![]() García playing for Zenit in 2015
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Francisco Javier García Fernández | ||
Date of birth | 8 February 1987 | ||
Place of birth | Mula, Spain | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
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Zenit St. Petersburg | ||
Number | 21 | ||
Youth career | |||
1996–2004 | Real Madrid | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004–2007 | Real Madrid B | 86 | (10) |
2004–2007 | Real Madrid | 3 | (0) |
2007–2008 | Osasuna | 25 | (2) |
2008–2009 | Real Madrid | 15 | (0) |
2009–2012 | Benfica | 74 | (6) |
2012–2014 | Manchester City | 53 | (2) |
2014– | Zenit St. Petersburg | 64 | (5) |
National team‡ | |||
2002 | Spain U16 | 3 | (1) |
2003–2005 | Spain U17 | 21 | (4) |
2005–2006 | Spain U19 | 9 | (2) |
2007 | Spain U20 | 5 | (1) |
2008–2009 | Spain U21 | 9 | (0) |
2012–2013 | Spain | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 November 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 September 2013 |
Francisco Javier "Javi" García Fernández (Spanish pronunciation: [fɾanˈθ̼isko xaβˈjer ˈxaβi ɣarˈθi.a ferˈnandeθ]; born 8 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Russian club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. A defensive midfielder by nature, he can also appear as a central defender.
He started his career with Real Madrid, but represented mostly the reserve team, going on to have a three-year spell with Benfica in Portugal. In 2012, he signed with Manchester City.
García represented Spain at various youth levels, including the victorious under-19s at the 2006 European Championship, and made his senior international debut in 2012.
A product of Real Madrid's youth system, García was born in Mula, Region of Murcia, and played three La Liga games for the first team whilst still a junior, making his debut at the age of 17 in a 5–0 home win against Levante UD on 28 November 2004. After that he would spend the entire 2005–06 season with Real Madrid Castilla, the team's B-side, in Segunda División.