Roger García

Roger García Junyent (born 15 December 1976), known simply as Roger, is a Spanish former footballer who played mostly as a left midfielder. He possessed a strong shot, and was known for his passing ability.[2]

"Roger Garcia" redirects here. For the police officer, see Shooting of Meagan Hockaday.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Junyent.

Roger
Personal information
Full name Roger García Junyent[1]
Date of birth (1976-12-15) 15 December 1976[1]
Place of birth Sabadell, Spain[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1982–1987 Mercantil
1987–1994 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Barcelona B 26 (6)
1995–1999 Barcelona 78 (7)
1999–2003 Espanyol 114 (17)
2003–2006 Villarreal 55 (4)
2006–2007 Ajax 11 (1)
Total 284 (35)
International career
1992–1993 Spain U16 16 (5)
1993–1995 Spain U18 6 (3)
1995 Spain U20 5 (2)
1996–1998 Spain U21 12 (4)
Managerial career
2010–2013 Sabadell (assistant)
2013– Catalonia (assistant)
2016–2018 Damm
2019–2020 Celta (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his career at Barcelona, without much success, going on to represent three other teams until his retirement, including one abroad. When fit, he played an important part in Villarreal's La Liga consolidation.

Roger's career was significantly hampered by injuries, and he retired from football at the age of 30, amassing Spanish top-division totals of 247 matches and 28 goals.

Club career

Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Roger was a product of local FC Barcelona's youth ranks. He made his debut for the first team in the 1994–95 season, going on to appear in 33 games the following campaign while scoring his first goal in a 1–1 away draw against Real Madrid, on 30 September 1995.[3]

After two seasons where he appeared sparingly in back-to-back La Liga conquests, Roger moved to neighbouring RCD Espanyol also in the top division, where he was a starter for much of his stay. In his last year, he netted a career-best nine goals (third-best in the squad) while the side barely avoided relegation.[4]

Roger then spent three seasons with Villarreal CF,[4] playing only one match in his second due to a serious injury.[5] Over a 12-month period (2002–03, one with each club), he scored three goals while still in his own half of the field.[6]

In 2006, Roger signed with Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax, joining former Barça teammate Gabri, but retired after just one season due to persistent injuries. At the Amsterdam Arena, he became the last player to wear number 14 as it was subsequently retired in honor of club legend Johan Cruyff, his coach at Barcelona.[7]

Roger had his first coaching experience in 2010–11, assisting former Barcelona teammate Lluís Carreras at CE Sabadell FC and attaining promotion to the second division.[8] In November 2019, following a two-year spell with youth club CF Damm (he was also its sporting director),[9][10] he was named assistant at RC Celta de Vigo where his older brother Óscar acted as manager.[11]

Personal life

Roger's brothers, Óscar and Genís, were also footballers. All youth products of Barcelona, they had however different fates as professionals (especially the latter).[12]

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.[13]

Honours

Barcelona

Espanyol

Villarreal

Spain U21

References
  1. "ROGER García Junyent". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. Piñol, Àngels (8 December 1995). "Roger, el '10' ideal que Cruyff encontró en el Miniestadi" [Roger, the perfect '10' Cruyff found at the Miniestadi]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  3. Guasch, Tomás (1 October 1995). "Superior hasta con diez" [Better even with ten] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  4. Morenilla, Juan (3 August 2003). "El Villarreal contrata a Roger García, su cuarto fichaje gratis" [Villarreal hire Roger García, their fourth signing for free]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  5. "El Villarreal se hace con los servicios de Sorín" [Villarreal acquire services of Sorín]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 4 November 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  6. Dart, James; Bandini, Nicky; Smyth, Rob (4 October 2006). "Is there a greater long-range goalscorer than Xabi Alonso?". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  7. "Oscar Garcia writes emotional '14 thanks' letter to Johan Cruyff". Sport. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  8. Tió, Jordi (18 October 2011). "La nueva vida del Sabadell" [Sabadell's new life]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  9. "Roger García, nuevo entrenador de la Damm" [Roger García, new Damm manager]. Sport (in Spanish). 23 May 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  10. Ripoll, Cristina (26 January 2018). "Francesc Bosch sustituye a Roger García al frente del CF Damm" [Francesc Bosch replaces Roger García in charge of CF Damm] (in Spanish). Fútbol Juvenil. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  11. "Óscar y Roger García Junyent se abonan al Celta" [Óscar and Roger García Junyent are Celta associates]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 15 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  12. Tomàs, Manel; Clos, Jordi (29 October 2009). "Barça brothers". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  13. 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.
  14. "El Villarreal vuelve a la UEFA tras ganar la Intertoto" [Villarreal return to UEFA after winning the Intertoto]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 23 August 2004. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  15. "1998 Under-21 EURO: Iván Pérez applies finishing touch". UEFA. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
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