García playing for Liverpool in 2005
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Luis Javier García Sanz | ||
Date of birth | 24 June 1978 | ||
Place of birth | Badalona, Spain | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Winger / Attacking midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
Sant Gabriel | |||
1994–1997 | Barcelona | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1997–2002 | Barcelona B | 73 | (25) |
1998 | Barcelona | 0 | (0) |
1999–2000 | → Valladolid (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2000 | → Toledo (loan) | 17 | (4) |
2000–2001 | → Tenerife (loan) | 40 | (16) |
2001–2002 | → Valladolid (loan) | 25 | (7) |
2002–2003 | Atlético Madrid | 30 | (9) |
2003–2004 | Barcelona | 25 | (4) |
2004–2007 | Liverpool | 77 | (18) |
2007–2009 | Atlético Madrid | 48 | (2) |
2009–2010 | Racing Santander | 15 | (0) |
2010–2011 | Panathinaikos | 14 | (1) |
2011–2012 | Puebla | 32 | (12) |
2012–2013 | UNAM | 37 | (4) |
2014 | Atlético Kolkata | 13 | (2) |
2016 | Central Coast Mariners | 10 | (2) |
National team | |||
2005–2008 | Spain | 20 | (4) |
2001–2008 | Catalonia | 5 | (3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 April 2016. |
Luis Javier García Sanz (born 24 June 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left winger.
Although naturally left-footed, he had the ability to kick with both feet and had a good aerial game, despite a small frame. He played professionally for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in his homeland, amongst others – being brought up in the former's youth ranks – appearing abroad for Liverpool, with which he won one Champions League amongst other major titles.
Over the course of eight seasons, García amassed La Liga totals of 150 games and 22 goals. A Spanish international for three years, he gained 20 caps and represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup.
Born in Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, García was a product of local FC Barcelona's prolific youth ranks but, after two successful seasons with its B-team, he left on loan for Real Valladolid, where he made his La Liga debut on 22 August 1999 in a 0–1 away loss against CD Numancia. He finished the campaign at Segunda División's CD Toledo also on loan, his four goals not being enough to prevent relegation for the Castile-La Mancha side; on 18 August 1998, he had made his first competitive appearance for the Blaugrana, coming on as 78th-minute substitute for Boudewijn Zenden in a 1–2 defeat at RCD Mallorca for the Supercopa de España.