| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pablo Gabriel García Pérez | ||
| Date of birth | May 11, 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Pando, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | PAOK | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1996–1997 | Montevideo Wanderers | 35 | (1) |
| 1997 | Peñarol | 9 | (0) |
| 1998–2000 | Atlético B | 38 | (3) |
| 2000–2002 | Milan | 23 | (0) |
| 2002 | → Venezia (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2002–2005 | Osasuna | 78 | (6) |
| 2005–2008 | Real Madrid | 22 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Celta (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → Murcia (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 2008– | PAOK | 86 | (4) |
| National team | |||
| 1997–2007 | Uruguay | 68 | (3) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 December 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Pablo Gabriel García Pérez (born 11 May 1977 in Pando, Canelones Department) is an Uruguayan footballer who plays for PAOK F.C. in Greece, as a defensive midfielder.
A player of physical approach to the game (which earned him a reputation for being a dirty player), García's nickname is Canario (canary), referring to his birthplace. He spent most of his professional career in La Liga, amassing 135 appearances in six years, representing four different teams.
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García started his career in Montevideo Wanderers FC. After a six-month spell at C.A. Peñarol, he was transferred to Atlético de Madrid but, however, would never make it past its B side, being subsequently transferred to Italian giants A.C. Milan, after two seasons.
After just five Serie A appearances during 2000–01, García was loaned to fellow league side Venezia A.C. in January 2002. In spite of the side's relegation, he had overall good performances.
Moving to La Liga side CA Osasuna for 2002–03,[1] García played intense football throughout three seasons in Navarre. In his first match, a 2–2 draw at Villarreal CF, on September 1, 2002, he collected a booking and scored the match's final goal.
In the 2005 Spanish Cup final, García, already an essential midfield element for Osasuna, received a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Real Betis' Joaquín, as Osasuna lost 1–2 on extra time. However, he had already caught the eye of league giants Real Madrid, which signed the player to a three-year contract, with compatriot Carlos Diogo also being purchased.[2]
After having received 17 yellow (season-most) and one red cards during 2004–05 (the Cup final notwithstanding), García made his Real Madrid official debut on September 10, 2005, playing 11 minutes in a 2–3 home loss to Celta de Vigo. Eventually, he won the battle for the club's first-choice holding midfielder over Danish Thomas Gravesen, although none were an undisputed starter.
After helping Madrid to a runner-up place in 2005–06, he was deemed surplus to requirements by new boss Fabio Capello and, on August 29, 2006, García signed a one-year loan contract with Celta[3] and, after an uneventful personal season where he was injured for most of the year, he returned to Real Madrid in July 2007, loaned immediately again, this time to newly promoted Real Murcia.
After another relegation, García was released by Real Madrid on July 10, 2008 and, on the 23rd, agreed to join PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece.
He quickly became a fan favorite, not as much for his defensive abilities rather than his hot temper; managing to receive three red cards in his first six games, and also starring in an infamous incident with Olympiacos F.C. player Diogo Luis Santo during a derby. After being hit in the face by Diogo's elbow in a confrontation during a set piece, García retaliated with a powerful punch to the Brazilian's belly; both actions surprisingly eluded the referee's attention, but the Uruguayan eventually received a three-match ban.
Garcia's second season was much better overall, as PAOK only conceded 16 goals in 30 matches, finishing third in the table, with him forming a stable midfield partnership with Spaniard Vitolo. Additionally, he renewed his link to the club until 2012, even agreeing to a reduction in his salary, in line with the club's stagnant finances.
A full Uruguayan international since December 13, 1997, in a King Fahd Cup match against United Arab Emirates, García quickly developed into a mainstay for the national team,[4] and would appear at the 1999 Copa América.
García played all 270 minutes in Uruguay's participation in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, although he was not able to help his country qualify for the 2006 edition, after losing a penalty shootout to Australia, on November 16, 2005.
García scored a powerful finesse shot from outside the box against Venezuela in the 2007 Copa América quarterfinals, but also missed a decisive penalty against Brazil in the semis, meaning the Charrúas would not play the tournament's final match.
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