José María García Lasfuentes

José María García Lafuente (born 10 February 1971), commonly known as José Mari, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He scored eight La Liga goals in ten seasons, whilst appearing in 158 matches with Osasuna, Barcelona, Betis and Athletic Bilbao during that timeframe.

Playing career Osasuna Born in Logroño, La Rioja, José Mari was trained in the youth system of CA Osasuna and began his senior career with the reserves in the Segunda División B, his first match taking place towards the end of 1988–89. He spent another two seasons at that level, but also made his La Liga debut for the first team under manager Pedro María Zabalza, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 home win over Real Betis just prior to his 20th birthday.

José Mari began 1991–92 with the B side, but by October he was part of the main squad. At the end of the campaign he had started four league games and appeared from the bench in another four, and also made his European bow on 22 October 1991 when he played the last eight minutes in place of Miguel Sola in a 0–0 home draw against VfB Stuttgart. He was even more prominent the next season, but broke his ankle in March 1994 and Osasuna were eventually relegated in last place.

Barcelona José Mari initially remained in Pamplona and competed in the Segunda División until January 1995, when he was signed by FC Barcelona for 150 million pesetas (equivalent to around GB£720,000 at the time) and returned to the top division on a three-year contract. He later stated that the move had been close to completion the previous year, but his serious injury led to its delay.

Once at Camp Nou, José Mari was immediately involved in the matchday squads under Johan Cruyff, starting seven of the remaining league games. He also featured in both legs of a UEFA Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain FC which ended in elimination, where he missed a good chance to score a vital away goal in France, angering the Dutch coach; in the domestic league, the side could only rank fourth.

Betis In the 1995 summer transfer window, José Mari joined Betis – who had just finished above Barça in the table – for barely a third of his purchase price, £317,000, agreeing to a six-year deal. He was one of three Barcelona players transferred in discounted deals along with Óscar Arpón and former Osasuna teammate Francisco Sánchez Jara, in the wake of Ángel Cuéllar's move in the opposite direction via his buyout clause.

In his first season, 1996–97 – at the outset of the Luis Fernández managerial era – José Mari was a regular fixture (33 games, 28 starts), and netting the equaliser in an eventual 2–1 home victory over his former side Barcelona on 23 November 1996. His status thereafter diminished to squad member, and he only took part in 35 matches the next three years.

José Mari departed from Bilbao on 30 June 2000 at the end of his contract, aged 29. He made 77 official appearances in a four-year tenure.

Later career Afterwards, José Mari was a regular in the second tier with both CD Leganés and Burgos CF, being administratively relegated with the latter. He then dropped down one further level to play with CF Reus Deportiu, but a worsening back injury marred his short return to Catalonia, as his team was also relegated. and they also brought former Athletic player Igor Angulo to the Andalusian club, which won its third-division section in 2007–08 but missed out in the play-offs, and in 2010 the ownership was acquired by an Écija supporters' group amid economic problems.

During the 2011–12 season, José Mari worked with Betis' reserves as the assistant manager to Risto Vidaković (as part of the backroom staff led by former teammate and friend Vlada Stošić).