Pablo García

Pablo Gabriel García Pérez (born 11 May 1977 in Pando, Canelones) is an Uruguayan football (soccer) midfielder. His nickname is Canario, referring to his origin in the the department of Canelones.

He started his career in his home country team, Montevideo Wanderers, before being transferred to Atlético Madrid after two seasons. He only played for Atlético B during this time, before being transferred to A.C. Milan and thence Venezia A.C..

After returning to Spain and playing for CA Osasuna for three seasons, his impressive performances saw him transferred to Real Madrid C.F.. He had formed a reputation as a combative - if dirty - midfielder, and received the most yellow cards in La Liga in the 2004/05 season. García is known to be an effective defensive midfielder or holding midfielder, and soon became Real Madrid C.F.'s first-choice holding midfielder ahead of Denmark midfield destroyer Thomas Gravesen. However, he was unable to find his form, at times struggling to keep pace. This, combined with some unfortunate injuries, kept him out of the starting squad. In the 2006/07 season, Garcia did not feature in Madrid's new manager Fabio Capello's plans, inevitably leading to a search for a new club.

On August 29 2006 Pablo García signed a one year loaning contract with Celta de Vigo, and after an uneventful personal season where he was injured for most of the year, he returned to Real Madrid in July 2007, loaned immediately again, this time to La Liga's promoted Real Murcia.

At international level, García has been a mainstay on his national team, playing in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, although he was not able to help his country Uruguay qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup to be held in Germany as the Uruguayans, after a 1-0 home victory over Australia in the first-leg playoff, lost on penalty kicks in the away leg after Australia hung on to a 1-0 lead for 120 minutes.

He scored a powerful finesse shot from outside the box for Uruguay against Venezuela in the 2007 Copa America quarter finals, and missed a decisive penalty vs. Brazil in the semis, meaning the Charrúas would not play the tournament's final match.

Honors and awards

- 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship silver-medal