Raúl García (footballer)

Raúl García

García in action for Atlético Madrid in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Raúl García Escudero
Date of birth	(1986-07-11) 11 July 1986
Place of birth	Pamplona, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Atlético Madrid
Number	8
Youth career
	Ardoi
	Osasuna
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2005	Osasuna B	28	(3)
2004–2007	Osasuna	68	(9)
2007–	Atlético Madrid	164	(18)
2011–2012	→ Osasuna (loan)	33	(11)
National team
2004–2005	Spain U19	7	(4)
2006–2009	Spain U21	20	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 23 December 2013 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Raúl García Escudero (born 11 July 1986) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as an attacking or central midfielder.

Club career

Osasuna

Born in Pamplona, García played for hometown's CA Osasuna during his first years as a professional. On 24 October 2004 he made his debut for the first team in a 0–3 away defeat against FC Barcelona, with his first chance being offered by Mexican coach Javier Aguirre.

García scored five league goals (the first on 26 October 2005 in a 3–2 home win over Athletic de Bilbao^[1]) in his first full season as the Navarrese finished in fourth place in La Liga, starting in 28 of his 33 appearances at the age of just 19.

Atlético Madrid

In July 2007, after helping Osasuna to the semifinals of the UEFA Cup, with one goal in 12 games, García signed a five-year contract with Atlético Madrid, reuniting with former boss Aguirre upon the €13m deal.^[2]

In January 2010, García lost his starting job to newly signed Tiago Mendes, arrived on loan from Juventus FC. However, he started the UEFA Europa League final against Fulham, as the Portuguese was cup-tied, playing the full 90 minutes and extra time in the first honour of his career (2–1 win); additionally, he appeared in the second half of the season's Copa del Rey decisive game against Sevilla FC, in a 0–2 loss.

On 27 August 2010, García played the entire match in the UEFA Super Cup against Inter Milan, giving away a penalty kick in the last minute, for a foul on Goran Pandev; the shot was however saved by goalkeeper David de Gea, and the Colchoneros won it 2–0.^[3] Again, he played in significantly less minutes than Tiago, but still managed to collect 29 league appearances as Atlético finally qualified to the Europa League, and netted his only goal of the season in a 1–2 home loss against eventual champions Barcelona, heading in from a corner kick.^[4]

After renewing his contract with Atlético for a further three years, García was loaned to former team Osasuna for 2011–12.^[5] He scored a career-best eleven goals during the season, including twice against RCD Mallorca – both through headers from corners by Álvaro Cejudo (2–2) –^[6]and one in a triumph over Barcelona (3–2),^[7] finishing the campaign as club top scorer, with four more goals than teammate Ibrahima Baldé.

International career

From 2006 to 2009 García played with Spain U21s, earning a total of 20 caps in the category and representing the nation at the 2009 UEFA European Football Championship, in a group stage exit.

He also appeared for the under-19 team.

Honours

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Europa League: 2009–10
• UEFA Super Cup: 2010, 2012
• Copa del Rey: 2012–13; Runner-up 2009–10
• Supercopa de España: Runner-up 2013

Club statistics

^[8]

References

External links

• Osasuna official profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Transfermarkt profile