| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier García Fernández | ||
| Date of birth | 8 February 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Mula, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Benfica | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–2004 | Real Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2007 | Real Madrid B | 85 | (10) |
| 2004 | Real Madrid | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Osasuna | 25 | (2) |
| 2008–2009 | Real Madrid | 15 | (0) |
| 2009– | Benfica | 70 | (5) |
| National team | |||
| 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) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Francisco Javier "Javi" García Fernández (born 8 February 1987 in Mula, Murcia) is a Spanish footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in Portugal. A defensive midfielder by nature, he can also appear as a central defender.
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A product of Real Madrid's youth system, García played three La Liga contests with the first team, making his debut at the age of 17 in a 5–0 home rout of Levante UD, on 28 November 2004.[1] After that, he would spend the entire 2005–06 with Real Madrid Castilla, the team's B-side.
The summer of 2006 was a very busy one for García. First, he won the European Championship with the under-19s,[2] impressing then-first team head coach Fabio Capello, who recalled him to training sessions.
He played in most of Real Madrid's pre-season games, including a starting lineup spot in both Ramón de Carranza Trophy games, playing in central midfield alongside new purchase Émerson. He would not appear for Real's first team in 2006–07, nonetheless.
In August 2007, in the season of his supposed definitive promotion to the first team, coach Bernd Schuster would eventually prevent that golden opportunity (as fellow cantera players Rubén de la Red and Esteban Granero also left the club) 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 fee of €2.5 million as the Navarre side was keen to replace injury-struck midfielder Javad Nekounam (out of action for several months); having first appeared in a 1–1 home draw with Sevilla FC (one minute played), he scored twice in his first six games, in wins against Levante (4–1)[3] and Villarreal CF (3–2).[4]
García's contract included a buy-back clause that could see him return to Real Madrid for €4 million. Osasuna officially reported, on 29 April 2008, that Real Madrid had exercised their purchase option, meaning his return to the Bernabéu for 2008–09.[5] He made his first league appearance for Real since his return during his side's 7–1 thrashing of Sporting de Gijón on 24 September 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mahamadou Diarra.[6]
Deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, García signed for S.L. Benfica in Portugal on 21 July 2009, for five years and a fee of €7 million.[7] An undisputed starter throughout his first season, he also found the net on one occasion, most notably a header in the last minute for the game's only goal against Associação Naval 1º de Maio at home, as the club clung onto the top spot (9 November 2009) and eventually won the championship.
García is a cousin of another footballer, Luis García.[8] The latter represented, among others, FC Barcelona, Liverpool and Atlético Madrid.
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