Óscar García (footballer, born 1973)

Óscar García Junyent (born 26 April 1973), known simply as Óscar as a player, is a Spanish former professional footballer, currently a manager.

For other people named Oscar García, see Oscar García (disambiguation).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Junyent.
Óscar García
Óscar as manager of Red Bull Salzburg in 2017
Personal information
Full name Óscar García Junyent[1]
Date of birth (1973-04-26) 26 April 1973[1]
Place of birth Sabadell, Spain[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1980–1984 Mercantil
1984–1991 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1994 Barcelona B 79 (24)
1993–1999 Barcelona 69 (21)
1994–1995 → Albacete (loan) 29 (2)
1999–2000 Valencia 20 (4)
2000–2004 Espanyol 51 (4)
2004–2005 Lleida 23 (3)
Total 271 (58)
International career
1989 Spain U16 1 (1)
1991 Spain U18 4 (1)
1991 Spain U19 1 (0)
1991 Spain U20 3 (0)
1992–1996 Spain U21 24 (12)
1996 Spain U23 4 (2)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Catalonia (assistant)
2010–2012 Barcelona (youth)
2012–2013 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2013–2014 Brighton & Hove Albion
2014 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2014 Watford
2015–2017 Red Bull Salzburg
2017 Saint-Étienne
2018 Olympiacos
2019–2020 Celta
2021–2022 Reims
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was a versatile attacking option as a player, able to feature as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. He spent most of his 14-year professional career with Barcelona, with relative impact, appearing for four other clubs.

In La Liga, Óscar amassed totals of 169 matches and 31 goals over 12 seasons, also representing Espanyol (four years), Albacete, Lleida and Valencia (one apiece). He started working as a manager in 2009, winning league titles in Israel and Austria.

Playing career

Club

Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Óscar made his professional debut with FC Barcelona, his local team. Between 1992 and 1994 he played five La Liga matches for Barça who were champions each year and, after a loan at fellow top-division club Albacete Balompié, he returned and was often used (with good results) in a variety of attacking roles: during the 1995–96 season he scored ten league goals, the most in the squad, even though he only started 11 of his 28 appearances;[2] the team came out empty in silverware, however.

With his role gradually diminishing, Óscar joined Valencia CF for one season, finishing off with Barcelona neighbours RCD Espanyol (teaming up again with his brother Roger, for three seasons) and UE Lleida and retiring in June 2005 at the age of 32. On 7 January 2001, whilst playing for the second club against CD Numancia, he was taken to hospital after swallowing his tongue.[3]

Óscar nearly signed for West Ham United in summer 2002, but an eventual deal fell through after a one week's trial and he returned to Espanyol,[4] with whom he never scored more than one goal per season in four years.

International

For Spain, Óscar appeared for the nation at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, scoring twice for the eventual quarter-finalists.[5][6]

Coaching career

Maccabi Tel Aviv and England

In late 2009, García joined former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff's coaching staff in the Catalonia national team, as the Dutchman had just been appointed.[7] On 22 May 2012 he had his first head coach appointment, signing a two-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, where Cruyff's son Jordi acted as sporting director.[8] Exactly one year later, after leading the club to the Israeli Premier League after a ten-year drought,[9] he resigned from his post citing personal reasons.[10]

García was unveiled as the new head coach of Football League Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 June 2013, replacing Gus Poyet.[11] His first win came on 17 August, 1–0 at Birmingham City;[12] he was November's Manager of the Month, with three wins and a draw.[13] On 12 May 2014, following their play off semi-final defeat to Derby County, his offer of resignation was accepted by the board.[14]

On 2 June 2014, García returned to Maccabi by signing a two-year contract, but left on 26 August due to ongoing war.[15] A week later he was appointed at Watford, replacing Giuseppe Sannino.[16] He was admitted to hospital with minor chest pains on 15 September, forcing him to miss the team's upcoming match with Blackpool.[17][18] These health problems eventually led to him stepping down, two weeks later.[19]

Red Bull Salzburg
García and Sturm Graz manager Franco Foda in May 2016

Austrian double holders FC Red Bull Salzburg hired García on 28 December 2015, following the dismissal of Peter Zeidler.[20] His team, for which fellow Spaniard Jonathan Soriano was the main striker, ended the season as national champions.[21] On 19 May the latter scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 cup final victory over FC Admira Wacker Mödling to seal another double.[22]

In 2016–17, Salzburg retained both major honours. After the loss of Soriano, García built the attack around South Korean Hwang Hee-chan.[23]

Saint-Étienne

On 15 June 2017, AS Saint-Étienne signed García to a two-year contract.[24][25] In November, however, following a 5–0 home loss against Olympique Lyonnais in the Derby du Rhone, he left the club by mutual agreement.[26][27]

Olympiacos

Olympiacos F.C. announced García as their new manager on 5 January 2018, to replace Takis Lemonis.[28] His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 3 April, following a 1–1 away draw with Levadiakos FC; the side had also been eliminated from the Greek Cup for a third consecutive year, and he was held partially responsible for the lack of dressing room, training and match discipline.[29]

Celta

García had his first head coach experience in Spain in November 2019, when he took over for Fran Escribá at RC Celta de Vigo who stood third from the bottom in the standings.[30] His team stayed up on the last day of the season, as CD Leganés could not win their fixture.[31]

On 9 November 2020, after only one win in nine matches of the new campaign, García was dismissed.[32]

Reims

García returned to the French Ligue 1 in June 2021, being appointed at Stade de Reims on a three-year deal.[33] Starting with a goalless draw at OGC Nice on 8 August,[34] he won on his fifth attempt with a 2–0 victory at Stade Rennais FC.[35]

García's one full season at the Stade Auguste-Delaune resulted in a 12th-place finish.[36] He was relieved of his duties on 13 October 2022, with his team 15th.[37]

Personal life

García's brothers, Roger and Genís, were also footballers. All youth products of Barcelona, they had however different fates as professionals (especially the latter).[38]

On 17 June 1997, during the final of the Copa Catalunya, all three appeared with the first team in a 3–1 loss to CE Europa.[39]

Managerial statistics
As of match played 8 October 2022[40][41]
Team Nat From To Record
PWDLWin %
Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel 22 May 2012 22 May 2013 43 28 7 8 065.12
Brighton & Hove Albion England 26 June 2013 12 May 2014 53 21 16 16 039.62
Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel 2 June 2014 26 August 2014 7 3 2 2 042.86
Watford England 2 September 2014 29 September 2014 4 1 2 1 025.00
Red Bull Salzburg Austria 28 December 2015 15 June 2017 73 51 12 10 069.86
Saint-Étienne France 15 June 2017 15 November 2017 13 5 4 4 038.46
Olympiacos Greece 6 January 2018 3 April 2018 12 5 5 2 041.67
Celta Spain 9 November 2019 9 November 2020 38 8 17 13 021.05
Reims France 23 June 2021 13 October 2022 51 14 19 18 027.45
Total 295 137 84 74 046.44

Honours
García celebrating Salzburg's Bundesliga win in May 2016

Club

Barcelona

Valencia

International

Spain U-21

Manager

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Red Bull Salzburg

Individual

References
  1. "ÓSCAR GARCÍA Junyent". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. Martín, Luis (6 April 2009). ""Cruyff me decía: 'Sal y liquida'"" ["Cruyff used to tell me: 'Get out there and finish them off'"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  3. "Roma continue record start". BBC Sport. 8 January 2001. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  4. "Óscar García no ficha por el West Ham" [Óscar García does not sign with West Ham]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 21 July 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  5. Cubero, Cristina (21 July 1996). "Mágico gol de Óscar" [Óscar wonder goal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. Cubero, Cristina (23 July 1996). "Óscar, otra vez vital" [Óscar, crucial again]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  7. "Òscar García será el segundo entrenador de la selección catalana de fútbol" [Òscar García will be assistant coach in Catalan national team]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 16 November 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  8. גארסיה חתם לשנתיים במכבי: הגעתי למועדון פאר [Óscar García signed a two-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv] (in Hebrew). One. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  9. "Òscar Garcia: debut y campeón" [Òscar Garcia: debut and champion]. Sport (in Spanish). 23 April 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  10. Sinai, Allon (22 May 2013). "Oscar Garcia walks out on Maccabi Tel Aviv". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  11. Fifield, Dominic (26 June 2013). "Brighton appoint Oscar García as head coach to replace Gus Poyet". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  12. "Birmingham 0–1 Brighton". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  13. Owen, Brian (6 December 2013). "Oscar lands manager of the month award". The Argus. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  14. "Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Oscar Garcia resigns". BBC Sport. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  15. "Maccabi Tel Aviv manager resigns over Gaza conflict". The Irish Independent. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  16. Smith, Frank (2 September 2014). "Ex-Brighton & Hove Albion boss Oscar Garcia appointed as Watford's new head coach". Watford Observer. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  17. "Oscar Garcia: Watford boss in hospital with minor chest pains". BBC Sport. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  18. Fifield, Dominic (15 September 2014). "Watford manager Oscar García taken to hospital with minor chest pains". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  19. "Watford: Oscar Garcia replaced by Billy McKinlay as head coach". BBC Sport. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  20. "Former Barca player Oscar Garcia appointed Salzburg coach". USA Today. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  21. "El Red Bull Salzburgo gana su tercera liga austriaca seguida" [Red Bull Salzburg win their third consecutive Austrian title]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 7 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  22. "El Salzburgo de Òscar y Soriano logra el doblete" [Óscar and Soriano's Salzburg achieve the double]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 19 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  23. Domènech, Joan (9 June 2017). "Òscar Garcia: "Mi punto de partida es el juego del Barça"" [Óscar García: "My starting reference is the way Barça play"]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  24. "Oscar Garcia named St Etienne coach on two-year contract". ESPN FC. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  25. "Ligue 1. Oscar Garcia (Saint-Étienne): "J'aime quand il y a de la passion"" [Ligue 1. Oscar Garcia (Saint-Étienne): "I love it when passion is involved"]. Ouest-France (in French). 23 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  26. "Saint-Etienne manager Oscar Garcia replaced by Julien Sable". ESPN. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  27. "Oscar Garcia et Saint-Etienne, c'est bel et bien fini" [Oscar Garcia and Saint-Etienne, over and out]. Le Figaro (in French). 15 November 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  28. Wood, Graham (5 January 2018). "Soccer-Olympiakos Piraeus appoint Spaniard Oscar Garcia as head coach". Reuters. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  29. Stapatopoulos, Vangelis (3 April 2018). "Τέλος ο Γκαρθία μία ημέρα μετά την κατσάδα Μαρινάκη!" [García sacked one day after Marinakis!] (in Greek). Contra. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  30. "Óscar García, nuevo entrenador del Celta de Vigo" [Óscar García, new Celta de Vigo manager]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 4 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  31. Lowe, Sid (20 July 2020). "Silence, solitude and sadness for Leganés after desperate La Liga finale". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  32. "Óscar García no continuará como entrenador del RC Celta" [Óscar García will not continue as RC Celta manager] (in Spanish). Celta Vigo. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  33. "Oscar Garcia, nouvel entraîneur de Reims" [Oscar Garcia, new Reims manager] (in French). Ligue 1. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  34. "Oscar Garcia (Stade de Reims): «Reconstruire une attaque n'est pas facile»" [Óscar García (Stade de Reims): "Rebuilding an attack is not easy"]. L'Équipe (in French). 8 August 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  35. "Football – Ligue 1. Première victoire de la saison pour le Stade de Reims" [Football – Ligue 1. First victory of the season for Stade de Reims]. L'Union (in French). 12 September 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  36. Audabram, Alexandre (22 May 2022). "INTERVIEW Oscar Garcia: «Je suis content que le Stade de Reims m'ait donné l'opportunité de revenir en L1»" [INTERVIEW Óscar García: "I am happy that Stade de Reims gave me the opportunity to return to L1"] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  37. Willis, S. (13 October 2022). "Stade de Reims: Oscar Garcia tenure over". Ligue 1. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  38. Tomàs, Manel; Clos, Jordi (29 October 2009). "Barça brothers". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  39. López, José Luis (18 June 1997). "El Europa completa su gesta ganando al Barça" [Europa complete their exploit by defeating Barça] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  40. Óscar García management career statistics at Soccerbase
  41. Óscar García coach profile at Soccerway
  42. Tejedor Carnicero, José Vicente; Torre, Raúl; Lozano Ferrer, Carles. "Spain – List of Super Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  43. "Real storm to Cup glory". BBC Sport. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  44. "Italia ya ganó un Europeo a España en el 1996" [Italy have already won European Championships against Spain in 1996] (in Spanish). Orgullo Bianconero. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  45. Aguilar, Francesc (16 April 1994). "España pierde la inocencia" [Spain lose innocence]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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