David García (footballer, born 1981)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is De la Cruz.
David García
García training with Girona in 2014
Personal information
Full name David García de la Cruz
Date of birth (1981-01-16) 16 January 1981
Place of birth Manresa, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
1996–1999 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Espanyol B 32 (0)
1999–2011 Espanyol 217 (1)
2011–2015 Girona 99 (1)
Total 348 (2)
International career
2001 Spain U20 1 (0)
2003 Spain U21 1 (0)
2004–2010 Catalonia 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

David García de la Cruz (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈβið ɣaɾˈθi.a ðe la ˈkɾuθ]; born 16 January 1981) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

He spent most of his career with Espanyol, appearing in 243 competitive matches over 12 La Liga seasons and winning two Copa del Rey trophies.[1]

Club career

Born in Manresa, Barcelona, Catalonia, García was a product of RCD Espanyol's academy, and made his La Liga debut on 8 January 2000 in a 0–0 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña,[2] becoming a regular fixture in the 2001–02 season and also being named second team captain after Raúl Tamudo, the only player to have been on the club's books for longer;[3] on 23 March 2003, he scored the first of only two competitive goals during his career, helping to a 1–1 draw at Valencia CF.[4]

García renewed his link for a further two seasons in February 2007, stating about the deal: "I want to finish my career here. I can't imagine myself wearing any other shirt."[5] During that campaign, however, he only totalled 16 games (nine in the league, adding seven in the club's runner-up run in the UEFA Cup) mainly due to a knee injury.[6]

In 2008–09, García played just 14 matches as he again dealt with physical ailments, but was instrumental in the final stretch, appearing in seven complete fixtures out of the last ten – of which Espanyol won eight. On 12 June 2009 he extended his contract for two additional years,[7] going on to make 38 league appearances during that timeframe.

On 4 August 2011, García moved to Segunda División club Girona FC.[8] He was first-choice for the vast majority of his tenure,[9] retiring at the age of 34 and returning to Espanyol to act as scout for the youth system.[1]

Honours

Espanyol

References

  1. ^ a b "La prèvia de l'Espanyol-Girona" [Espanyol-Girona preview] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  2. ^ "El líder suma su tercera jornada sin ganar" [Leaders fail to win for the third time]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 January 2000. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  3. ^ "David García, el perico perfecto" [David García, the perfect perico]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  4. ^ Ramírez Orsikowsky, Jorge (23 March 2003). "El Valencia pierde el tren de la Liga" [Valencia lose touch with League]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  5. ^ "David García renueva por el Espanyol hasta Junio de 2009" [David García renews with Espanyol until June 2009] (in Spanish). Terra. 16 February 2007. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  6. ^ "El Espanyol pierde a David García durante tres meses por una lesión de rodilla" [Espanyol lose David García for three months with knee injury]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 15 September 2006. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  7. ^ "David García amplia su contrato con el Espanyol dos años más" [David García extends Espanyol contract for two more years]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 12 June 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  8. ^ "David García fortalece la zaga del Girona" [David García bolsters Girona's back sector]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  9. ^ "El Girona también renueva a David García" [Girona renew David García as well]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 July 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  10. ^ Astruells, Andrés (13 April 2006). "¡Increíble Espanyol!" [Incredible Espanyol!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  11. ^ Atkin, John (17 May 2007). "Palop lauds perfect performance". UEFA. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
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