Javi García

Francisco Javier "Javi" García Fernández (born 8 February 1987 in Murcia) is a Spain Association football who currently plays for S.L. Benfica, in the Portuguese Liga.

A Midfielder Defensive midfielder by nature, Javi García can also appear as a Defender (football) Centre back.

Football career

A product of Real Madrid C.F.'s youth system, García played three La Liga contests with the first team, making Javi García debut at the age of 17 in a 5–0 home rout of Levante UD, on 28 November 2004. After that, Javi García would spend the entire 2005–06 with Real Madrid Castilla, the team's B-side.

Summer 2006 was a very busy one for García. First, Javi García won the 2006 European Under-19 Football Championship with the Spain national under-19 football team,impressing then-first team head coach Fabio Capello, who recalled Javi García to training sessions.

Javi García played in most of Real Madrid's pre-season games, including a starting lineup spot in both Ramón de Carranza Trophy games, playing in central midfield alongside new purchase Émerson Ferreira da Rosa. Javi García would not appear for Real's first team in La Liga 2006-07, nonetheless.

In August 2007, in the La Liga 2007–08 of Javi García supposed definitive promotion to the first team, coach Bernd Schuster would eventually prevent that golden opportunity (as fellow cantera players Rubén de la Red and Esteban Granero also left the club) and offers began to appear from clubs in the Premier League including Liverpool F.C., and domestic teams, including Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña. Javi García would finally settle for CA Osasuna on 31 August, signing for four seasons for a fee of €2.5 million as the Navarre side was keen to replace injury-struck midfielder Javad Nekounam (out of action for six months at least). Having first appeared in a 1–1 home draw with Sevilla FC (one minute played), García scored twice in Javi García first six games, in wins against Levante UD (4–1) and Villarreal CF (3–2).

García's contract included a buy-back clause that could see Javi García return to Real Madrid for €4 million. Osasuna officially reported, on 29 April 2008, that Real Madrid had exercised their purchase option, meaning Javi García return to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for La Liga 2008–09. Javi García made Javi García first league appearance for Real since Javi García return during Javi García side's 7–1 thrashing of Sporting de Gijón on 24 September 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mahamadou Diarra.

García signed for S.L. Benfica in Portugal on 21 July 2009, for five years and a fee of €7 million.

Honours

- Real Madrid C.F.:
- - Supercopa de España: 2008 Supercopa de España

- Real Madrid Castilla:
- - Segunda División B: Segunda División B 2004–05

- Spain national football team:
- - UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship

Personal

García is a cousin of another footballer, Luis Javier García Sanz.The latter represented, among others, FC Barcelona, Liverpool F.C. and Atlético Madrid.