Kike García (Spanish footballer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.

Enrique "Kike" García Martínez (Spanish pronunciation: [enˈrike ɣaɾˈθi.a maɾˈtineθ];^[α] born 25 November 1989), sometimes known as just Kike ([ˈkike]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Alavés.

Kike García

García with Osasuna in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Enrique García Martínez[1]
Date of birth	(1989-11-25) 25 November 1989 (age 35)[1]
Place of birth	Motilla del Palancar, Spain
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Alavés
Number	17
Youth career
2004–2007	Quintanar Rey
2007–2008	Murcia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2009	Murcia B	34	(8)
2009–2014	Murcia	144	(47)
2014–2016	Middlesbrough	61	(13)
2016–2021	Eibar	153	(35)
2021–2023	Osasuna	68	(7)
2023–	Alavés	56	(13)
International career
2009	Spain U20	7	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:43, 19 February 2025 (UTC)

He began his career at Real Murcia, competing in five Segunda División seasons before a €3.5 million transfer to Middlesbrough in 2014. After one and a half seasons in the English Championship, he returned to Spain with Eibar.

García played for Spain at under-20 level.

Club career

Murcia

Born in Motilla del Palancar, Cuenca, García joined Real Murcia CF's academy aged 18, after a brief spell with local CD Quintanar del Rey.^[2] He made his senior debut with the former's reserves in the 2007–08 season, in the Tercera División.

On 23 May 2009, García played his first match as a professional, coming on as a substitute for Quique de Lucas in a 2–2 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo in the Segunda División.^[3] He scored his first goal roughly a month later, the first in a 2–1 home victory over UD Salamanca.^[4] In November he signed a new three-year contract, being definitely promoted to the main squad.^[5]

García suffered an injury to his fibula in September 2011^[6] and, despite being initially sidelined for a month, he was out of action for the entire campaign. In October of the following year he signed a new deal with Murcia, running until 2016.^[7]

In his final year with the Pimentoneros, 2013–14, García was the joint second top scorer in the league with 23 goals and helped his team to the La Liga promotion play-offs, only to be relegated administratively.^[8][9][10] He was also May's Player of the Month.^[11]

Middlesbrough

On 11 July 2014, García joined English Championship side Middlesbrough, in a €3.5 million (£2.7 million) deal; he was signed by compatriot Aitor Karanka, who had worked with him at international youth level.^[8] He made his competitive debut on 9 August by starting at home to Birmingham City on the opening day of the season, scoring his team's second goal in the 66th minute for a 2–0 home win.^[12] He found the net again in his second appearance three days later, replacing Adam Reach early into the second half of a Football League Cup tie at Oldham Athletic and closing the 3–0 victory.^[13]

García came on for Jelle Vossen in the 86th minute of the FA Cup fourth round match at reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on 24 January 2015, and scored the second goal of a 2–0 win.^[14] On 10 February, he netted an 88th-minute winner in a 2–1 away defeat of Blackpool, a result which moved his team above AFC Bournemouth into first place.^[15]

García scored in a 3–0 win over Brentford on 15 May 2015, which advanced the hosts to the play-off final 5–1 on aggregate.^[16] He was a substitute in the decisive match, a 2–0 loss to Norwich City at Wembley Stadium.^[17]

On 15 August 2015, García scored his first two-goal haul for Middlesbrough, a first-half double in a 3–0 home win against Bolton Wanderers.^[18] He scored and assisted Christian Stuani on 19 December in a 3–0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion, which ended the hosts' unbeaten season and put the opposition on top of the league table.^[19]

Eibar

The signings of strikers David Nugent and Jordan Rhodes at Middlesbrough led to speculation about García's future at the club, creating extra pressure for him to be included in the starting line-up.^[20][21] After interest from Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, he left and on 2 February 2016 signed for SD Eibar in the top flight, but a late registration meant that he would be ineligible to play until the following season.^[22]

García finally made his debut for the Basques on 19 August 2016, starting in a 2–1 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña.^[23] He scored seven goals in his debut campaign – nine in all competitions – helping to a tenth-place finish.^[24]

On 1 May 2021, García scored all of his side's goals in the 3–0 home victory over Deportivo Alavés.^[25] He totalled 12 for the season, in an eventual relegation as last.^[26]

Osasuna

García continued in the Spanish top tier in the 2021 off-season, with the free agent joining CA Osasuna on a three-year contract with a €15 million buyout clause.^[27] He scored his first goal for his new team on 29 August, from the penalty spot in a 3–2 win at Cádiz CF.^[28]

García was top scorer in the 2022–23 edition of the Copa del Rey, finding the net five times in the early rounds during their run to the final.^[29]

Alavés

On 13 August 2023, García signed a two-year deal with Alavés, newly-promoted to the top tier.^[30] He scored just three goals in his debut campaign.^[10]

García managed his third hat-trick as a professional (second in the main division) on 18 January 2025, helping to a 3–1 away defeat of Real Betis.^[31]

International career

García was called up to the Spain under-20 team in June 2009, for that year's Mediterranean Games.^[32] He was also in Luis Milla's list for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.^[33]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 May 2024^[34]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Murcia B	2008–09	Segunda División B	34	8	—		—		—		34	8
Murcia	2008–09	Segunda División	4	1	0	0	—		—		4	1
	2009–10	Segunda División	31	3	3	0	—		—		34	3
	2010–11	Segunda División B	30	12	4	1	—		4[c]	0	38	13
	2011–12	Segunda División	2	1	0	0	—		—		2	1
	2012–13	Segunda División	36	7	0	0	—		—		36	7
	2013–14	Segunda División	41	23	1	0	—		2[d]	0	44	23
	Total		144	47	8	1	0	0	6	0	158	48
Middlesbrough	2014–15	Championship	42	9	3	1	3	1	3[e]	1	51	12
	2015–16	Championship	19	4	1	0	4	0	—		24	4
	Total		61	13	4	1	7	1	3	1	75	16
Eibar	2016–17	La Liga	24	7	3	2	—		—		27	9
	2017–18	La Liga	35	8	2	0	—		—		37	8
	2018–19	La Liga	30	3	1	0	—		—		31	3
	2019–20	La Liga	27	5	0	0	—		—		27	5
	2020–21	La Liga	37	12	1	0	—		—		38	12
	Total		153	35	7	2	—		—		160	37
Osasuna	2021–22	La Liga	33	5	3	1	—		—		36	6
	2022–23	La Liga	35	2	8	5	—		—		43	7
	Total		68	7	11	6	—		—		79	13
Alavés	2023–24	La Liga	33	3	2	0	—		—		35	3
Career total			493	113	32	10	7	1	9	1	541	125

1. Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in Segunda División B promotion play-offs
4. Appearances in La Liga play-offs
5. Appearances in the Football League play-offs

Honours

Murcia

• Segunda División B: 2010–11^[35]

Osasuna

• Copa del Rey: runner-up 2022–23^[36]

Spain U20

• Mediterranean Games: 2009^[37]

Individual

• Segunda División Player of the Month: May 2014^[11]

Notes

1. In isolation, García is pronounced [ɡaɾˈθi.a].

References

1. "Kike García". Diario AS. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
2. Ruipérez, Pedro (July 2009). "Kike, la trayectoria" [Kike, the career] (in Spanish). Quintanar Deportivo. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
3. "El Celta la pifia y sigue cerca del pozo" [Celta fumble and remain near the pit]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 May 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
4. "El Murcia liquidó al Salamanca" [Murcia finished Salamanca]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
5. "Kike renueva contrato tres años con el Murcia" [Kike renews contract for three years with Murcia]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 November 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
6. Moreno, Ángela (5 September 2011). "El Murcia también se queda sin Kike" [Murcia left without Kike as well]. La Opinión de Murcia (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2014.
7. "Kike García renueva hasta 2016" [Kike García renews until 2016]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
8. Vickers, Anthony (11 July 2014). "Watch: Murcia striker Kike to complete €3.5m transfer to Boro after weeks of talks". TeessideLive. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
9. Conesa, Sergio (23 October 2019). "El Middlesbrough alarga el culebrón de Kike García" [Middlesbrough extend Kike García's soap opera]. La Verdad (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2025.
10. Lowe, Sid (20 January 2025). "Old, humble and perfect: lovable lump Kike García gives Alavés hope". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
11. "Kike García recibe el 'Premio BBVA' al Mejor Jugador de la Liga Adelante" [Kike García receives the 'BBVA Award' for the Best Player in the Liga Adelante] (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. 5 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
12. "Middlesbrough 2–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
13. "Oldham Athletic 0–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
14. Whalley, Mike (24 January 2015). "Manchester City 0–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
15. "Blackpool 1–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
16. Newsum, Matt (15 May 2015). "Middlesbrough 3–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
17. Shepka, Phil (25 May 2015). "Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
18. "Middlesbrough 3–0 Bolton". BBC Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
19. Cartwright, Phil (19 December 2015). "Brighton & Hove Albion 0–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
20. "David Nugent: Middlesbrough sign Leicester City striker". BBC Sport. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
21. "Jordan Rhodes signs for Boro from Blackburn Rovers". Middlesbrough F.C. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
22. Shaw, Dominic (3 February 2016). "Kike leaves Boro to sign for Eibar – but won't make his debut until next season". TeessideLive. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
23. Jiménez, Rubén (20 August 2016). "Lucas se inventa un liderato" [Lucas comes up with first place]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 August 2016.
24. Franch Molinet, Narcís (12 June 2017). "Resumen Eibar 2016/17: Kike García, rendimiento eficiente opacado por lesiones" [2016/17 Eibar sum-up: Kike García, efficiency shadowed by injuries] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
25. "Éibar-Alavés: Este muerto está muy vivo" [Éibar-Alavés: This dead is quite alive] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
26. Alfaro, Javier (21 May 2021). "Kike García, a un paso de Osasuna" [Kike García, nearing Osasuna]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 June 2021.
27. Jiménez, Maite (25 May 2021). "Osasuna ficha a Kike García" [Osasuna sign Kike García]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 June 2021.
28. "El primer gol de Kike García como rojillo llega de penalti" [Kike García's first goal as red arrives through a penalty]. Noticias de Navarra (in Spanish). 30 August 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
29. Elizalde, Javier (7 May 2023). "Kike García, máximo goleador de la Copa 2022/23" [Kike García, top scorer of the 2022/23 Cup]. Noticias de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
30. "Kike García, experiencia para la delantera albiazul" [Kike García, experience for the white-and-blue forward line] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
31. Jiménez, R. (18 January 2025). "El hat-trick perfecto de Kike García: una pesadilla para Bartra y el Betis" [Kike García's perfect hat-trick: a nightmare for Bartra and Betis]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 January 2025.
32. "Kike convocado con la selección Española sub20" [Kike called up with the Spain under-20 national team] (in Spanish). Quintanar Deportivo. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
33. Vera, José A. (15 September 2009). "Kike irá al Mundial Sub-20 y se perderá seis partidos" [Kike will go to the Under-20 World Cup and will miss six matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2014.
34. Kike García at Soccerway
35. "El Real Murcia, campeón de Segunda B en los penaltis" [Real Murcia, Segunda B champions on penalties]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 June 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
36. "Crónica | El Real Madrid tiñe la Copa de blanco tras una vibrante final (2–1)" [Report | Real Madrid dye the Cup white after a thrilling final (2–1)] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
37. "ITA – ESP 1:2 (0:0)" (PDF). Pescara 2009. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

External links

• Kike García at BDFutbol
• Kike García at Soccerbase
• Kike García – FIFA competition record (archived)