Richard Garcia is an
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n association football player who plays for
Hull CityHull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and internationally for Australia as a winger. He has previously played for
West Ham UnitedWest Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
,
Leyton OrientLeyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and
Colchester UnitedColchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. During his time in Perth he played for Balcatta FC, a local league club in Perth.
West Ham United
Born in
PerthPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Garcia was a product of the
West Ham UnitedWest Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
youth academy, moving from Australia to England to join the Hammers at the age of 15 after being spotted by a scout who had initially gone to watch his brother. He signed a professional contract with West Ham in September 1998. He was a key member of the team that won the
FA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
and FA Premier Youth League double in
1998–99-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, scoring in every round of West Ham's run to the Youth Cup Final, eight in total. He went out on loan to local side
Leyton OrientLeyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in August 2000, making 21 appearances in League and Cup competitions and scoring four goals. Injury to his knee ligaments ended his season and he returned to
West HamWest Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in November 2000. He made his first team debut for
West HamWest Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in a League Cup match away at
ReadingReading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in September 2001, but failed to gain a regular place in the team. After West Ham were relegated to the
First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 2003, Garcia featured a few more times for the first-team, but made only 16 league appearances for the club before moving on to Colchester United in 2004.
Colchester United
Garcia signed for
Colchester UnitedColchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in September 2004 for an undisclosed fee, and made his debut in the same month against
Swindon TownSwindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. He went on to make 30 appearances in the
2004–05The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season, scoring six goals. The following season Garcia played an important part in helping the club to second place in
League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and promotion to the Championship, and to the fifth-round of the
FA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
where they were beaten by English champions
ChelseaChelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, although Colchester were at one point winning the match after Garcia's cross was put into his own net by
Ricardo CarvalhoRicardo Alberto Silveira de Carvalho OIH , is a footballer who plays as a centre back for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid.Carvalho was born in Amarante where he played for the local team, Amarante Futebol Clube. By his great performance as a youngster, he was spotted by the Portuguese powerhouse,...
. Garcia's season was cut short by a knee injury in March 2006, which later required surgery. Following the end of the season, Garcia signed a new contract with the club. In August 2006, he scored Colchester's first goal of the
2006–07The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season in the Championship on the opening game against
Birmingham CityBirmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, going on to make 36 league appearances, scoring seven goals, as Colchester pushed for a place in the end of season promotion playoff positions. At the end of the season, Garcia had made a total of 96 appearances in all competitions for
Colchester UnitedColchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, scoring 21 goals.
Hull City
Despite the offer of a new deal at Colchester, Garcia signed a three-year contract with
Hull CityHull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 2 July 2007, on a free transfer under the
Bosman rulingUnion Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
. He made his league debut for Hull against
Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in August 2007 and scored his first goal in the next game in the 3–0 win over
Crewe AlexandraCrewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. He played a leading role in the club's push for promotion in the 2007–08 season, despite a shoulder injury suffered in April 2008. A notable highlight was a 35-yard screamer against Burnley in March, voted Hull's goal of the season for 2007–08 Garcia returned to the Premiership after Hull City's promotion play-off victory over
Bristol CityBristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in May 2008. Garcia started Hull's first top flight game against
FulhamFulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 16 August 2008, and performed well in his favoured right wing position. The following weekend at
Ewood ParkEwood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
in a 1–1 draw against
Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, he scored Hull's equaliser with a header in the 39th minute, two minutes after
Jason RobertsJason Andre Davis Roberts MBE is an English-born Grenadian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Park Royal, London, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not...
had given Blackburn the lead.
On 31 July 2009, it was revealed that Garcia had ruptured knee ligaments and would be out for at least three months. On 12 November 2010, he scored his first goal in two seasons, in a 2–0 win against
PrestonPreston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
at
DeepdaleDeepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
.
On 13 May 2011, Garcia had his one-year contract extension offer withdrawn because he was told he would be out for up to nine months with an injured cruciate ligament.
International career
In an interview with Australia's Sun-Herald newspaper in April 2008, Garcia said he had ambitions to play for the
SocceroosThe Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
, Australia's national team, and hoped that his good form for Hull in their push for promotion to the Premier League would help him to achieve this.
On 19 August 2008 he received his first senior international cap when he came on as a second half substitute in the friendly against
South AfricaThe South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
at
Loftus RoadLoftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
in London. That match ended in a 2–2 draw. His second cap came in a friendly match against Holland, again as a substitute, where the match was won by the Socceroos 2–1. On 13 June 2010, Garcia became the first Hull City player ever to play in the World Cup.
Personal life
Garcia speaks fluent Spanish since his father and mother are
SpanishSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
-speakers, and he supports
Real MadridReal Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. He became close friends with
Michael CarrickMichael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
during their time at West Ham, and they were ushers at each other's weddings. His brother
Michael GarciaMichael Garcia is an Australian former football player. Garcia played for Perth Glory and Canberra Cosmos in the National Soccer League, and Marine Castle United in the S.League. His brother, Richard Garcia, is also a professional footballer.-References:...
was also a professional footballer.
Career statistics
.
| Club |
League |
Season |
League |
Cup |
Continental |
Total |
| Apps |
Goals |
Assis |
Apps |
Goals |
Assis |
Apps |
Goals |
Assis |
Apps |
Goals |
Assis |
Leyton OrientLeyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
(loan) |
League Two Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
|
2000-01 |
18 |
4 |
| 3 |
0 |
|
|
|
21 |
4 |
| Leyton Orient Total |
18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 0 |
West Ham UnitedWest Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
|
Premier LeagueThe Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
|
2001-02 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
9 |
0 |
0 |
| 2002-03 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
| 2003-04 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
10 |
0 |
1 |
| Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
|
2004-05 The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
| West Ham Total |
17 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 |
Colchester UnitedColchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
|
League One Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
|
2004-05 |
24 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
29 |
5 |
3 |
| 2005-06 |
22 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
27 |
6 |
5 |
| Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
|
2006-07 |
36 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
38 |
7 |
7 |
| Colchester Total |
82 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 17 | 15 |
Hull CityHull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
|
Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
|
2007-08 |
38 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
44 |
7 |
5 |
| Premier League |
2008-09 |
23 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
1 |
3 |
| 2009-10 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
| Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
|
2010-11 |
25 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
26 |
2 |
2 |
| 2011-12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hull City Total |
104 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 10 | 11 |
| Career total |
221 | 28 | 22 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 253 | 31 | 27 |
Cup includes domestic cups and promotion/relegation playoffs
External links