Luis García Fernández (born February 6, 1981 in Oviedo, Asturias) is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for RCD Espanyol, mainly as a striker (he can also operate as a winger).

[edit] Club career

García began his professional career in the Real Madrid youth system, first appearing with its C side, and progressing in 2001 to Castilla. He made his first appearance for the main side in the Spanish Cup.

Released by Madrid in 2003, he joined Real Murcia, making his first division debut on August 31, scoring a penalty in a 1-1 draw at Celta de Vigo, and finishing his debut season with 11 goals as he appeared in all the matches, although the side would be relegated. On May 16, 2004, in a fruitless win, he scored both goals in a 2-1 home win against his former employee.

The following season, García produced similar numbers at RCD Mallorca, which barely avoided relegation (17th) and, in the 2005 off-season, penned a five-year link with RCD Espanyol,^[1]playing 49 matches overall in his first season, with 14 goals, including a brace in the 2006 Spanish Cup final, a 4-1 win over Real Zaragoza. At the season's closure, he extended his deal until 2012.^[2]

García, forming a formidable offensive partnership at the Catalonians with youth graduate Raúl Tamudo (the pair combined for 67 league goals from 2005-08), contributed with five goals during the club's 2006-07 UEFA Cup runner-up run, including a hat-trick in a November 23, 2006 group stage 6-2 home win over SV Zulte-Waregem.^[3] However, in the May final, he missed his penalty shootout attempt in a final loss to fellow league side Sevilla FC.^[4]

[edit] International career

After a remarkable 2006-07 with Espanyol, García got his first callup for Spain, under manager Luis Aragonés, appearing in an Euro 2008 qualifier against Latvia in Riga, on June 2, 2007.

[edit] Titles

• RCD Espanyol:
  • Spanish Cup: 2005-06
  • UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2006-07

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Espanyol profile
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)