Luis García Martínez (20 August 1940 – 22 July 2024), commonly known as Luiche, was a Spanish football manager and player who played as a right-back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis García Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1940 | ||
| Place of birth | Alicante, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 22 July 2024 (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | Monòver, Spain | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1958–1962 | Villena | ||
| 1962–1964 | Monóvar | ||
| 1964–1965 | Oliva | ||
| 1965–1966 | Calvo Sotelo | 11 | (0) |
| 1966–1967 | Ibiza | ||
| 1967–1968 | Eldense | ||
| 1968–1971 | Villarreal | ||
| 1971–1972 | Benicarló | ||
| 1972–1974 | Villena | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1974–1975 | Petrelense | ||
| 1975–1977 | Santa Pola | ||
| 1977–1978 | Almansa | ||
| 1978–1979 | Eldense | ||
| 1980 | Eldense | ||
| 1980–1981 | Albacete | ||
| 1981–1982 | Yeclano | ||
| 1982–1983 | Eldense | ||
| 1984 | Alcoyano | ||
| 1985–1986 | Nules | ||
| 1986–1988 | Villarreal | ||
| 1988–1991 | Castellón | ||
| 1991 | Sabadell | ||
| 1992 | Cartagena | ||
| 1994 | Castellón | ||
| 1995–1996 | Alcoyano | ||
| 1996 | Castellón | ||
| 1998 | Novelda | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn in Alicante and raised in Villena, both in the Valencian Community, Luiche's professional inputs as a player consisted of 11 Segunda División matches with CF Calvo Sotelo in the 1965–66 season. During his playing career, he also represented Villena CF (two stints), CD Monóvar, UD Oliva, SD Ibiza, CD Eldense, Villarreal CF and CD Benicarló before retiring in 1974 at the age of 32.[1]
Immediately after retiring Luiche took up coaching, being in charge of local side UD Petrelense. After managing Santa Pola CF and AP Almansa, he first arrived in Segunda División B, in charge of a club he represented as a player, Eldense.[2]
In 1986, after spells at Albacete Balompié, Yeclano CF, Eldense, CD Alcoyano and CF Nules,[3] Luiche was appointed manager of Villarreal in Tercera División. After achieving promotion with the latter in his first season and narrowly missing out promotion in his second, he took over CD Castellón in the second division.
Luiche achieved promotion to La Liga with Castellón in 1989, and remained in charge of the club until April 1991; despite being replaced by Lucien Muller, the club still suffered relegation at the end of the campaign. In June 1991, he was named manager of CE Sabadell FC in the second level,[4] but was sacked in October after only one win in six matches.[5]
Luiche then worked at Cartagena FC before returning to Castellón in February 1994, but being unable to avoid the club's relegation from the second division. After suffering another drop at Alcoyano in 1995–96, he subsequently managed Novelda CF also in division three.
Legacy
editIn May 2012, the city of Villena named their new stadium after Luiche.[6]
Death
editLuiche died on 23 July 2024, at the age of 82.[7]
Honours
editManager
editCastellón
References
edit- ^ "Luis García Martínez "Luiche" y su pasión por el fútbol" [Luis García Martínez "Luiche" and his passion for football] (PDF) (in Spanish). Villena. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Luis García "Luiche"... entregado al deporte" [Luis García "Luiche"... dedicated to the sport] (in Spanish). Villena Cuéntame. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Luiche fichó como técnico del Nules" [Luiche signed as manager of Nules] (in Spanish). El Periódico Mediterráneo. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ ""Luiche" ya es del Sabadell" ["Luiche" is already of Sabadell] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 16 June 1991. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Luiche, cesado en el Sabadell" [Luiche, sacked at Sabadell] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 8 October 1991. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "El nuevo polideportivo municipal de Villena se denominará Luiche" [Villena's new municipal multi-sport stadium will be named Luiche] (in Spanish). Información. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Fallece Luiche, el entrenador del ascenso a Primera en 1989 (in Spanish)
External links
edit- Luiche at BDFutbol
- Luiche manager profile at BDFutbol