Miguel Ángel García Tébar

Miguel García

García in training with Las Palmas
Personal information
Full name Miguel Ángel García Tébar
Date of birth 26 September 1979 (1979-09-26) (age 32)
Place of birth Albacete, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
Albacete
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1998–2001 Albacete B
1999–2002 Albacete 15 (0)
2000 → Deportivo B (loan)
2002–2004 Zaragoza B 52 (6)
2004–2005 Ponferradina 36 (4)
2005–2006 Castellón 32 (0)
2006–2008 Cádiz 45 (5)
2008–2010 Las Palmas 61 (1)
2010 Salamanca 8 (1)
National team
1995–1996 Spain U16 2 (0)
1998 Spain U18 1 (0)
1998 Spain U20 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Tébar.

Miguel Ángel García Tébar, known as Miguel García (born 26 September 1979), is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Nine years of his professional career - cut short at 31 due to heart problems - were spent in Segunda División, where he collected 161 appearances for five different teams.

Football career

Born in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, García made his professional debuts with hometown's Albacete Balompié, but could only amass 15 first-team appearances in four seasons, which also included a short spell with Deportivo de La Coruña's reserves in the third division, on loan.

Subsequently, García played a further three years in level three, with Real Zaragoza B and SD Ponferradina. In 2005, aged 26, he signed with CD Castellón in the second division, spending a further two seasons with another team in that category, Cádiz CF, signing with the Andalusia club as it had just been relegated from the top flight - in 2008, with the player only appearing in 18 league games (out of 42), it would drop down another division.

After two years with UD Las Palmas, still in level two, 31-year old García signed for UD Salamanca, also in that division. On 24 October 2010, during a home game against Real Betis (0–3 home loss), he suffered a cardiac arrest in the 57th minute and collapsed. He was attended by doctors of both teams, who revived him with cardiac massage and the use of a defibrillator; he left the stadium in a stable condition, subsequently undergoing tests at the Salamanca University Hospital.[1]

After the event, in which his heart reportedly stopped beating for "about 25 seconds",[2] García's club praised the "rapid and efficient intervention" of doctors from both Salamanca and Betis, credited with saving the player's life.[3] Shortly before he left the hospital facilities, it was announced by the medical staff he would have to retire from football with immediate effect.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Salamanca midfielder Miguel Garcia has cardiac arrest during match with Betis". 101 Great Goals. 24 October 2010. http://www.101greatgoals.com/salamanca-midfielder-miguel-garcia-has-cardiac-arrest-during-match-with-betis/70310/. Retrieved 25 October 2010. 
  2. ^ "Miguel García abandonará la UCI en las próximas horas [Miguel García to leave ICU in next hours]" (in Spanish). Marca. 25 October 2010. http://www.marca.com/2010/10/25/futbol/equipos/salamanca/1288001126.html. Retrieved 26 October 2010. 
  3. ^ "El jugador Miguel García se recupera tras sufrir un infarto [Footballer Miguel García is recovering after suffering a heart attack]" (in Spanish). La Nueva España. 24 October 2010. http://www.lne.es/deportes/2010/10/25/jugador-miguel-garcia-recupera-sufrir-infarto/984912.html. Retrieved 26 October 2010. 
  4. ^ "Los cardiólogos anuncian a Miguel García que no podrá volver a jugar [Cardiologists tell Miguel García he will not be able to play again]" (in Spanish). Marca. 25 October 2010. http://www.marca.com/2010/10/25/futbol/equipos/salamanca/1288007983.html. Retrieved 26 October 2010. 

External links