 Luis Javier García Sanz (born June 24, 1978 in Badalona, Spain), commonly known as Luis García, is a Spanish football player. He currently plays for Liverpool F.C. and wears the number 10 jersey. His favourite form of celebration is sucking his thumb. This is said to commemorate his first-born son, Joel.
Player Profile
Luis García played for FC Barcelona, CD Tenerife, Atlético de Madrid and Real Valladolid, in La Liga. Normally, Luis García is employed in the "hole" position behind the striker and in front of the midfielders. He quickly earned a reputation in England as a player of remarkable skills, but this talent was qualified by his tendency to lose the ball in dangerous positions. His ability to kick confidently with both feet makes him an extremely versatile attacker, deployable on both flanks, as well as behind strikers. Despite his small frame, he has also shown a great ability to head the ball, with some of his most impressive goals coming in the air.
Luis Garcia was signed by Rafael Benítez for Liverpool in August 2004 for a fee of £6 million (Benítez coached him when they were at Tenerife together). He was bought essentially as a cut-price replacement for El Hadji Diouf, in the attacking midfield role. He has proved much more than a stand-in, and has become a key component of Liverpool's attacking unit. He made his Premiership debut against Bolton Wanderers on 29 August 2004, a game that Liverpool lost 1-0, although Garcia had an apparently legitimate goal ruled out for offside.
His first goal in a Liverpool shirt came against West Bromich Albion at Anfield in September 2004. He went on to score seven more league goals that season, including the winner in the Merseyside derby on 20 March 2005.
He was also a key player in Liverpool's successful 2005 Champions League campaign, netting the winning goals against Juventus (an unstoppable left footed shot which curled over Gianluigi Buffon and to the left post of the goal) and Chelsea (a controversial goal in the fourth minute), in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively. He took part in the Champions league final victory over A.C. Milan on 25 May 2005, finishing with an excellent 13 goals in all competitions in his first season in English football.
García has made slightly less of an impact in the 2005-06 season, although he has weighed in with some vital goals, not least the cracking, lofted finish against Chelsea to put them out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals. Garcia was suspended for the 2006 FA Cup win against West Ham, having been sent off in a Premier League game just days after his semi-final winner, ironically against West Ham, Liverpool's opponents in the final.
Luis Garcia has also advertised H&M men's suits and Umbro football boots.
Relationship with Fans
Replacing Anfield star Michael Owen as Liverpool 'number 10' was always going to be tough for a new signing, and despite an inconsistent first season, Garcia firmly became a fan favourite. While many considered him a frustrating player for losing the ball often, they recognised his ability as a match-winner, underlined with superb goals against Juventus and Charlton Athletic. His relationship with the fans has not been harmed by his tendency to score vital goals for the club. He has been the thorn in Chelsea F.C side with winning goals against them in the UEFA Champions League semi-final and recently the FA cup semi final.
Personal Life
He is currently married to Raquel and has a son named Joel.
Honours As Player
Liverpool
* 2004–05 UEFA Champions League
* 2005–06 European Super Cup
* 2005–2006 FA Cup
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