Álex García (footballer, born 1970)

Álex García
Personal information
Full nameAlejandro García Casañas
Date of birth14 January 1970
Place of birthBarcelona, Spain
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Youth career
1984–1988Barcelona
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1988–1993Barcelona B118(6)
1993–1994Rayo Vallecano (loan)22(0)
1994–1995Palamós (loan)32(0)
1995–1998Cádiz69(0)
1998–1999Granada31(0)
1999–2000Gimnàstic6(0)
2000–2001Cornellà
National team
1987–1988Spain U185(0)
1988–1989Spain U193(0)
1989–1990Spain U202(0)
1990–1992Spain U215(0)
1991–1992Spain U233(0)
Teams managed
2001–2003Barcelona (youth)
2003–2005Catalonia U18
2005–2009Barcelona (youth)
2011–2012Dinamo Tbilisi
2014–2015Sabadell
* 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 Casañas.

Alejandro 'Álex' García Casañas (born 14 January 1970) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a central defender, and a current coach.

He was associated to FC Barcelona during his early career – although he appeared rarely for the first team – but played most of his years as a professional in the lower leagues, appearing in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano.

Subsequently García worked as a manager, including with his first club (youth only).

Playing career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, García joined FC Barcelona's youth system at the age of 14. He played two full seasons in Segunda División with the B-team, after having appeared in one game in that category in 1988–89.

In the 1990–91 campaign, García played three matches for the Blaugrana's main squad: both legs in the season's Supercopa de España against Real Madrid (0–1 home loss, 1–4 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, playing the full 90 minutes on both occasions)[1][2][3] and 28 minutes in a 3–2 away win against FC Dynamo Kyiv for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, after coming on as a substitute for Michael Laudrup; after leaving in 1993 he resumed his career with Rayo Vallecano and Palamós CF, suffering team relegation with both clubs, the former being his first and only experience in the top level, in 1993–94.

Until his retirement in 2001 at the age of 31, García played five seasons in Segunda División B, with Cádiz CF, Granada CF and Gimnàstic de Tarragona, returning to his native region for one final year with amateurs UE Cornellà.

Manager career

Immediately after retiring García begun coaching, first being in charge of youth sides at FC Barcelona.[4] In late June 2011, nearly two years after leaving, he was appointed at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, replacing fired Kakha Kacharava.[5]

In January 2012, the management of the Georgian club decided to dismiss García after a friendly loss against BSC Young Boys.[6]

Honours

Player

Barcelona

References

External links