Rafael García

José Rafael "Chiquis" García Torres (born 14 August 1974) is a Mexican former professional footballer and current manager.

As a player, he was a participant in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea/Japan and the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Club career A midfielder comfortable in the center or on the left side, García began his club career with UNAM in 1992. During the 1994–95 season, he established himself in the Pumas lineup, appearing in 32 matches and scoring 8 goals. Verano 2000, and Apertura 2002 seasons, appearing in the finals on each occasion. Playing wide on the left alongside Fabián Estay and Víctor Ruiz in his early years with Toluca, He made his international debut on February 7, 1996, in a 2–1 loss against Chile. In the 1996 U.S. Cup, he scored his first international goal with a bending free kick against the United States at the Rose Bowl. García represented Mexico in four matches of the 1997 Copa América, but missed the 1998 FIFA World Cup. After the appointment of Manuel Lapuente as national coach, García appeared at the 1999 Copa América and the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, which Mexico won. Recalled to the team for the 2002 World Cup, he played 14 minutes in the opening-round match against Italy. García remained in the team under new coach Ricardo Antonio Lavolpe, helping Mexico to victory in the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup and scoring in the quarterfinal against Jamaica. Although he also played in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and five qualifying matches for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he did not play any matches in the 2006 competition itself. García made his final international appearance in a 2–1 loss to the Netherlands on June 1, 2006. New light has surfaced that nepotism was the reason why he participated in the World Cup games of 2006 as he is a relative of then Coach Ricardo La Volpe.

At junior international levels, García competed for Mexico at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship and 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship,

International goals Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1. 16 June 1996 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States 1–1 2–2 1996 U.S. Cup 2. 20 July 2003 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico 2–0 5–0 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup 3. 31 March 2004 The Home Depot Center, Carson, United States 1–0 2–0 Friendly

Honours Toluca Mexican Primera División: Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000, Apertura 2002 Campeón de Campeones: 2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 2003

Mexico FIFA Confederations Cup: 1999 CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2003 Pan American Games Silver Medal: 1995 CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1996

Individual CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2003