Rafael 'Rafa' García García (born 14 January 1986) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael García García | ||
| Date of birth | 14 January 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Ciudad Real, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2000 | Albacete | ||
| 2000–2001 | Ciudad Real | ||
| 2001–2005 | Real Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | S.S. Reyes | 4 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Getafe B | ||
| 2008–2009 | Rayo B | ||
| 2009–2013 | Rayo Vallecano | 45 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | → Xerez (loan) | 38 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Lugo | 24 | (0) |
| 2014 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 0 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Alavés | 19 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Reus | 30 | (0) |
| 2017 | Racing Ferrol | 9 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Badajoz | 16 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Manchego Ciudad Real | 89 | (1) |
| 2022–2024 | Villarrubia | 59 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 May 2024 | |||
Football career
editBorn in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, García began his career in the youth ranks of Albacete Balompié. After unsuccessful stints with Real Madrid (also youth) and its neighbours Getafe CF he signed with another side from the capital in 2009, Rayo Vallecano.
García made his debut for the first team on 2 September 2009, in a 2–0 away win over Real Sociedad for the second round of the Copa del Rey.[1] His first appearance in Segunda División came in the same month, in a 1–1 away draw against Girona FC;[2] he played 24 matches in his first season (one goal, in the 3–3 home draw to Real Sociedad),[3] adding 17 in the following – nine starts, 782 minutes of action – to help his team return to La Liga after an eight-year absence.
García played his first game in the top division on 1 October 2011, featuring the second half of a 1–1 away draw against Racing de Santander.[4] On 31 January of the following year, after only having collected a further 106 minutes in the league, he was loaned to Xerez CD in the second level, until June.[5]
García was forced to halt his career in early October 2012, after it was revealed he suffered from a heart condition.[6] On the 29th, after the pertinent exams, the club announced he had been cleared to resume his activity.[7]
In the following years, García alternated between the second tier and Segunda División B, representing in quick succession CD Lugo,[8] Deportivo Alavés,[9] CF Reus Deportiu,[10] Racing de Ferrol[11] and CD Badajoz.[12] In 2014, he had a very brief spell in the Georgian Erovnuli Liga with FC Dinamo Tbilisi.[13]
On 28 September 2018, García joined amateurs CD Manchego Ciudad Real.[14]
References
edit- ^ El Rayo, una apisonadora en Anoeta, desarboló a la Real (Rayo, a steamroller at Anoeta, made Real come undone); Sport Cartagena, 3 September 2009 (in Spanish)
- ^ El Rayo tuvo el triunfo en sus manos en Montilivi (Rayo had win in their hands at Montilivi); Marca, 13 September 2009 (in Spanish)
- ^ La Real atrapa el empate tras un espectacular partido en Vallecas (3–3) (Real snatch draw after spectacular match in Vallecas (3–3)); El Mundo, 29 November 2009 (in Spanish)
- ^ Racing grateful for Adrian; ESPN Soccernet, 1 October 2011
- ^ Rafa García, cedido al Xerez por el Rayo Vallecano (Rafa García, loaned to Xerez by Rayo Vallecano); Marca, 1 February 2012 (in Spanish)
- ^ El corazón frena a Rafa (Heart stops Rafa); Diario de Jerez, 9 October 2012 (in Spanish)
- ^ Comunicado oficial (Official announcement) Archived 2 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Xerez CD, 29 October 2012 (in Spanish)
- ^ El Lugo ficha por una temporada Rafa García, del Rayo Vallecano (Lugo sign Rafa García for one season, from Rayo Vallecano); Mundo Deportivo, 5 August 2013 (in Spanish)
- ^ El Deportivo Alavés ficha al centrocampista Rafa García (Deportivo Alavés sign midfielder Rafa García); Deportivo Alavés, 28 August 2014 (in Spanish)
- ^ Rafa García ficha por el Reus (Rafa García signs for Reus); La Tribuna de Ciudad Real, 1 September 2015 (in Spanish)
- ^ El Racing de Ferrol ficha al central Rafa García (Racing de Ferrol sign stopper Rafa García); Diario de Pontevedra, 7 March 2017 (in Spanish)
- ^ El club pacense cubre la ficha del lesionado Diakité con Rafa García (Pacense club cover for injured Diakité with Rafa García); Hoy, 6 October 2017 (in Spanish)
- ^ Rafa García se queda (Rafa García stays); La Tribuna de Ciudad Real, 28 September 2018 (in Spanish)
- ^ OFICIAL | Rafa García nuevo jugador del Manchego (OFFICIAL | Rafa García new Manchego player); CD Manchego, 28 September 2018 (in Spanish)
External links
edit- Rafa García at BDFutbol
- Rafa García at Futbolme (in Spanish)
- Rafa García at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
- Rafa García at Soccerway