Javi García

Francisco Javier "Javi" García Fernández (Spanish pronunciation: [fɾanˈθisko xaˈβjeɾ ˈxaβi ɣaɾˈθi.a feɾˈnandeθ]; born 8 February 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who is an assistant manager for Benfica. A defensive midfielder by nature, he could also appear as a central defender.

Not to be confused with Javi Gracia or Javi García (footballer, born 1977).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Fernández.
Javi García
García playing for Zenit in 2017
Personal information
Full name Francisco Javier García Fernández[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-08) 8 February 1987[2]
Place of birth Mula, Spain
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Benfica (assistant)
Youth career
1996–2004 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Real Madrid B 86 (10)
2004–2007 Real Madrid 3 (0)
2007–2008 Osasuna 25 (2)
2008–2009 Real Madrid 15 (0)
2009–2012 Benfica 74 (6)
2012–2014 Manchester City 53 (2)
2014–2017 Zenit St. Petersburg 73 (6)
2017–2020 Betis 53 (1)
2020–2022 Boavista 39 (2)
Total 421 (29)
International career
2002 Spain U16 3 (1)
2003–2005 Spain U17 21 (4)
2005–2006 Spain U19 9 (2)
2007 Spain U20 5 (1)
2008–2009 Spain U21 9 (0)
2012–2013 Spain 2 (0)
Managerial career
2022– Benfica (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He started his career with Real Madrid, but represented mostly the reserve team, going on to have a three-year spell with Benfica in Portugal. In 2012 he signed with Manchester City, then spent a further three seasons in the Russian Premier League with Zenit where he appeared in 108 matches across all competitions. He returned to Spain with Betis in 2017 and retired at Boavista.

García represented Spain at various youth levels, including the victorious under-19s at the 2006 European Championship, and made his senior international debut in 2012.

Club career

Real Madrid

A product of Real Madrid's youth system, García was born in Mula, Region of Murcia, and played three La Liga matches for the first team while still a junior, making his debut at age 17 in a 5–0 home win against Levante UD on 28 November 2004.[3] After that, he would spend the entire 2005–06 season with the reserves in Segunda División.

The summer of 2006 was a very busy one for García: first, he won the UEFA European Championship with the under-19s,[4] impressing first-team head coach Fabio Capello who recalled him to training sessions. He played most of Real's pre-season games, including a starting line-up spot in both Ramón de Carranza Trophy fixtures, being deployed in central midfield alongside new purchase Emerson;[5] however, he failed to appear for the main squad in official matches.

In August 2007, in the campaign of García's supposed definitive promotion to the first team, head coach Bernd Schuster would eventually prevent that golden opportunity – as fellow cantera players Rubén de la Red and Esteban Granero also left – 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 €2.5 million transfer fee as the Navarre side was keen to replace injury-struck midfielder Javad Nekounam (out of action for several months);[6] having first appeared in a 1–1 home draw to Sevilla FC, where he played one minute, he scored twice in his first six matches, in victories over Levante (4–1)[7] and Villarreal CF (3–2).[8]

García's contract included a buy-back clause that could see him return to Real Madrid for €4 million. On 29 April 2008, Osasuna officially reported that the former had exercised their purchase option, and the player returned to the Santiago Bernabéu for 2008–09;[9] he made his first league appearance for Real in his second spell during the 7–1 thrashing of Sporting de Gijón on 24 September, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mahamadou Diarra.[10]

Benfica
García (left) challenging Rio Ave's Tiago Pinto in 2011

Deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, García signed for S.L. Benfica in Portugal on 21 July 2009 on a five-year contract for a €7 million transfer fee.[11] An undisputed starter throughout his first season he also scored three goals, most notably through a header in the last minute for the game's only goal against Associação Naval 1º de Maio at home,[12] as the club clung onto the top position on 9 November and eventually won the Primeira Liga.[13]

García made 43 competitive appearances in 2011–12. His two goals of the campaign came against Sporting CP in the Lisbon derby 1–0 home win,[14] and at Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League – in the latter, he netted off a corner kick in the 85th minute to make it 1–1, but ten-men Benfica eventually lost 1–2 and 1–3 on aggregate.[15]

Manchester City

On 31 August 2012, García joined Manchester City for £15.8 million.[16][17] He made his Premier League debut on 15 September in a 1–1 away draw to Stoke City, scoring with a header from a Carlos Tevez free-kick.[18]

After picking up a thigh injury in the early minutes of the Champions League group stage fixture against Borussia Dortmund, García missed several weeks of action.[19] He made his return against West Ham United, replacing Tevez in the 84th minute of a 0–0 draw at Upton Park.[20] On 15 December, he started in a 3–1 victory at Newcastle United and scored his side's second goal.[21]

Zenit Saint Petersburg

On 13 August 2014, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg announced the £13 million signing of García after he passed the medical and agreed to personal terms.[22] He scored his first goal for his new team 18 days later, the only in an away win over FC Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League.[23]

García played 24 matches in the 2014–15 season, scoring three times as the side won the fifth national championship in their history (fourth under the tournament's new denomination).[24]

Betis

On 14 August 2017, the 30-year-old García returned to Spain after eight years to join Real Betis.[25] He appeared in 64 total games for the team from the Estadio Benito Villamarín over three seasons, scoring once in a 3–1 away win against Deportivo Alavés on 12 March 2018[26] and being sent off the following 10 February in a 3–0 loss at CD Leganés.[27]

García signed a new two-year contract with the Andalusians on 5 July 2019.[28]

Boavista

After mutually terminating his contract with Betis, García went back to Portugal's top flight by joining Boavista F.C. on a three-year deal on 19 August 2020.[29][30] He scored his first goal for the team on 25 October in a 2–2 draw at F.C. Famalicão, in which he was sent off.[31]

On 22 June 2022, 35-year-old García retired. Remaining in Portugal, he immediately went back to Benfica and joined the staff of new manager Roger Schmidt.[32]

International career

García represented the Spain national under-21 team at the 2009 UEFA European Championship, appearing against England (2–0 loss)[33] in an eventual group stage exit. He earned his first cap for the full side on 26 May 2012, playing 22 minutes in a 2–0 friendly win over Serbia in St. Gallen.[34]

Career statistics

Club

[35][36]

Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid 2004–05 La Liga 3000—0030
2005–06 0000—1010
2006–07 0000—1010
Total 3000002050
Osasuna 2007–08 La Liga 25200——252
Real Madrid 2008–09 150001030190
Benfica 2009–10 Primeira Liga 2630040141444
2010–11 2423144131448
2011–12 2211010121362
Total 726419439312414
Manchester City 2012–13 Premier League 242400050332
2013–14 290406080470
Total 5328060130802
Zenit 2014–15 Russian Premier League 24310—110363
2015–16 26261—60383
2016–17 22120—70311
2017–18 10——2030
Total 73691002601087
Betis 2017–18 La Liga 32110——331
2018–19 13040—50220
2019–20 8010——90
Total 531600050641
Boavista 2020–21 Primeira Liga 21 1 2 0 0 0 — 23 1
2021–22 18 1 1 0 2 0 — 21 1
Total 39 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 44 2
Career total 3331930218488346927

Honours

Real Madrid B

Real Madrid

Benfica

Manchester City

Zenit Saint Petersburg

Spain U19

References
  1. "Barclays Premier League squad numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. "Francisco Javier García Fernández" (in Spanish). Real Betis. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. Real Madrid 5–0 Levante Archived 19 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 28 November 2004
  4. García shoulders Spanish burden; UEFA, 14 July 2006
  5. Torres, Diego (20 August 2006). "Capello y sus 'guerreros' caen ante el Villarreal en el Carranza" [Capello and his 'warriors' fall to Villarreal in the Carranza] (in Spanish). El País. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  6. Aguilera, Rafa (30 August 2007). "Osasuna ficha a Javi García" [Osasuna sign Javi García] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  7. Osasuna 4–1 Levante; ESPN Soccernet, 26 September 2007
  8. Osasuna 3–2 Villarreal; ESPN Soccernet, 7 October 2007
  9. El Real Madrid recompra a Javi García (Real Madrid rebuy Javi García) Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine; CA Osasuna, 29 April 2008 (Spanish)
  10. Real Madrid 7–1 Sporting Gijón; ESPN Soccernet, 24 September 2008
  11. "Benfica confirma à CMVM contratação de Javi Garcia por cinco anos" [Benfica confirm signing of Javi Garcia for five years to PSMC] (in Portuguese). TSF. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  12. Benfica move back into tie for first place; PortuGOAL, 9 November 2009
  13. Lopes, Gonçalo; Silva Pires, Tiago (9 May 2010). "Benfica conquista o 32.º título da história" [Benfica conquer 32nd title in history] (in Portuguese). Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  14. Javi Garcia heads Benfica to derby victory; PortuGOAL, 26 November 2011
  15. Chelsea 2–1 Benfica; BBC Sport, 4 April 2012
  16. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. Javi Garcia completes move to Blues Archived 27 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Manchester City, 31 August 2012
  18. Stoke 1–1 Manchester City; BBC Sport, 15 September 2012
  19. "Best is yet to come says Garcia". Manchester City F.C. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  20. West Ham 0–0 Man City; BBC Sport, 3 November 2012
  21. Johnston, Neil (15 December 2012). "Manchester City bounced back from the disappointment of losing the Manchester derby with a stylish victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  22. Jackson, Jamie (12 August 2014). "Manchester City's Javi García set to join Zenit St Petersburg for £13m". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  23. Lokomotiv Moscow 0–1 Zenit St Petersburg; ESPN FC, 31 August 2014
  24. "Zenit de Villas-Boas é campeão da Rússia" [Villas-Boas' Zenit are Russian champions] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  25. Хави Гарсия продолжит карьеру в Испании [Javi García will continue his career in Spain] (in Russian). FC Zenit. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  26. "Betis beat Alaves thanks to Lorenzo Moron brace". Belfast Telegraph. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  27. García, Miguel Ángel (10 February 2019). "En-Nesyri destroza al Betis" [En-Nesyri destroys Betis] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  28. "El Real Betis y Javi García amplían su vinculación hasta 2021" [Real Betis and Javi García extend their link until 2021] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  29. "Javi García é reforço do Boavista" [Javi García is a Boavista addition] (in Portuguese). Record. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  30. "OFICIAL: Boavista confirma Javi García" [OFFICIAL: Boavista confirm Javi García] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  31. "VAR, penálti, golaços e ainda uma expulsão: um minuto que resume o Famalicão-Boavista" [VAR, penalty, wondergoals and even a sending-off: a minute that recounts Famalicão-Boavista] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  32. Silva, Flávio Miguel (22 June 2022). "Javi García anuncia final de carreira: «Veremo-nos em breve»" [Javi García announces end of career: "We'll see each other soon"] (in Portuguese). Record. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  33. Haslam, Andrew (18 June 2009). "Second-half strikes see England through". UEFA. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  34. Villalobos, Fran (26 May 2012). "Adrián está listo para la Eurocopa" [Adrián is ready for Euro] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  35. "Javi García". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  36. Javi García at ESPN FC
  37. Calderón, J. L. (30 May 2012). "El último Castilla en subir ha dado siete internacionales" [Last Castilla to promote has given seven internationals] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  38. "El Valencia gana al Real Madrid pero la Supercopa se decidirá en el Bernabéu (3–2)" [Valencia beat Real Madrid but the Supercup will be decided at the Bernabéu (3–2)] (in Spanish). 20 minutos. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  39. "Javi Garcia na órbita do Bordéus" [Bordeaux tracking Javi Garcia] (in Portuguese). Diário Desportivo. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  40. "Javi García: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  41. McNulty, Phil (2 March 2014). "Manchester City 3–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  42. McNulty, Phil (11 May 2013). "Man City 0–1 Wigan". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  43. Morán, Miguel Ángel (18 August 2017). "Javi García, el coleccionista de títulos" [Javi García, the title collector] (in Spanish). Marca. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  44. Díaz Rubio, Julián. "European U-19 Championship 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
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