 0 0 3 0
1999–2000 33 2 0 0 2 0 35 2
Real Valladolid (loan) 1997–98 La Liga 0 0 1 0 1 0
Peñarol (loan) 1998 Primera División 9 0 0 0 9 0
Total 47 3 1 0 2 0 50 3
A.C. Milan 2000–01 Serie A 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
Venezia (loan) 2001–02 Serie A 14 0 0 0 14 0
Osasuna 2002–03 La Liga 22 1 0 0 22 1
2003–04 27 4 1 0 28 4
2004–05 29 1 1 0 30 1
Real Madrid 2005–06 La Liga 22 0 0 0 4 0 26 0
Celta de Vigo (loan) 2006–07 La Liga 14 0 0 0 5 0 19 0
Real Murcia (loan) 2007–08 La Liga 21 0 0 0 21 0
Total 154 6 2 0 10 0 166 6
PAOK 2008–09 Super League Greece 20 0 3 0 23 0
2009–10 30 2 3 0 4 0 37 2
2010–11 28 2 5 0 11 0 44 2
2011–12 27 1 3 0 8 1 38 2
2012–13 4 0 3 0 2 0 9 0
2013–14 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
Xanthi 2013–14 Super League Greece 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 112 5 19 0 25 1 156 6
Career total 348 15 22 0 37 1 0 0 407 16

Managerial statistics[]

As of match played 19 December 2021[39]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
PAOK U19 10 September 2016 29 October 2020 85 71 11 3 083.53
PAOK 30 October 2020 22 May 2021 42 23 9 10 054.76
PAOK B 15 July 2021 9 2 4 3 022.22
Career totals 136 96 24 16 070.59

Honours[]

Player[]

Osasuna

International

Individual

  • PAOK MVP of the Season: 2011–12

Manager[]

PAOK U19

PAOK

Notes[]

  1. ^ In isolation, Gabriel and García are pronounced [ɡaˈβɾjel] and [ɡaɾˈsi.a] respectively.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Pablo García at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b Casado, Edu (5 March 2015). "Qué fue de… Pablo García: garra uruguaya en grandes de España" [What happened to… Pablo García: Uruguayan spunk in Spanish greats]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Pablo García: "El fútbol griego lleva años podrido"" [Pablo García: "Greek football has been rotten for years"]. El Observador (in Spanish). 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b Bakoulis, Niki (25 October 2016). "Τον Γκαρσία δεν θα τον προκαλείς. Τον Γκαρσία" [García will not be challenged. García] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b Valderrama, Antonio (23 August 2015). "Pablo García, el uruguayo" [Pablo García, the Uruguayan] (in Spanish). La Galerna. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Osasuna snap up Uruguayan". UEFA. 23 August 2002. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Se relajó y le empataron" [They relaxed and allowed draw] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 1 September 2002. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Dani delivers for Betis". UEFA. 12 June 2005. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Uruguayan pair make Madrid move". UEFA. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  10. ^ Gómez, Javi; Bergasa, Javier (2 May 2018). "Las amarillas de Mérida" [Mérida's yellows] (in Spanish). Noticias de Navarra. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. ^ Segurola, Santiago (11 September 2005). "Un marciano con silbato" [A Marcian with a whistle]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  12. ^ Recalde, Mikel (16 September 2005). "Pablo García desplaza a Gravesen del cuadrado" [Pablo García takes Gravesen's place in square]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  13. ^ Colino, Carmen (8 February 2006). "Gravesen empieza a ser un problema en el Madrid" [Gravesen is starting to be a problem at Madrid]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Pablo García joins Celta expedition". UEFA. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  15. ^ "El Celta sentencia ante un Nàstic débil en defensa" [Celta finish it against defensively weak Nàstic]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 10 September 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  16. ^ Jiménez, Carlos (23 December 2006). "Pablo García podría dejar el Celta en el mes de enero" [Pablo García might leave Celta in the month of January]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  17. ^ "El Real Madrid cede al uruguayo Pablo García al Murcia" [Real Madrid loan Uruguayan Pablo García to Murcia]. Marca (in Spanish). 17 July 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Real announce Garcia departure". FIFA. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 11 July 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  19. ^ Μπαντής, Βασίλης (20 December 2020). "ΠΑΟΚ – Παναθηναϊκός 2-1: Όταν ο Γκαρσία «λύγιζε» μετά το απίθανο γκολ-φάουλ (vid)". sportime.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Επέκταση συμβολαίου με τον Pablo Garcia" (in Greek). PAOK FC. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  21. ^ Sundoulidis, Stavros. "ΠΑΟΚ – Δώνης: Μια σχέση…" [PAOK – Donis: A relationship…] (in Greek). Gazzetta. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Επιστρέφει στον ΠΑΟΚ ο Πάμπλο Γκαρσία" [Pablo García returns to PAOK] (in Greek). Iefimerida. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Γκαρσία: Θα τιμήσω τη φανέλα της Ξάνθης!" [García: I will honour Xanthi's shirt!] (in Greek). Sigma Live. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  24. ^ Castro, Juan (13 March 2018). "Pablo García, el ídolo del PAOK que se sintió un 'extraterrestre' en el Real Madrd [sic]" [Pablo García, PAOK's idol who felt like an 'alien' in Real Madrid]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  25. ^ Και ο Πάμπλο Γκαρσία στην οικογένεια του ΠΑΟΚ! [Pablo Garcia in PAOK's family!] (in Greek). PAOK FC. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  26. ^ Προπονητής ο Πάμπλο [Coach Pablo] (in Greek). PAOK 24. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  27. ^ V., Christophe (1 November 2020). "Panetolikos-PAOK". Inside Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  28. ^ "Uruguayo Pablo García nuevo entrenador del PAOK de Salónica" [Uruguay's Pablo García new manager of PAOK Thessaloniki] (in Spanish). Infobae. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Paok win Greek cup final over Olympiakos". Greek City Times. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  30. ^ Giombanoglou, Savvas (26 May 2021). "Τέλος ο Γκαρσία από τον ΠΑΟΚ" [End of the road for García at PAOK] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Uruguay – Record international players". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  32. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Pablo Garcia – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  33. ^ "Tomasson double sinks Uruguay". BBC Sport. 1 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  34. ^ "France face anxious wait". BBC Sport. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  35. ^ "Senegal cling on to qualify". BBC Sport. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Uruguay, un mar de lágrimas" [Uruguay, a sea of tears]. La Nación (in Spanish). 17 November 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  37. ^ "¿Otra vez a amargar al dueño de casa?" [Out to get hosts again?] (in Spanish). Ovación Digital. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  38. ^ "Brazil reach Copa America final". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  39. ^ Pablo García at Soccerway
  40. ^ "El Mundial Sub 20. El Sub 20, otra vez campeón del mundo" [Under 20 World Cup. The Under 20s, world champions again]. La Nación (in Spanish). 6 July 1997. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  41. ^ Tabeira, Martín. "Copa América 1999". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2019.

External links[]

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