Pablo García (footballer, born 1977)

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Pablo García
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 46)[1]
Place of birth Pando, Uruguay
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Panserraikos (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)
1997Valladolid (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)
International career
1997–2007 Uruguay 66 (2)
Managerial career
2015–2016 PAOK U19 (assistant)
2016–2020 PAOK U19
2020–2021 PAOK
2021–2023 PAOK B
2023– Panserraikos
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pablo Gabriel García Pérez (Latin American Spanish: [ˈpaβlo ɣaˈβɾjel ɣaɾˈsi.a ˈpeɾes];[a] born 11 May 1977) is a Uruguayan former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, currently manager of Super League Greece club Panserraikos.

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, making 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[edit]

Early career[edit]

Born in Pando, Canelones Department, García started his career in Montevideo Wanderers. After a six-month spell at Peñarol, he signed for Atlético Madrid, but would never make it past their reserves, being transferred to Italian giants AC Milan two years later.[5]

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

Spain[edit]

Moving to 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 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]

Having totalled 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 Celta.[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]

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

PAOK[edit]

García in action for PAOK in 2010

Following another relegation, García was released by Real Madrid on 10 July 2008,[18] and joined PAOK later that month. He quickly became a fan favorite for his tenacity, being shown three red cards in his first six games and also starring in an incident with Olympiacos player Diogo; 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 in a 2–1 home win over against Panathinaikos, shortening the gap to that opposition to two points.[19] Additionally, he renewed his link 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 released by mutual consent after falling out with coach Giorgos Donis.[21]

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

International career[edit]

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.[25][26] He played all 270 minutes in the country's participation in the 2002 FIFA World Cup,[27][28][29] but was not able to help qualify for the 2006 edition after losing a penalty shootout to Australia on 16 November 2005.[30]

García scored a powerful finesse shot from outside the box against Venezuela in the 2007 Copa América quarter-finals,[31] but also missed a decisive penalty against Brazil in the next round.[32]

Coaching career[edit]

On 24 May 2015, García returned to PAOK in an unspecified position.[33] 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.[34]

García was undefeated for 78 matches during his spell at the helm of the under-19 side, winning three national championships in the process.[35] On 30 October 2020, he was appointed coach of the main squad following the dismissal of Abel Ferreira,[36] taking them from sixth place to a final runner-up position 26 points behind champions Olympiacos.[37] The following 22 May, he won the domestic cup with a 2–1 victory against the same opposition in the final;[38] he was fired shortly after, however, being offered a position at the reserves.[39][40]

In summer 2023, García was appointed at Panserraikos also from the Greek top tier.[41] In the cup quarter-finals, they were eliminated by PAOK 9–0 on aggregate.[42]

Managerial statistics[edit]

As of match played 3 March 2024[43]
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 26 May 2021 42 23 9 10 054.76
PAOK B 15 July 2021 19 June 2023 58 24 18 16 041.38
Panserraikos 4 July 2023 Present 31 8 10 13 025.81
Career totals 215 125 48 42 058.14

Honours[edit]

Player[edit]

Osasuna

International

Individual

Manager[edit]

PAOK

Notes[edit]

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

References[edit]

  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]. Noticias de Navarra (in Spanish). 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. ^ Bandis, Vassilis (20 December 2020). "ΠΑΟΚ – Παναθηναϊκός 2–1: Όταν ο Γκαρσία "λύγιζε" μετά το απίθανο γκολ-φάουλ (vid)" [PAOK – Panathinaikos 2–1: When García "bent it" following an unlikely goal-foul (vid)] (in Greek). Sportime. 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. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Uruguay – Record international players". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  26. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Pablo Garcia – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  27. ^ "Tomasson double sinks Uruguay". BBC Sport. 1 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  28. ^ "France face anxious wait". BBC Sport. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Senegal cling on to qualify". BBC Sport. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  30. ^ "Uruguay, un mar de lágrimas" [Uruguay, a sea of tears]. La Nación (in Spanish). 17 November 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  31. ^ "¿Otra vez a amargar al dueño de casa?" [Out to get hosts again?] (in Spanish). Ovación Digital. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Brazil reach Copa America final". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ Προπονητής ο Πάμπλο [Coach Pablo] (in Greek). PAOK 24. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  35. ^ V., Christophe (1 November 2020). "Panetolikos-PAOK". Inside Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Uruguayo Pablo García nuevo entrenador del PAOK de Salónica" [Uruguay's Pablo García new manager of PAOK Thessaloniki]. Infobae (in Spanish). 31 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  37. ^ "ΠΑΟΚ: Τέλος ο Γκαρσία από τη θέση του προπονητή" [PAOK: García relieved of managerial duties] (in Greek). NewsIt. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Paok win Greek cup final over Olympiakos". Greek City Times. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ "ΠΑΟΚ: «Ξέσπασμα» Πάμπλο Γκαρσία για την απόλυσή του" [PAOK: Pablo García "opens up" on dismissal] (in Greek). Radar. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Με ηγέτη Πάμπλο Γκαρσία στην Super League o Πανσερραϊκός!" [Pablo García to manage Panserraikos in Super League!] (in Greek). Serres Sport. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Τα highlights από το ΠΑΟΚ-Πανσερραϊκός 5–0 (vid)" [PAOK-Panserraikos 5–0 highlights (vid)] (in Greek). Gazzetta. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  43. ^ Pablo García at Soccerway
  44. ^ "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.
  45. ^ Tabeira, Martín. "Copa América 1999". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2019.

External links[edit]