Roger García Junyent

Roger
Personal information
Full name Roger García Junyent
Date of birth (1976-12-15) 15 December 1976
Place of birth Sabadell, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
1982–1987 Mercantil
1987–1994 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Barcelona B 26 (6)
1995–1999 Barcelona 78 (7)
1999–2003 Espanyol 114 (17)
2003–2006 Villarreal 55 (4)
2006–2007 Ajax 11 (1)
Total 284 (35)
National team
1992–1993 Spain U16 16 (5)
1993–1995 Spain U18 6 (3)
1995 Spain U20 5 (2)
1996–1998 Spain U21 12 (4)
Teams managed
2010–2013 Sabadell (assistant)
2013– Catalonia (assistant)
2016– Damm
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Roger García Junyent (born 15 December 1976), known simply as Roger, is a Spanish retired footballer who played mostly as a left midfielder. He possessed a strong shot, and was known for his passing ability.[1]

He spent most of his career at FC Barcelona, without much success, going on to represent three other teams until his retirement, including one abroad. When fit, he played an important part in Villarreal's La Liga consolidation.

Roger's career was significantly hampered by injuries, and he retired from football at the age of 30, amassing Spanish top division totals of 247 games and 28 goals.

Club career

Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Roger was a product of local FC Barcelona's youth ranks. He made his debuts for the first team in the 1994–95 season, going on to appear in 33 games in the following campaign while scoring his first goal in a 1–1 away draw against Real Madrid, on 30 September 1995.[2]

After two seasons where he appeared sparingly in back-to-back La Liga conquests, Roger moved to neighbouring RCD Espanyol also in the top division, where he was a starter for much of his stay. In his last year, he netted a career-best nine goals (third-best in the squad) while the side barely avoided relegation.

Roger then spent three seasons with Villarreal CF, playing only one match in his second year due to a serious injury. During a 12-month period (2002–03, one with each club), he scored three goals while still in his own half of the field.[3]

In 2006, Roger signed with Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax, joining former Barça teammate Gabri, but retired after just one season due to persistent injuries. At the Amsterdam Arena he became the last player to wear number 14, as it was subsequently retired in honor of club legend Johan Cruyff, his coach at Barcelona.[4]

Roger had his first coaching experience in 2010–11, assisting former Barcelona teammate Lluís Carreras at CE Sabadell FC and attaining promotion to the second division.[5]

Personal life

Roger's brothers, Óscar and Genís, were also footballers. All youth products of Barcelona, they had however different fates as professionals (especially the latter).[6]

On 17 June 1997, during the final of the Copa Catalunya, all three appeared with the first team in a 1–3 loss to CE Europa.[7]

Honours

Club

Barcelona
Espanyol
Villarreal

Country

Spain U21

References

  1. ↑ Pinol, Angels (8 December 1995). "Roger, el '10' ideal que Cruyff encontró en el Miniestadi" [Roger, the perfect '10' Cruyff found at the Miniestadi] (in Spanish). El País. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Superior hasta con diez" [Better even with ten] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 1 October 1995. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Is there a greater long-range goalscorer than Xabi Alonso?; The Guardian, 4 October 2006
  4. ↑ "Oscar Garcia writes emotional '14 thanks' letter to Johan Cruyff". Sport. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  5. ↑ La nueva vida del Sabadell (Sabadell's new life); El Periódico de Catalunya, 18 October 2011 (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ Barça brothers; FC Barcelona, 29 October 2009
  7. ↑ "El Europa completa su gesta ganando al Barça" [Europa complete their exploit by defeating Barça] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 18 June 1997. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  8. ↑ "1998: Iván Pérez applies finishing touch". UEFA.com. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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